Sciatica can cause mild to intense pain in the legs. The pain is typically caused by the compression of one or more nerve roots in the lower back.
There are five sets of dual nerve roots in the lower spine. These roots make up the sciatica nerve. This nerve runs from the sacrum, or pelvis, underneath the buttocks, down to the hips and into the legs. Nerve roots are capable of transmitting pain to other areas of the body.
Sciatica pain can be caused by a variety of things, and tailbone cushions can help to relieve the pain while sitting.
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What Causes Sciatica Pain?
Why is your sciatica nerve causing you pain? There are a number of things that may be triggering your symptoms.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Many older adults suffer from spinal stenosis, a nerve compression disorder. Typically, the pain is brought on by specific activities or positions, like walking or standing. Sitting down helps relieve the pain.
Trauma
Sudden trauma – like a sports injury, motor vehicle accident, or falling down – can also cause sciatica pain. Accidents and injuries can cause direct nerve compression.
Impact from the trauma can cause damage to the nerves. In some cases, bone fragments actually compress the nerves and cause pain.
Herniated or Bulging Disc
A herniated or bulging disc can push against a nearby nerve root, compressing the nerve tissue.
Herniated discs tend to create more severe pain. Not only does it cause direct compression of the nerve, but the disc material also contains a nerve irritant that can cause inflammation and more pain.
Those with herniated or bulging discs may also experience tingling, numbness and muscle weakness.
Piriformis Syndrome
Named after the piriformis muscle, this syndrome occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated by the muscle.
Located at the lower area of the spine, the piriformis muscle assists in hip rotation and connects the thigh bone. When spasms develop in this muscle, it can compress the sciatic nerve and cause pain.
Piriformis syndrome can be hard to diagnose because it can’t be picked up on imaging machines.
Spinal Tumors
While rare, spinal tumors can also cause sciatica pain. These abnormal growths may be benign or malignant (cancerous), and can cause nerve compression that leads to sciatic pain.
How a Tailbone Cushion Can Help Sciatica Pain
A tailbone cushion, or coccyx pillow, can help provide relief from sciatica pain. Along with providing support, these cushions also improve your posture. Some pillows have cut-outs in certain areas that help relieve pressure in the most painful areas.
When choosing a pillow for pain relief, there are a few things to consider, including:
- Material: Coccyx pillows come in a variety of materials, but memory foam is the most popular because it conforms to the natural shape of your body.
- Pillow Shape: If you truly want pain relief, choose a cushion with a U-shaped cut-out on the back end. The cut-out suspends the tailbone to take pressure off the lower spine.
- Size: Choose a pillow that will fit on your chair or in your vehicle. Consider where you’ll use the cushion, and choose a size accordingly.
- Weight Capacity: Some cushions have weight capacities. Make sure you choose a pillow that can accommodate your weight.
Our 4 Favorite Coccyx Seat Cushions
To help you find the best coccyx seat cushion for your needs, we’ve rounded up our four favorite models.
1. Aylio Coccyx Seat Cushion
Alyio’s sciatica pillow features a contoured shape, soft foam and a U-shaped cut-out to provide the support and comfort you crave.
The cut-out at the rear of the pillow keeps the tailbone suspended and off of the sitting surface to prevent discomfort and pain. The contoured shape provides comforting support for your thighs and buttocks while promoting healthy posture and even weight distribution.
With a weight of just one pound and dimensions of 18″ x 14″ x 3,” this pillow is lightweight and portable enough to be taken anywhere. From wheelchairs to office chairs, cars and planes, the Aylio cushion will help you stay pain-free wherever you go.
We also love that this pillow has a removable, washable velour cover that makes it easy to keep clean.
Pros
- Contoured shape cradles the body
- Foam provides supportive comfort
- Lightweight and portable
- Removable, washable cover makes it easy to keep clean
Cons
- May not fit well in a car
Aylio’s cushion may not fit well in your vehicle. This pillow is on the thicker side, which provides more comfort, but that extra height may make it difficult to drive while using it.
Still, the Aylio pillow is one of our favorites because of its supportive foam cushion and contoured shape.
Click here to purchase the Aylio cushion from Amazon
2. Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Cushion
Everlasting Comfort’s memory foam cushion is filled with 100% premium memory foam that’s heat responsive. Yes, this pillow will respond to your body heat and mold to your body shape perfectly.
The foam compresses and cushions just enough to give your spine, hips and back the right amount of support.
One feature that we love about this pillow is its non-slip rubber bottom, which keeps it in place no matter where you’re using it.
This pillow provides optimal support and comfort for anyone who weighs between 100 and 300 pounds. Dimensions of 17″ x 13.2″ x 2.4″ help ensure that this cushion fits just about anywhere.
The Everlasting Comfort cushion also features a removable cover that’s machine washable for easy cleaning.
Pros
- Non-slip rubber bottom keeps the pillow in place
- Supports weight between 100 and 300 pounds
- Portable and lightweight
- Heat-responsive memory foam provides extra comfort
- Removable, washable cover makes this pillow easy to clean
Cons
- Height of the cushion may be too much for some people
The height of the cushion may be an issue if you’re using it in a car, depending on your vehicle and your height. But most people will have no issue with using this pillow anywhere else.
We like that the Everlasting Comfort pillow has heat-responsive memory foam.
Click here to purchase the Everlasting coccyx cushion from Amazon
3. TheraCushion Tailbone Support Pillow
The TheraCushion support pillow has one feature that everyone can appreciate: a cooling gel layer. Coupled with the memory foam filling, this pillow conforms to your body to provide you with supporting comfort.
The cooling gel helps improve airflow through the pillow and prevents sweating.
Like other coccyx cushions, this model has a U-shaped cut-out to keep your tailbone suspended. The contoured shape makes this an excellent seat cushion for back pain because it alleviates pressure in key areas of the lower body.
There’s also a non-slip bottom that helps keep the pillow in place
Pros
- Gel layer keeps you cool during use
- Memory foam provides supportive comfort
- Portable and lightweight
- Non-slip bottom keeps the cushion in place
Cons
- No removable cover
The only drawback with this cushion is that it doesn’t have a removable cover, which makes it a little bit of a pain to clean.
Despite this slight drawback, the TheraCushion pillow still excels in every other way. We love the cooling gel layer, and the memory foam that provides supportive comfort.
Click here to purchase the TheraCushion from Amazon
4. Ziraki Coccyx Memory Foam Cushion
Ziraki’s coccyx seat cushion is similar in design to the Aylio, but the contoured shape is not as pronounced.
The U-shaped contour keeps your tailbone up off of the seat, which alleviates pressure and provides comfortable support. The interior of the pillow has memory foam that cradles the natural curves of your body and doesn’t lose its shape.
Ziraki’s pillow supports healthy posture by encouraging proper spine alignment and improving blood flow to your lower body.
Easily portable and lightweight, this pillow can be taken anywhere.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Highly portable
- Memory foam provides supportive comfort
- Supports healthy posture and spinal alignment
Cons
- No removable cover
The only complaint with this pillow is that it doesn’t have a removable cover. That makes it a little more difficult to keep clean, although you can still spot clean the pillow without issue.
We like the Ziraki pillow because of its memory foam interior and U-shaped cut-out that protects your tailbone.
Click here to purchase the Ziraki cushion from Amazon
Allie has worked in care facilities for the last 15 years providing mobility and health care to seniors of all skill levels. She is passionate about senior advocacy and is and loves to spend her free time in the outdoors.
