Back Injury, Should I even try?

I wish you the best of luck.

 

Get a medical opinion, you are running and getting around good but you don't want to be stuck somewhere with an injured back. You'll have to climb, bend, crawl under a trailer and open the hood to do your daily pre-trips, I'd avoid flat-bed jobs remember to always enter and exit the truck using 3 point contact, all it takes is on bad step and even a healthy guy would be done.

Good luck.

 

If you have no problem getting in out of the Truck repeatedly and bending over and stuff like that.
As well as sitting for extended periods, and bouncing up and down on some roads.

Most companies won't have you unloading trucks anymore.
Make sure it's not Flatbed. (not sure about Tanker)

 

Only you can decide if this carreer is good for you.From what I read I would say no.Truck driving can really take a toll on you,mentally,stressfully and health wise.My opinion tells me your back wouldn't be able to handle driving trk, for now anyway.I would go to a chiropractor and see what they have to say.There are things however you can buy for your back while driving.

 

I had something similar happen to me about a year and a half ago, after working for Pepsi (not recently) and doing other types of "driving jobs" where you do about equal parts driving and manual labor. I was put on disability from my job for about 8 weeks due to a lower back injury (bulging L5 - S1 & S1 - S2). I had severe sciatica in my left leg that culminated in my entire leg having that "pins and needles" feeling all the way down for about 4 months - I didn't require surgery but I did have to go through physical therapy 3 times per week for 6 weeks along with several steroid injections around my hips and lower lumbar area. Even after almost 18 months, I still have some residual numbness in my big toe....can't feel it at all, one of the discs is still pushing, ever so slightly, on the sciatic nerve. I was eventually released back to work after 2 months and went back driving.

I was at a local job that ran from 07:00 - 17:00 Monday through Friday so we were all in daycabs and even with the cushy air bags on the tractor and the air ride seat I could only stand to be in the seat for about an hour to two at a time before I would have to pull over and then get out and walk around and do some stretches before getting back in the cab. I could do longer periods of time, but after 2 hours or so I could feel my lumbar spine compressing on the sciatic nerve and I would get that sharp stabby pain through my leg and the telltale tingling and numbness.

Something else that compounded the situation was the fact that like a lot of guys I kept my wallet in my back pocket and sat on it all day every day for years. That lead to my hips being rotated and twisting out of alignment. The doctor who did my x-rays noticed that and noted on my report that there was a deviation of about 15 degrees which led to my left leg being moved forward and my right leg backward. My doctor then demonstrated that fact by having my sit with my legs extended and measured them....my left leg was almost an inch further than my right leg. My hip alignment was one of the major reasons for physical therapy and I did eventually get them close to "normal" but not all the way.

You also have to consider that you may, at times, be required to pick up and move somewhat heavy stuff and that can and will aggravate your back - I know it did with mine. I used to toss around small machinery and 100g propane bottles like nothing and now I have to be careful picking up stuff over 90 pounds without help. I can do it but I pay for it a day or two later.

I'm actually looking to get out of trucking and that's one of the main reasons for my decision...I can't sit for extended periods of time like I used to and all the bouncing around on the roads takes a toll at the end of the day. I couldn't imagine having to deal with that kind of stuff while doing OTR.

My advice having dealt with something very similar - keep looking. Trucking can and will screw with your back if you're already prone to issues.

 

Do you take pain medication? That could be a job killer or even prevent you from obtaining a DOT medical card.
Some of the things you disclosed are job killers in the industry.
Depending on your CME Certified Medical Examiner they may show some concern with your back problems and require a Medical Release Opinion letter from your treating physician.
Somewhere in all these rules it says that an Interstate driver is to be in good enough health to be able to unload the trailer.

 

@MadMatt, I really hate to tell somebody that they shouldn't get into this industry, but in your case, I don't think it would be a good idea. Particularly since I don't see any "burning desire" in your post. Even if you DID have that "burning desire," I think it would be a mistake.
Back injuries are nothing to make light of. They can put you out of the job market permanently.
I've got an old friend that just cannot stay in one position for more than a couple of hours. He has to get up and move around for a while. He hasn't had a full night's sleep in over twenty years! Back injury from playing high school football. Thought he was "completely healed" from it, until one night when he re-injured it. He's had three surgeries now, none of which did him any good at all.

 

1st question is can you pass a dot physical .....?

2nd everyone is different as to what they can do...

I've got scoliosis and kyphosis. My back sucks...

And to top it off I fell on a motorcycle and got a lumbar process fracture this summer. Sounds worse than it is... But I drive every day ( all I've ever done )and feel best when I'm in my seat behind the wheel....

Try it , you'll know if you can do it pretty much right away....

P.S. And they found 2 old compression fractures when treating my moto crash.

 

Best post so far ^^^^^

I injured my back almost 10 years ago, and have 5 herniated discs, 2 severely. They wanted to cut me open, but back then I couldn't afford the surgery. Now I still can't, but it's because my wife hasn't worked in about 5 years, so I am the sole income.

So, here's the deal. You and your doctor need to have a real heart to heart....I am on pain meds, but am legally able to work as my doctor has cleared me, and I am not affected in my driving or working abilities. I just don't disclose this to my employer, due to it being none of his business and the stigma some associate with......*GASP* medication
For the past 7 + years I worked for a local company dedicated hauling OSOW (oversize-overweight) heavy equipment. Probably the last thing that most would expect, and to be honest probably not the nest choice for me. But due to the area I live in and me not wanting to be back OTR, it was the best fit for me. However, it was also taking a big risk, slinging all those chains and binders, multiple times a day (a co-worker and I sat down and figured one day that depending on what machines and where they were being hauled, on any given day I would be handling between 1200- 2500 lbs.of steel chains and binders)

Well, I was/am able to do it, both safely and legally. HOWEVER- it does take a toll. Basically after 10-16 hours of that, 5-6 six days a week, and I was useless on my off time.....I would come home, shower, eat, and pass out until it was time to do it all over again. Then on my days off I would lay around on ice or on my inversion table just trying to recover. That was my life, but I dealt with it because it was one of the few ways I could manage to pay the bills and provide my family with a comfortable life.

Just a few months back I left and went to a local rental company. Now I haul nothing oversize, and much smaller equipment, so the chains are much less, let alone smaller (used mostly 1/2" chains due to size/weight at my previous job; now, we don't even have anything bigger than 3/8"! Big, HUGE difference!)
Also, I am working much more "normal" hours (generally 7am -5 pm), so I am nowhere near as tired and torn up at the end of the day/week.

That being said, it will take a toll no matter what. I am sure that condition has worsened (due to go for another MRI in a month or so) from my job, but I knew what I was potentially getting into. I accepted the risk, and will deal with the consequences. I would however not recommend it to anyone else in my situation/condition. At most maybe pulling a dry van would be a possibility, but that can only be determined by you and your doctor.

I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide.