Will Major Foot Cramps (that Temporarily May Impair Driving) Mess Up Getting A Trucking Career Going? (schooling, Hiring, Training, Etc)

Will Major Foot Cramps (that temporarily may impair driving) mess up getting a trucking career going? (schooling, hiring, training, etc)

(these foot cramps are well worse than normal ones, otherwise i wouldn't even care about something as silly and mild as Average foot cramps. But as bad as they are, they aren't absolutely insanely ridiculously bad, just very very very harsh - Not your standard foot cramps)

So, I'm Just wondering if my once-every-two-or-three-week cramps (which are rather intense, as i said before), will mess anything up. I'm sure I can pass a Dot physical, But i'm just imagining : Going to school, or starting work at a company, and I say: "oh wait, I need to pull over and get out and walk around for a few minutes because I got this foot cramp out of the blue here", will cause anyone to say "Oh, this guy is impaired and needs to get referred to Dot to look into in-depth treatment, etc etc...

Maybe I'm just worried about nothing, and I can very likely just hide it, barrel thru it, and drive just fine (but with 10 minutes of harsh pain), and no one will even notice i have them... On a few rare occasions the cramps get bad enough that i've had to walk around, and with a limp from the very very severe pain in my foot and calves, for 5-10 minutes (but this has only happened a few times in the past many months)..

Also, I will say I've done a TON of research and practiced a ton of treatments, stretches, exercises, supplements, hydration, dietary changes, etc etc etc etc, and those have all helped to an extent - so no need for any info about that (but i can provide some if anyone needs it) - I'm really just worried about my concerns stated above...

Thank You So Much for Any Answers about this!! This forum absoutely Rocks, as does TruckingTruth in general!!!

Thanks Again, Lee

Lee, what causes these cramps? Have you gotten a diagnosis on the cause?

I’ve occasionally had charley horses, but no foot cramps.

From what you’ve described, I think your malady would not be an impediment to driving, unless it makes you unable to apply the brakes. Now that would be a big problem.

Have you sought the advice of a Functional Medicine Doctor, a chiropractor or tried acupuncture? I didn't see these on your list.

It depends.

Does it cause a distracting pain that will cause you to spasm and not be able to push a break pedal? Would the cramp keep your attention off the road ? If not then it shouldn’t hurt your chances. If so then that could be a big problem. Your attention must be on the road 100% of the time and not somewhere else. Not sayin that to be mean but you will need to take a realistic look at it. Is there an underlying problem? Is it treatable to where it wouldn’t be as severe? I hope things work out for you. Good luck!

Haven't found the cause (cramps are often difficult to diagnose), Also, they run in my family, my mom has the same exact problem (she even got a cramp so bad it caused her to pull a muscle! Sheesh!)..

I can brake, and use pedals functionally, but with pain; but I'm worried if i need to pull over and get out and walk around (sometimes thats the only thing that helps - walking), if an instructor, trainer, etc, sees i have a foot cramp, and i need to stop driving and get out and walk for 10 minutes, if that would raise any red flags, and i would be considered impaired, and consequently have to then go to dot about them, etc? I'm pretty sure i could just bite the bullet if i had to, and keep driving with the pain, and wait for it to pass.. The one time it happened in my car, about a month ago, i was able to slow down and drive to a parking spot well enough (at which point i walked around and i was fine 15 minutes later.. I'm just not sure if it's the kind of thing they would flip out about, or would they just say "eh, whatever, it's just a foot cramp - almost everyone gets those sometimes"..

Thanks! -Lee

I haven't been to a doctor, etc, about it, and they have slowly been getting better from many things i've done after a bunch of personal research, but if they don't go away, or get worse, or are a dealbreaker for trucking, then i certainly will pay the money to go to a professional.

Thanks for responding! :) -Lee

I haven't been to a doctor, etc, about it, and they have slowly been getting better from many things i've done after a bunch of personal research, but if they don't go away, or get worse, or are a dealbreaker for trucking, then i certainly will pay the money to go to a professional.

Thanks for responding! :) -Lee

Howdy, Lee !

Do you get enough Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium in your diet? When's the last time you've had a blood work up?

It might be in your best interest to 'have' a DOT physical (Yeah, kinda like jumping the gun) on your own; before hand. Most insurance (private) companies will pay for it, just like my kiddo's "Sports" physical. It's a bit more of a 'workup' and well worth it, even if there IS a small copay.

Wish you well!

~ Anne ~

ps: IMHO, it's NOT a dealbreaker at all, the way you describe it. If it's tolerable until 'treated' (aka: walking after parking, et al ..) I'm not seeing an issue. Above (or other) supplements may indeed, TCO this for you, however.

Thank you everybody for all those replies and helpful comments!! This really sets my mind at ease. It sounds like there will be some understanding of the situation during schooling and so forth, and i shouldn't be too worried. Also, i'm hesitant to go to a doctor about it, becuase my mom had the exact same issue in the exact same place, and they wound up giving her this really expensive physical therapy which didn't even help.. The issue is slowly but surely getting better (hydration & supplements (including keeping chewable tums(which only contain calcium) in my pocket or near me) & stretches seem to be helping the most, along with other stuff).. So yeah, it sounds like it shouldn't be a major issue for the instructors etc, regardless, so, thanks again - this was a big worry for me - i start school in 2 months and i'm very excited!! :) You Rock - TruckingTruth Peoples!!!!!

-lee

You better watch any supplements for "extra calcium". Totally unnecessary unless you wish to develop stones to pass. Personally, I'll take a foot cramp any day.

Thank you everybody for all those replies and helpful comments!! This really sets my mind at ease. It sounds like there will be some understanding of the situation during schooling and so forth, and i shouldn't be too worried. Also, i'm hesitant to go to a doctor about it, becuase my mom had the exact same issue in the exact same place, and they wound up giving her this really expensive physical therapy which didn't even help.. The issue is slowly but surely getting better (hydration & supplements (including keeping chewable tums(which only contain calcium) in my pocket or near me) & stretches seem to be helping the most, along with other stuff).. So yeah, it sounds like it shouldn't be a major issue for the instructors etc, regardless, so, thanks again - this was a big worry for me - i start school in 2 months and i'm very excited!! :) You Rock - TruckingTruth Peoples!!!!!

-lee

'Tis what TT's here for, Lee !!

Who'd you decide go go with... anyhow? One of these? Apply For Paid CDL Training!!

You should ALSO ... check out this:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

You got this!!!

~ Anne ~