Not everyone can handle being a long-haul truck driver. After all, truckers must spend countless hours in cramped spaces, often leaving their families for weeks or even months at a time. Most commercial drivers also must put up with fatigue and body aches.
If you have numbing or pain in your fingers, hands or wrists, though, your body aches might be something more serious. Indeed, you could have carpal tunnel syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, CTS is the result of too much pressure on an important nerve. Here are some ways you may be able to prevent it.
Wrist braces
If you think you might have CTS, you should talk to your doctor about your options. Still, many with the condition find relief when wearing wrist braces, as braces can reduce pressure on the median nerves in your wrists.
Breaks
For a variety of reasons, it is important for long-haul truckers to take regular rest breaks. As far as your wrist health goes, though, breaks give you an opportunity to reposition and relax your wrists. Each of these can help reduce strain on sore nerves and ligaments.
Stretches
Stretching your wrists also can alleviate the discomfort that comes with CTS. Luckily, provided you maintain focus on the road, you can probably stretch your wrists when you are behind the wheel.
Even if you are diligent, you might not be able to avoid CTS forever. Ultimately, by pursuing workers’ compensation benefits, you are likely to have the financial means you need to obtain competent medical care.
