Medical info

Just about everyone has that problem when we age. If you take the right precautions you should be able to minimize your discomfort. Go on the net and learn how to lift and exercise your lower back. Take over the counter meds if you have to but beware of Tylenol. There's only so much of that and you could have some liver problems. Take caution and be informed on anything you take. My recommendation is to stay away from prescription pain killers. They may help but to me they're not worth the problems. It's best to exercise and protect your back. Even watching what you eat can help by keeping the weight down. Good luck and be careful and INFORMED.

 

I was on prescription pain killers after a surgery. The swelling wouldn't go down, the wound wouldn't heal, and it hurt more than before the surgery. It was awful... until I tossed the pain killers. Within two weeks, the swelling was gone and I felt like I had a new arm! Take Gashauler's advise... stay away from prescription pain killers!!! They do more harm than good!

(I later learned that my problem was the pain killers would deaden the pain, and so I was re-injuring my arm before it had a chance to heal).

 

Get a DOT physical on your own; you will need to do this anyway for school. If you pass the physical, Paschall Truck Lines will hire you without having to take another physical. Most companies require you to take another physical, but Paschall will accept your current card and only require a urine test.

 

I have ketosis hunch back and it affects me slightly but just gotta deal and be thankful we don't drive non air ride seats and cab overs.

 

There may be some type of back support that may work for you as well.

 

Just be careful who you tell about this problem. I believe this should be the only place you can discuss something like this. Companies will use a bad back for discharge in a micro second. If you need to find the problem you'll need an MRI. That's where the doctors will tell you what kind and how bad. The test cost over a $1000 so paying for that may be a problem. Study up on the situation and maybe you can have the test done by your company insurance and still keep it to yourself. I would have to see all that in writing before I went for a test like that. The trucking companies fear that anyone with a bad back will end up suing them and win. It's hard to prove any issue about bad backs. Keep that in mind because if you ever do have a real workmans comp claim they can use any prior condition in their favor. It doesn't even matter if the injury is in a different place on your spine. A bad back means your whole spine to the company.