Picture this: You, your car, a packed bag of snacks, and 3,000 miles of open road. Sounds like the start of a dreamy road trip, right?
Well, not exactly—because if you’re traveling with chronic pelvic pain, the road trip fantasy quickly turns into a strategic endurance challenge.
The Map Says “Scenic Route.” My Body Says “Are You Kidding?”
When you live with pelvic pain, a “long drive” can mean anything over 45 minutes. But crossing state lines—or, in my case, an entire country—is a different beast. Suddenly, the real trip planning isn’t about what highway to take… it’s about where the rest stops are.
And if you’ve ever tried to find decent rest stops in certain stretches of America, you know—
they’re as rare as an honest gas station hot dog.
There’s that awkward math:
"Okay, this one is 78 miles away… can I make it? Do I dare?"
Or the infamous “Oops, we passed it!” conversation that follows with a slow simmer of frustration in the passenger seat.
The Cushion That Saved the Day (and My Sanity)
Here’s the truth: I wouldn’t have made it halfway across the country without my seat cushion. Not just any cushion—one with support where I need it and enough comfort to trick my body into thinking we weren’t on hour six of I-40 with nothing but billboards for fireworks and beef jerky.
Instead of the constant shifting, the tailbone twinges, and the hip ache creeping up to my lower back, I could actually focus on…
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The scenery (mountains, rivers, and that one very confused alpaca).
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The music (my playlist went from ‘80s pop to motivational podcasts and back).
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The fact that maybe, just maybe, I was actually enjoying the drive.
Gratitude, in Miles
By the time I reached my destination, the rest stops and gas station bathrooms had blurred into one big travel montage, but my gratitude for my supportive seat cushion was crystal clear. It turned what could have been an exhausting, pain-filled trip into something I’ll remember for more than just the discomfort.
To anyone planning a road trip with pelvic pain:
Pack your snacks, map your stops, and for heaven’s sake—bring a cushion.
Because the road may be long and the rest stops few… but comfort can ride shotgun.