Listening to your body

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

A long time ago I left school and started full time work, very physical, regularly drove stuff (mainly on private ground) that I didn’t have a licence for, took my HGV II there. 10 years driving a variety of vehicles, but almost everything was handball and likely moving stuff that H&S these days would frown upon.

Another 10 years at a different firm, covering the UK, again all handball, again moving stuff that would have modern day H&S throwing a massive wobbly.

A few years overseas and out of driving before returning to (a different part of) the UK, agency work, mainly multidrop and physical. 7 years full time in a multidrop job, lots of parts of the body hurting more and more.

Got around to taking my C+E during that time (planning to leave) and due to changed life circumstances resigned and went back to agency work.

For the past 2 years or so I’ve had a nice placement with one firm, the work suits me, mix of class 1 & 2, very little physical requirements and whilst not earning big money still taking home enough to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and beer in the fridge. Almost went temp to perm just over a year ago, but it didn’t happen due to an issue between agency and the firm at the time.

Internal politics at the firm has resulted in the firm currently deciding it better to have several vehicles parked up most days rather than on the road with agency drivers.

So now I’m getting the stuff I’d guess other firms are often struggling to fill in the Xmas run up, a day here, 2 or 3 days there. A bit of variety doesn’t really hurt short term, except for yesterday, multidrop with an artic where most deliveries weren’t suitable for artic delivery and a lot of them required the use of pallet truck and taillift. No doubt a ‘regular’ driver would have fared much better, knowing where to go, knowing which places to reverse into rather than drive in, knowing where suitable turning areas were, etc.

To the point, I’ve been well aware that the work I’ve done in my life has placed stresses on my body that have done long term damage and that I need to be careful what I do so as not to exacerbate that damage, when I saw the doctor a few years ago he said ‘you’re not 25 any more’, very helpful!

I’m in pain every day and have been for several years, yesterday has pushed me it up another couple of notches, hopefully the weekend off will see it settle back to normal levels by Monday.

How do the rest of the old ■■■■■ on here manage their physical deterioration?

2

With the use of wisdom and experience I expect. Good drivers are in short supply and I know a lot of TM’s (who themselves are often getting on a bit), value an experienced and skilled driver, and will simply put the more physical work upon younger shoulders.

And the younger drivers providing they are the right sort should willingly do their bit. A respect thing in my view.

3

Mainly by gritting me teeth and getting on with it. My knees and hips ache every day, I have arthritis in both hands that cause maximum pain when I hit my fingers on something. Occasionally I have to handball some goods, having previously had a triple heart bypass I’m not very clever at lifting a lot of weight .

I was loading steel office furniture into a 45 foot box trailer last thursday, but I managed a lot better than the 30 year old bloke who was supposed to be doing most of the loading, I was only there to ‘assist’ but ended up having to lift stuff up that he couldnt (or wouldnt) do. I am 63, I dont think its going to get easier, but each week see’s me nearer that magic age of 65 :slight_smile:

4

There isn’t a great deal you can do to halt the ravages of time tbh, regular exercise will of course help but I have found that as one who is inherently bone idle that it’s better to work smart rather than work hard! It’s constantly surprising to me that guys who load/unload with a pallet truck through the back doors do not take advantage of gravity. Many a time I’ve seen people struggling to push or pull a heavy pallet uphill, this is what air suspension is for, why make life hard for yourself?

5

This old ■■■■…

Went onto fridge work, 90% of my drops are RDC’s. Sitting in a waiting room or sleeping until I have a green light is pretty much all I have to do now. I know to some that sounds dreary but, like the OP my back, shoulder and legs hurt from 30+ years of bouncing around, pulling sheets, tying ropes, stripping tilts, fighting with rusty container doors and doing up curtainsiders. There are one or two drops I do with a pump up but it’s two pallets at the most.

Solid walls easier life.

6

The best thing you can do is eat healthy and do some exercise, don’t become a jabba the hutt looky likey smoking like a chimney all day like most drivers seem to strive for :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

I used to hear drivers moan all the time about back/joint pains and blame the job when I’m sure they’d be be in much less pain if they weren’t 10 stone overweight :laughing:

7

As a relative youngster (37) in the transport industry this is something I’d never given much thought to. I’m fit and slim and I don’t smoke. I eat well and sleep well. But in the last 12 months I’ve developed a touch of arthritis in my right thumb which is apparent when steering, and my mid and upper back hurt all the time. Also, my left shoulder feels as if it has a permanent injury and it often hurts putting my coat on. God help me if I had to defend myself if attacked by an irate driver! Add to this, if I walk more than about 5 miles my hips start to grumble.

So I’m listening to my body more. For instance, I naturally stand with all my weight on one hip most of the time, and I’m starting to notice more and more how often I do this. So when I do, I recognise it and spread my weight equally between both hips. I don’t slouch in the driver’s seat anymore, and make use of the lumber supports. I alter how I put my coat on, and as other posters say, I try to work smart by using gravity and leverage as much as possible. All these things definitely help.

