What do you do to prevent or ease back pain?

I strengthened my back muscles with a weight lifting program as part of rugby training. Laboring for a road construction company also added significant strength. (That was the best gym I ever joined, they paid me too; instead of vice versa!)

Once I dropped a few pounds and built up my muscles, I all but stopped experiencing back pain.

 

HUH? Don't know about your back, but it might be rough on your ears!

Along with everything else mentioned, one of the best back exercises there is is very simple. WALKING. It can be a hard habit to get into. You run your 11 and you shut down exhausted.

But instead of parking up next to the building, park as far away from it as you can. Walk 30 minutes to an hour before going to bed. Your whole body will thank you for it.

At a rest stop? Park as far away from the head as you can.

Have to go into the consignee/shipper to find what door to back into? Park as far away as you can.

Got some down time while they are loading/unloading you? If the place will allow it, lock up your tractor and walk around for a while.

It's real easy to find excuses NOT to walk. It's too hot, or it's too cold, or it's raining or snowing. Walk anyway. It is the single best exercise you can have, and not just for your back!

 

I couldn't agree more. Being a self employed builder all my life, I've really ground my disc's down quite thin over 30 years. I can't sit or stand for too long but the combination of both works OK for me. Walking has been such a HUGE help with this. While OTR with a friend for a month, at a rest stop even if didn't need the head I'd get out and just walk around the truck few times. Great chance to check the truck & tires too!

Aside from that I stretch a few times a day. As soon as I get up and before going to bed are the most important times but at each stop it doesn't hurt to touch your toes a few times. Try not to let the old belly get too big either. That's a HUGE stress on the old back. Just ask any expectant mother...LOL

The heat and cold are great too if it's already hurting.

 

I don't know of any in Michigan (there must be some though) and I don't imagine that relocating to New Hampshire to be a laborer is wise.

Check your local phone book, most contractors would be listed there, many also have websites available via search engines.

They usually hire in April and May and start laying off in the fall, depending on weather and job completion.

 

Agreed completely with Mr. Big Don. I will add to stop that truck and get out of it every few hours or so even if it's just for a few minutes. This movement will prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis, wherein a clot is formed, breaks loose and lodges itself in a vital organ, often the lungs. They say that's what killed Billy Mays.

Your steering wheel should be adjusted so there is no strain on your wrists or shoulders to operate it. If necessary, get a thin pad and put that under your rear. Truck seats are spec'ed out to pretty much be about the same. We all know that people are not similarly spec'ed. So do what you can to make your work area YOURS.

 

IMO, the best permanent solution is to go see a physical therapist and get specific exercises that will fix your problem. My wife is a PT, I've surfed the internet trying to find good ways to fix numerous physical pains/problems...but her diagnosing the problem and instructing me what to do beats out whatever I find on my own 100% of the time.

 

Lupe,
If you have chronic back pain now you will never make it as a truck driver.Sorry to say that but driving truck could be the worst thing that you could do.There are drivers that have been in the industry that started out with no back alignments and had to retire due to back problems.Like I stated earlier if you have problems now stay away from trucking.

 

That's funny how people say you can't do it with this problem or that problem. dad drove for another 15 years after having back problems AND then having 2 discs removed from his neck. If you learn to take care of your body as well as possible you can still do whatever you want to.