This summer I am going on a summer vacation, and I hope to do a better
job than Chevy Chase.  But I have an older minivan, and the seat has
sagged a little.  Sitting in that seat for 8+ hours is not going to be
fun; and I do have a slight problem with a sciatic pain.

Aside from buying a new seat (although that thought crosses my mind;
if anybody has a suggestion, they can add that to the options), what
can I do to ease my comfort?  Are there any GOOD seat cushions that I
can buy?

Hi Liner!

Last year, my husband bought an electric massage cushion for his easy
chair at home.  It came with a cigarette lighter adapter, and he used
it when we drove from our home in Toledo (OH) to visit a friend in the
Philadelphia (PA) area, some 9.5 hours away.

He did not suffer from "driver butt", back pain or any of the other
usual road trip afflictions.  (It does not, alas, cure irritation at
bad drivers on the road, but when you're getting a nice massage while
you're driving, do you really notice them?)

It's heated, has two speed settings, two intensity settings, and you
can choose which areas you'd like massaged, or set it for all of them
or alternating cycles.  It's made by Conair/Pollenex:

Body Benefits
http://www.conair.com/conair/products/detail.jsp?product=105

I don't know if it's the "best", but I steal the thing quite often for
my own desk chair, and I think it's the greatest thing since the
chocolate truffle.  Not to mention, it's very budget friendly, and you
can usually pick these up at the local discounter's for less than the
$53 list price.

I hope you have a great vacation!

--Missy

Search terms:  None.  I picked my own hindquarters up and looked for
the make and model of our chair cushion.

How much better a recommendation than actual results?  And, the price seems right!

Here is a link for a gel contour cushion that "greatly diminishes the
onset of sciatic nerve flare-ups and other medical ailments because
the unique molecular properties"

http://www.geltecproducts.com/detail.aspx?ID=5

price is $69.95

My (pretty large) grandfather used to swear by those beaded jobs that
cab drivers use.

In fact, asking a cabbie might not be a bad idea.

I'm just adding testimony to Missy's splendid solution:

I have a massage cushion very much like the one Missy has suggested
for you. Mine is a different brand, but just like the Conair, it has
different massage settings and an option for using infrared heat.
(And, like the Conair, it can be plugged into a cigarette lighter
while on the road.)

I've had chronic pain problems over the last few years and the massage
cushion helps enormously. In fact, I've willed myself back into doing
aerobics and, believe me, a few hours later, I GOTTA use that massage
cushion! It makes all the difference.

Another suggestion I always make for people with chronic pain is: try
taking a daily dose of; CoQ10 (100 mgs) capsule, along with a fish oil
capsule (pure vitamin E), a B complex vitamin, and a Borage Oil
capsule. These herbs work wonderfully to help minimize aches and pain.
(But please check with your doctor before using any of these
herbs/vitamins.)

I'm not familiar with those herbs.  I have smoked 'other' herbs on
long drives, and it does numb your mind along with your butt.  I've
crossed whole states barely having a consious thought.