8

Did pallet and occasional handball in my early sixties - never had a problem doing the job.

But I have to confess that some lunchtimes a 200mg ibruprofen did work wonders for the afternoon stint. Back and hips mainly.

Some of the stuff we used to drag around on the pallet trucks was ridiculous.

9

there are times when my knees won’t let me climb up into the cab without some pain,then I find I get slight pain in the knees when i’m driving [i’m 53],had them checked but been told they are ok,strange.

10

Truckman- try elevating your seat height by a couple of clicks.

It should help your knees. I drive a Scania and have a previously injured right knee,and if I do any kind of distance with the seat below it’s highest setting, my knee bothers me.

11

I hear you mate. I started general haulage 30 years ago as a young lad and nothing bothered me but now in my 50’s and having got back into the game, I know my limitations and I’ve registered with some agencies but have stipulated I don’t want heavy manual multi drop work like white goods/ removals etc. I know it limits my job market but my health is more important to me.

Did a day’s driving the other day and it was palleted tips, some forked off, some pallet trucked off the tail lift and I struggled with it but I put that down to just not being used to it on a frequent basis, if I did it every day my body would adjust I guess.

I did 3 years as a Coalman in my early 20’s: Shovelling coal into bags, weighing it and ■■■■■■■ it all onto the wagon then delivering it all, easy at the time, it would kill me now lol

12

Maybe us older ■■■■■ should stipulate tippers, skips and royal mail with yorks only.

13

maga:
don’t become a jabba the hutt looky likey

I used to hear drivers moan all the time about back/joint pains and blame the job when I’m sure they’d be be in much less pain if they weren’t 10 stone overweight

Non smoker and not overweight but everything is worn out it seems!

14

Physio may be worth trying for specific injuries.

If it’s general aches and pains, try doing some stretches, even simple ones. YouTube is helpful or just use you common sense. You’ll be surprised how much you improve after ten-fifteen minutes of gentle stretching a day. We don’t use our full range of motion and especially for those that spend a lot of time sitting, we kind of seize up. Close the curtains, we won’t tell anyone.

But physio for injuries or you can make things worse .

15

eagerbeaver:
Truckman- try elevating your seat height by a couple of clicks.

It should help your knees. I drive a Scania and have a previously injured right knee,and if I do any kind of distance with the seat below it’s highest setting, my knee bothers me.

trouble is I have now been given a bloody Renault premium,the seat can’t go any higher than iv’e set it

16

Twoninety88:
Mainly by gritting me teeth and getting on with it. My knees and hips ache every day, I have arthritis in both hands that cause maximum pain when I hit my fingers on something. Occasionally I have to handball some goods, having previously had a triple heart bypass I’m not very clever at lifting a lot of weight .

I was loading steel office furniture into a 45 foot box trailer last thursday, but I managed a lot better than the 30 year old bloke who was supposed to be doing most of the loading, I was only there to ‘assist’ but ended up having to lift stuff up that he couldnt (or wouldnt) do. I am 63, I dont think its going to get easier, but each week see’s me nearer that magic age of 65 :slight_smile:

The issue I look at here is ‘the magic age of 65’, so you retire, then what? The pain will still be there, probably worse than now and the one thing that has kept you moving, work, is no longer forcing you to keep active. Maybe you’ve got plans that don’t involve you being like many that stop working then stagnate on the bed/ sofa/ sofa bed for a few months/ years then find that they can’t move at all.

17

maga:
The best thing you can do is eat healthy and do some exercise, don’t become a jabba the hutt looky likey smoking like a chimney all day like most drivers seem to strive for :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

I used to hear drivers moan all the time about back/joint pains and blame the job when I’m sure they’d be be in much less pain if they weren’t 10 stone overweight :laughing:

Not me in that subset, have fluctuated between 12 and 13 stone for 40 years or so.

18

Socketset:
Did pallet and occasional handball in my early sixties - never had a problem doing the job.

But I have to confess that some lunchtimes a 200mg ibruprofen did work wonders for the afternoon stint. Back and hips mainly.

Some of the stuff we used to drag around on the pallet trucks was ridiculous.

Very rarely a problem doing the job, it’s the day(s) following that have the pain payback.

19

truckman020:

eagerbeaver:
Truckman- try elevating your seat height by a couple of clicks.

It should help your knees. I drive a Scania and have a previously injured right knee,and if I do any kind of distance with the seat below it’s highest setting, my knee bothers me.

trouble is I have now been given a bloody Renault premium,the seat can’t go any higher than iv’e set it

cushion(s)!

20

albion:
Physio may be worth trying for specific injuries.

If it’s general aches and pains, try doing some stretches, even simple ones. YouTube is helpful or just use you common sense. You’ll be surprised how much you improve after ten-fifteen minutes of gentle stretching a day. We don’t use our full range of motion and especially for those that spend a lot of time sitting, we kind of seize up. Close the curtains, we won’t tell anyone.

But physio for injuries or you can make things worse .

Saw a physio for a few months earlier this year, he said he couldn’t help me and to consider acupuncture.