My kingdom for a comfortable seat
 

I am frustrated to tears. I have tried and tried to make my desk chair comfortable, or at least bearable. The muscles of my upper legs are hair-trigger. Can't wear tight slacks, can't sit on wooden chairs, etc.

I have spent money on egg crate foam and various wheel chair cushions. I've jury-rigged things together, tried folded blankets, tried sitting on the edge of the chair, tried a foot stool--NOTHING WORKS!! :mad:

I've been looking for a gel pad, thinking a thin one on top of a cushion might help. I finally found one that was maybe 1-1.5" thick, but it was $300! I don't think so!

Does anybody have similar problems? What have you tried?

Have you tried a donut cushion? That might take some pressure off but I've never tried one so I'm not sure.

Try looking on ebay. Almost everything you could ever want is there and much cheaper. Not everything is up for bid, either. Look at this: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40. You can refine the search to only look for "Buy it Now" items. If you get serious about ordering something I suggest you order from a "Top Seller", make sure the item is "NIB = New in Box" (or at least new), and check the return policy.

Blessings,

Can you see a PT about some advice on this? They may be able to evaluate you and explain what is triggering what and then suggest seating that would benefit you.
ANN

So sorry Blessings. I solved the painful desk chair saga by abandoning it for a lap top computer and my sofa and lots of pillows to prop my back just right. My coffee table serves a an ok foot stool, so I can lift my legs once in awhile.:D

Those darn gel cushions are expensive.:eek:

Blessings, are you searching for something that will Conform to your legs? Or just something really cushy?

Also, does heat help your muscles to relax?

FIL used a gel pad in his WC and it helped ease leg probs significantly

Hi Blessings
 

Hi, and I sure understand about needing some comfortable seating. Have you tried an on line medical supply place? They sell medical grade gel foam cushions as resonable price. Very much like a tempur pedic matress. I hope you can find one that is not too expensive. ginnie:hug:

Because of a severe automobile wreck and multiple surgeries; one of our posters on NT , Mark56, created a line of cushions. I believe you may check it out on http://www.insprico.com

Hope you are able to find something to alievate some of the problems you are dealing with.


Gerry

Thank you for all the suggestions so far...I'm looking into them.

I have a hard time describing the problem (obviously).

It's all that weight you're losing. Your natural cushion is dwindling.:D:p

I am tall, 6 foot 2 inches, my desk chair is the most comfortable seat for me in the house. I have it all the way up, it makes it a lot easier for me to get up out of it.

I don`t do couches now, they all seem way too low for me. My next desk chair will probably have an adjustable back on it too if I can find one like that. I need support to sit up straight.

B2You, I went through what you're going through. It went on for years. There was just one chair at home that I could sit in--and it had to be supplied with a special cushion of some kind. I tried air-filled, water-filled, and foam.

When I got my manual wheelchair for distances and bad days, I found that it was really comfortable to sit in because it braced my legs and feet and I could "custom design" the seating. Here again I went through several possibilities but in recent years I've used an inflatable cushion that is indeed costly--but Medicare/Medicaid covers it. It costs about $250.

Comfort doesn't come cheap when you have MS, unfortunately, and I wish this answer didn't involve a wheelchair as I'm sure you don't want to think about that. But it's what worked for me.

I can totally relate. I don't have the "kingdom" of a comfortable seat either. My couch and one chair are low and not firm enough. My desk chair is great though. I love it. But, when my hamstrings are in spasms even that can be very uncomfortable. Anything hitting the hamstring area causes more discomfort and spasms.

Have you considered getting a new desk chair? It sounds like it would be much cheaper than the gel filled pad.

Sleeper - My desk chair reclines somewhat and the seat tilts forward and back. I can make adjustments easily by using the levers on the sides of the chair. The chair cost $70.

A new desk chair would probably help--but the nearest place to try them out (Staples) is almost an hour and a half away, too far for me right now.

Most days, almost anything touching my hamstrings makes the muscles tighten and/or spasm. It's kind of hard to sit in a chair without your hamstrings touching anything.

I'll have to read through the responses again tomorrow--my brain isn't processing well tonight. More like a shredder than a processor.

My daughter is going to end up inheriting about 10 assorted cushions--foam, gel, convoluted, 1", 2", 3"...maybe more than ten. I found a 3" one with gel in it that seems to work pretty well, but I need to get a foot stool that's the right height. If it's too low, the pressure on the backs of my legs on the edge of the chair bothers my muscles. But! If it's too high and my legs are "pushed up" too high, it bothers the muscles on the FRONT of my thighs. Some people are just never happy. :rolleyes:

This might be really stupid, but, here goes...had a similiar problem...someone recommended two possible solutions:

1. Buy a few sets of the same size gel foot inserts (Dr. Scholl's or cheap knock offs) & some double-sided carpet tape. Use a chair-size piece of material...stick the foot inserts on to the material using the double-sided tape. Uses as a removal cushion where ever you need it. (If you can stand on those babies in your shoes, sitting on them should be just fine).

2. Sporting goods stores carry all kinds of thin cushions for boating & sitting in stadiums for sporting events.

Hope this helps!