Frequency Of Breaks (getting Numb On Long Drives)

I saw Old School post recently that he will typically take a break every few hours so I'd like to find out what others typically do.

Michael will have some loads that he has a lot of extra time but others when he must push to get loads delivered on time such as the last few days. He made two deliveries around Stockton, CA and Sacrameto, CA on Tuesday. He spent the night near Lodi, CA and drove about 475 miles to near Boise, ID with one 30 minute break. He drove a short ways to his customer early this morning after a 12 hour 42 minute break and after being unloaded he drove for 6 hours to Springville, UT with no stops until he got there to that customer.

Okay, to the point. Michael says sometimes his butt goes numb and wondered if he had a medical issue and asked me if I could ask the doctor about that (our family of three uses the same primary doctor). I told him he's going to have to take the time to ask the doctor about that himself since there may be some questions the doctor asks that I couldn't answer. I should add that Michael does not usually use cruise control just out of personal preference and I wondered if he changed that habit it would allow him more flexibility to shift his body around on those long drives. Please share your thoughts/experiences.

I saw Old School post recently that he will typically take a break every few hours so I'd like to find out what others typically do.

Michael will have some loads that he has a lot of extra time but others when he must push to get loads delivered on time such as the last few days. He made two deliveries around Stockton, CA and Sacrameto, CA on Tuesday. He spent the night near Lodi, CA and drove about 475 miles to near Boise, ID with one 30 minute break. He drove a short ways to his customer early this morning after a 12 hour 42 minute break and after being unloaded he drove for 6 hours to Springville, UT with no stops until he got there to that customer.

Okay, to the point. Michael says sometimes his butt goes numb and wondered if he had a medical issue and asked me if I could ask the doctor about that (our family of three uses the same primary doctor). I told him he's going to have to take the time to ask the doctor about that himself since there may be some questions the doctor asks that I couldn't answer. I should add that Michael does not usually use cruise control just out of personal preference and I wondered if he changed that habit it would allow him more flexibility to shift his body around on those long drives. Please share your thoughts/experiences.

My suggestion would be a memory foam seat cushion or Purple (brand) seat cushion. I have one of each. Never a numb butt since I started using them.

Geez I’m hoping B.K. checks in on this one…

Geez I’m hoping B.K. checks in on this one…

Haha, here I am. I’m a numb skull, not a numb butt.

Frequency of breaks can be related to having a dog or not. Seriously. Most drivers I have spoken with take breaks every couple of hours, like Old School, if they have a dog to walk. That gets the blood flow going in the butt area and exhaustive government funded scientific studies have shown these breaks to be beneficial.

Tell him to try lowering his seat, I like my seat high but sometimes I have the same problem. Lowering it helps.

I will take them every few hours too. Occasionally I have to do what the load dictates. I have a 200 mile bladder and drink a lit of coffee and water.

I saw Old School post recently that he will typically take a break every few hours so I'd like to find out what others typically do.

Michael will have some loads that he has a lot of extra time but others when he must push to get loads delivered on time such as the last few days. He made two deliveries around Stockton, CA and Sacrameto, CA on Tuesday. He spent the night near Lodi, CA and drove about 475 miles to near Boise, ID with one 30 minute break. He drove a short ways to his customer early this morning after a 12 hour 42 minute break and after being unloaded he drove for 6 hours to Springville, UT with no stops until he got there to that customer.

Okay, to the point. Michael says sometimes his butt goes numb and wondered if he had a medical issue and asked me if I could ask the doctor about that (our family of three uses the same primary doctor). I told him he's going to have to take the time to ask the doctor about that himself since there may be some questions the doctor asks that I couldn't answer. I should add that Michael does not usually use cruise control just out of personal preference and I wondered if he changed that habit it would allow him more flexibility to shift his body around on those long drives. Please share your thoughts/experiences.

My suggestion would be a memory foam seat cushion or Purple (brand) seat cushion. I have one of each. Never a numb butt since I started using them.

I alternate. I don't use them both at once. Thought I would clarify that.

Thank you for all your replies, I'll share them with him when he gets home in a few days. Michael has a big bladder, drinks lots of water, don't know how he does it. Sometimes I think he must only stop when his dog starts crying.

Tell him to try lowering his seat, I like my seat high but sometimes I have the same problem. Lowering it helps.

My suggestion would be a memory foam seat cushion or Purple (brand) seat cushion. I have one of each. Never a numb butt since I started using them.

All the above. Tricks of the trade for Tom, too. Also, cargo pants and/or a RFID minimalist wallet. If a butt pocket is a must, alternate left and right cheeks. Phone case with a built in wallet is also a great option... for some guys. Not Tom.

Seriously, I believe that the wallet atrocity had a lot to do with Tom's issues, especially these last few years.

Another really interesting find as of late (RECENTLY!) is that a Vitamin B12 deficiency can be a contributor. See, dad . . . Michael may indeed be correct in wanting to consult his physician, after all.

Here's an article that I'd gotten via push, on my phone .. from Insider Magazine, just today!!

I've already forwarded to Tom: Numbness and my Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Kelly Reissman; Insider.

Let us know if any of the above works / helps, Harv. Take care;

~ Anne ~

Tell him to try lowering his seat, I like my seat high but sometimes I have the same problem. Lowering it helps.

My suggestion would be a memory foam seat cushion or Purple (brand) seat cushion. I have one of each. Never a numb butt since I started using them.

All the above. Tricks of the trade for Tom, too. Also, cargo pants and/or a RFID minimalist wallet. If a butt pocket is a must, alternate left and right cheeks. Phone case with a built in wallet is also a great option... for some guys. Not Tom.

Seriously, I believe that the wallet atrocity had a lot to do with Tom's issues, especially these last few years.

Another really interesting find as of late (RECENTLY!) is that a Vitamin B12 deficiency can be a contributor. See, dad . . . Michael may indeed be correct in wanting to consult his physician, after all.

Here's an article that I'd gotten via push, on my phone .. from Insider Magazine, just today!!

I've already forwarded to Tom: Numbness and my Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Kelly Reissman; Insider.

Let us know if any of the above works / helps, Harv. Take care;

~ Anne ~

My dad had the same issue with wallets. He always had a trifold wallet and used it like a purse. When his already bad back was getting to be unmanageable, his Dr told him to either slim down the wallet or move it yo a front pocket. He has since eliminated nearly all of his back issues by doing that.