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ACDF C5-C6, Can I drive truck again?
by dragonfly819, Feb 04, 2008 01:41PM
Hi, I'm a very healthy 43 yr old female flatbed steel hauler/truck driver/owner-operator. I was injured in June of 07 and after conservative treatments, my neurologist decided to do a acdf and plating of the C5-C6 on the 28th of January. I know I am only 1 week post op and still no idea whether or not it took the pain completely away (I still have surgical pain), but my question is this: Can anyone tell me if I will be able to, at some point in time, get back in my truck and haul steel. This entails alot of heavy lifting as well as strenuous pulling and pushing, let alone bouncing down the road in a truck. I'd like to have some sort of idea. Hope someone can help.
Member Comments (1)
by caregiver222, Feb 04, 2008 04:00PM
Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses, kid. Give yourself six to eight weeks to heal. Your problem is the up-and-down motion of the seat. Since you are an owner-operator you have some control over this. Get yourself an inflatable air cushion. Think about the position of your head when you sit and the seat height. If you are driving with a partner and have a sleeping cab get an extra soft mattress. You might also purchase an axial traction device for about $35, throw away the rubber water bag, and while driving, every three hours or so, take a break and use the traction device for 5-6 minutes at a time, suspending your head to pull the vertabrae appart slightly. Good hydration and ibuprufin will help. With long-term use the ibuprufin may cause liver problems. Stay away from opxycontin and percocet with oxy. They don't affect the pain, are addictive, and, as we know, you face a random drug test. If you still have pain, try a TENS device and accupuncture. Both rely on the fact the brain can only process a single pain signal at a time. The small electrical signal will over-ride the pain from the nerves in the neck. You might have to cut down on your hours and take more frequent breaks, which cuts down on the bucks. Get yourself a come-along. Take your time. That's not always possible. The answer is "maybe". You might think about a tanker endorsement. Climbing on the tanks is difficult, but you only have to open valves.
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