Are you considering using an ergonomic cushion to relieve paresthesia and back pain? great idea!
One of my biggest challenges since I had my back pain flare up, caused by presence of Tarlov Cysts in my spine, has been to be able to seat for long periods of time. In the initial months after my flare up, I wasn’t able to seat for even 5 minutes. I would seat down and I would feel the pain building up gradually in my sacrum area to the point of becoming unbearable; triggering me to stand-up and walk. Then, over time, I managed to seat for longer periods of time, and using an ergonomic cushion to relieve paresthesia and back pain was crucial at enabling that progress.
WHAT IS AN ERGONOMIC CUSHION?
An ergonomic cushion is a cushion designed to provide optimal support and comfort for the body, particularly when sitting for extended periods. These cushions are shaped to promote proper posture and alignment, helping to reduce pressure on key areas such as the lower back, tailbone, and hips. They are often made from memory foam or other supportive materials and come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate different body types and seating arrangements. They can be used in a variety of settings, including office chairs, car seats, wheelchairs, and even on hard surfaces like stadium seats or benches.
The ones I have are coccyx cushions, also known as a tailbone cushion or donut cushion, which are a specific type of ergonomic cushion designed to provide relief and support for the coccyx (tailbone) area. It typically features a cut-out or opening in the rear center portion of the cushion to alleviate pressure on the tailbone, which can be particularly sensitive and prone to pain or discomfort.
MY (BELOVED) ERGONOMIC CUSHIONS
I have two coccyx cushions and I use them for different purposes. I strongly recommend them both.
1. KABBOTI: this is my everyday seating support at home and in the office; even today 3+ years after the flare up. Today I have close-to-no symptoms (I only have back pain occasionally), but using Kabooti helps me prevent pain from building up. Kabooti cushion is thin, light and I can carry it around very comfortably inside a fabric bag with handles. I have one at work and one in the office. I used to take it with me literally EVERYWHERE before, both at work and in my personal life. Now, at work, I have it on my desk chair but I only take it with me to meetings if my meeting is going to be longer than 1 hour (because I know pain starts building up if I seat for longer than 1h without seating support).
2. FEAGAR: this cushion is much softer than kabooti and it’s also more bulky. The first months after the flare up I used to prefer this one as it’s less hard and it provided better comfort when the pain was extreme. Over time, as the pain started to decrease gradually, I found more comfort in Kabooti and I only kept using Feagar for seating support inside the car, because it helps me keep better ergonomics.
WHICH ONE IS BEST?
Which one to choose? Really can’t pick one…I feel both have helped me immensely to improve my well-being and I’d buy both again. Over past 3 years I’ve used way more Kabooti (I have 2!). Kabooti is more comfortable when seating around the house or in the office (it’s more compact and easier to carry around). Nevertheless, Feagar cushion provided great relief in my darkest hours and it enabled me to have much better support and ergonomics inside the car so I’d buy it again.
And you? Have you tried an Ergonomic cushion to relieve paresthesia and back pain? Is there any brand/model you would recommend? I’d be glad to hear your thoughts in comments section!