Can’t sit in drivers seat for extended periods without aching…anyone else had this issue?

I drive a KW, but they’re almost the same thing.

 

I developed some serious tailbone pain when I first started driving OTR. I tried a few different cushions, but the thing that finally helped me was some advice from another driver here, to raise the seat so that my feet were just barely touching the floor of my cab, taking all of the weight of my legs off of my feet. I can’t tell you why it worked, but it did.

 

I tried that purple seat thingy and it sucked...hard as a rock. I got one of those cushions with the tailbone hole and it helped some. Also I would suggest the tumeric gummies. The qunol brand. Take 2 once a day. They definitely help with inflammation. U may have some arthritis going on.

 

I always wondered about other drivers. I have numerous pain points from 30++ yrs otr. Tailbone pain after first or second hour, left shoulder pain, sometimes neck pain, neck muscles tightening up after first 7-8-9hrs, left knee pain at times from heavy clutches over the years, sciatica, and arthritis etc.

The tailbone pain is usually the worst. I tried every cushion sold, the air pump one, formed cushions, purple thing, they all only help for like 15min. The main one I found that helped a lot, but still have to fidget around for blood flow of course, is this:

BackJoy Posture Plus SitSmart Relief Seat Lumbar Smart Ergonomic Back Pain

Just search for that. They used to sell em at Pilot's. I've used same one for last 15yrs or so, so it's durable too. It positions your pelvis into correct angle when seated - it must because it works for me. I'm 6ft 1". Really helps for sciatica, low back pain, tailbone. It's hard form plastic shell with a cushion layer. Could use on any chair too, but i use it in truck, it's a lifesaver. I'd buy a used one off Ebay, lots on there and pretty cheap. I swear by it - if I don't use it, after like 30min to hr. my low back starts throbbing. Old seats, new seats, it helps me. You can throw a towel on top of it, i use a one inch lambswool cushion over it.

 

Might be foresters disease

 

You might have yourself checked for cardiovascular disease. I could write a book here about it and me.

 

I think a memory foam cushion to sit on and/or a lumbar back cushion would be more effective than a purple cushion.

Also, make sure the seat is free to slide back & forth. I'm not talking about the adjust fore & aft. I'm talking about the mechanism that allows the seat bottom to slide fore & aft. The fore & aft movement from the set fore & aft setting takes pressure off the low back.

 

I’m age 38, so I’m approaching the age where this sort of thing starts to happen.

 

Some seats are too hard for my liking. I just bought a Vandetta seat. I like it so far, it was expensive though. $1655

 

As others have said:

• sit high enough that your feet just barely touch the floor this opens up the angle of the knee which puts your leg muscles into a more 'neutral position' and allows for easier blood flow
• make sure the seat is set to 'rock', the seat will take much of the abuse of the road - provided it can move freely back and forth without hitting the back wall. Sitting a little closer may be annoying, but it is easier on your body.
• adjust the seat back so you a slightly reclined - shoulders should be an inch or so behind the hips, which again opens up the body line relaxing the muscles and improving ciruculation.
• use the arm rests
• play around with the lumbar to find what works for you - what may feel uncomfortable at first may actually relieve tension

The thing people have so far missed - the problem is probably not in your back/but. All the muscles are interconnected - think interlooped rubber bands. Contract one and the others will expand, the stress is felt in the stretched muscles and not in the tense one. In athletes knee and shoulder issues are usually traced to a tight back. The easiest way to figure out what's actually tight is to have a full body massage - they'll find a 'trouble spot' that when pushed will radiate pain throughout the body. My guess is your quads, calfs, or feet are extremely tight and they are the root cause, which is why walking around a little helps. Yoga/ rope stretching, massage, and lots of water will help.

Also - how old are your shoes and when was the last time you bought shoes at an actual shoe store? I'm surprised at how much my new boots have changed how sore I am at the end of the day.