Help my butt. Literally.

I drive for a living in a 2003 Chevy delivery van. The drivers seat foam has begun deteriorating right under my buns, but the foam under my thighs is still built up. This is causing my siatic nerve to hurt and it gave me. Headache everyday last week. What's the solution? I don't know what to even search for, a pillow? Do they make cushions for this situation? The boss man priced out a new seat. 800$. Reupholster is 1,200.

When I read the title I thought the answer was going to be "Gold Bond Powder".

Boss man should spend $800 or you should seek a medical excuse not to have to sit in there. That is nonsense.

That's a cheap business expense.

Yeah, $800 for a new seat sounds way cheaper than the workman's comp claims...

New seat and a visit to the chiropractor! And a taxi driver's bead seat cushion thingie!

Get a new seat. Its worn out.

"forever comfy" does come to mind however

I drive for a living as well. Only use my own car, with similar seat and back problems.

I picked up a memory foam mattress topper from family dollar. It makes a huge improvement, along with removing my wallet from my back pocket.

This weekend I'm pulling the upholstery and gluing the topper to the degraded foam, and then reinstalling the cover.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200616911_200616911?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Seats%20%3E%20Seat%20Accessories&utm_campaign=WonderGel&utm_content=41623&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=41623&gclid=Cj0KEQiA3t-2BRCKivi-suDY24gBEiQAX1wiXKWXFDe2CVeSVq10JFHxZz8whL4dT5cckSvJ94IEYBUaAuwV8P8HAQGet one of these things short terms and see if it gives relief. Problem is likely the seat, but best to confirm with a cheap option first.

I have to believe there is a cheaper option on a good replacement seat.

Lots of memory foam options out there, just get one that is THICK.

Yup. My mattress topper is only 1 inch thick, so I triple it up.

sachilles wrote: Get one of these things short terms and see if it gives relief. Problem is likely the seat, but best to confirm with a cheap option first. I have to believe there is a cheaper option on a good replacement seat.

No kidding! You could install an FIA approved racing seat and harness for less than $800!!! A quick search indicates that re-doing the seat, including installing new foam, should run $200 to $350.

Yeah if I DIY the seat foam it might work. It's that cheapo GM "pleather" and is already cracking.

In reply to sachilles:

That chunk of breast augmentation from northern tool looks fun. Might even help my butt situation.

Trackmouse wrote: Yeah if I DIY the seat foam it might work. It's that cheapo GM "pleather" and is already cracking.

If you were in Tulsa there a several places that will do the whole job, foam and all, under $400 using a good quality automotive seat fabric. It can't be that different where you are.

WildScotsRacing wrote:

sachilles wrote: Get one of these things short terms and see if it gives relief. Problem is likely the seat, but best to confirm with a cheap option first. I have to believe there is a cheaper option on a good replacement seat.

No kidding! You could install an FIA approved racing seat and harness for less than $800!!! A quick search indicates that re-doing the seat, including installing new foam, should run $200 to $350.

I had the seat bottoms in my work vans rebuilt for $150. It's really not that expensive.

Definitely take your wallet out of your pocket and if you don't already do so, sit the seat back up straight. Good posture goes a long way toward keeping your back in one piece.

Edit: For cushions, look in the sporting goods section of Walmart. They sell a memory foam cushion for deer stands that works like a charm. I use one in my kayak.

have him go to the junkyard and get a passenger seat bottom and put it on himself?

I have one of those waffle gel pads it worked great but I didn't like the height it added to my pick up so I cut the foam in the front of the seat to take pressure off the nerve. My truck was new when I did it an my wife nearly died when she saw me with the bread knife cutting the foam.

Is it possible to swap the driver and passenger seat? If not the entire seat, maybe just the seat cushion?

I'd price the foam pad right from the dealer. They range in price from "really cheap" to "Holy berkeley", but changing the seat foam is not difficult at all.

In my 2k Silverado, it was the metal frame that the foam is stuck to that failed.

Have y'all seen the seats that Bose makes with the magnetic ride? Marketed towards semis but looks like a good use of $5000.00

Take the bosses office chair and weld it into the delivery van?

I was an unhappy camper for over 6 months due to sciatic nerve being inflamed. When Aleve wore off after 4 hours I was almost at a breaking point and remembered my big sis telling me about the spice Turmeric helping to ease back pain.

After 2 days of eating it by sprinkling it on peanut butter, my back pain went from unbearable to barely noticeable.

I'm not a doctor, don't play one on tv, and did not stay at a holiday inn express last night.

Oh yeah, your boss should fix that seat pronto so you don't suffer injury on the job and need to start a WC claim.

it's a chevy van.. how hard can it be to find a seat in a JY? You might even find an uprated one from a more luxurious van

mad_machine wrote: it's a chevy van.. how hard can it be to find a seat in a JY? You might even find an uprated one from a more luxurious van

Brother, you ain't been to central Oregon. We had a Upullit. It got shutdown because it was dumping on Mother Earth. That leaves one junkyard for all of central Oregon, and they have NO vans. none. Not one. Even CL is bare bones or overpriced.

stuart in mn wrote: Is it possible to swap the driver and passenger seat? If not the entire seat, maybe just the seat cushion?

We tried that. A whole lotta working for nothing. Thanks GM!