Many adults spend a lot of time driving. Driving to and from the job, running errands, or going to special events, we spend all that time getting stuck in the car. And what comes with all that time sitting behind the wheels? To some, it's just moderate pain, but for most people, severe leg pain starts, specifically in the right leg. Why is it the right leg? It's because this leg does all the hefty lifting when you drive. This is why sometimes it can get tight and aching when you've been driving for extended hours without a break.
You probably recognize the negative aspects, if your work requires a lot of driving, for example, you are a tractor-trailer driver, USPS, or a bus driver. These consist of discomfort, aches, and discomforts of the legs and lower back that can be experienced with extended hours of driving. Thankfully, there are methods to alleviate that pain and help avoid it without seeing a physician.
What Causes Pain in your Leg while Driving
Leg pain starts when the nerves in your back and legs are squeezed or compressed for long periods. Sitting wrong in a chair or having something pushing against those nerves for an extended period can trigger numbness and pain. Your right leg can especially get disturbing since it is doing all the work managing the breaks and accelerator while driving around, particularly if you don't have cruise control.
If you do not have cruise control for those long journeys, the muscles in your legs will cramp up and also get stiff from remaining in specific positions, specifically your right leg. Your whole leg can cramp up and pain from being stuck in one placement.
Your right leg will take the brunt of the pain triggered by driving for long distances. Your knee is held at a particular angle for extended periods, creating tension in the muscle around the knee as well as squeezing the nerves they surround. The nerve that suffers the most in these instances is your sciatic nerve.
The most common cause of leg discomfort in healthy individuals is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve by sitting still for extended periods without different activities, like when driving. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It starts in your lower back, splits in two at the hips, and runs down both your legs to your feet. Prolong pressure on the sciatic nerve is the number one cause of right leg pain while driving.
Usual Symptoms of Right Leg Pain
The most typical right leg pain symptoms while driving are numbness, tingling, or your foot falling asleep altogether. Pains and tightness are also widespread with right leg pain from driving.
We can all agree that the tingling or feeling of needles in your legs is the most awful, right? The unexpected dread that washes over you as you realize your leg has gone to sleep. After then, these sensations will undoubtedly follow as you begin to move around to get the blood flowing once again. The dance you perform, the faces, and complaining that ensues will make everyone laugh at your pain.
Okay, so your leg falling asleep is not the worst that can happen, yet it sure seems like it at the time. Knee pain and tightness are most definitely the worst, mainly if it stays even after stretching and walking around. It can seem like a balloon remains in there, slowly broadening and creating a lot of pain. This can be particularly so if you currently have joint problems.
Luckily there are numerous ways to alleviate and lengthen the approaching symptoms that will affect your right leg while driving those long distances. No need to dish out thousands of dollars for pricey equipment or to visit specialized medical professionals. Hallelujah to modern medicine and technology!
8 Ways To Reduce Right Leg Discomfort
Great news! There are simple and also affordable means to help you deal with right leg discomfort while driving. There are easy to use tools like wedge cushion and mesh back support systems. You can purchase them online to install on the car seats to help you defeat leg discomfort.
These devices will elevate pain in your legs by giving additional assistance to your lower back and hips, helping to prevent pinching the fragile and particular nerves.
1. Memory Foam Cushions are a great option as they are very comfortable and soft, yet will certainly still give the required assistance your hips need for those lengthy driving sessions. Memory foam cushions help create a buffer between the nerves in your legs and the seat under you. This helps in preventing them from being pressed as much.
By extending the compression that occurs to the sciatic nerves in your legs, you can sit for more extended periods, which is excellent for those cross-country journeys or long periods stuck in rush-hour traffic.
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2. Taking breaks throughout long road trips is another fantastic approach to lower right leg pain while driving. You can stretch your legs and walk around while getting gas or hitting up a rest area along the way. Hit the vending machines or walk around and take some one-of-a-kind view pictures. Perhaps the rest area has some odd statuaries as well as artworks.
3. Pre-drive stretching is another method to prevent leg pain on those lengthy driving sessions. It will give the muscles the chance to get ready for an extended period of tension. This will undoubtedly be enduring as you drive. It will work the same way as if you are about to do some hard workout or activities.
4. Post-drive stretching will help your muscles relax and maintain them in much better condition overall. Stretching will help alleviate any built-up stress still lingering in your muscles from driving. This will help keep the pain away.
5. Mesh Back Support Systems can likewise help with pain relief in the legs and lower back. They provide extra assistance for your back, minimizing the nerves' pressure from long term sitting.
6. Use muscle-relaxant ointments to help maintain the muscles relaced as your drive and help alleviate any pain that occurs on the long trips. You can likewise take Advil to keep the pain at bay.
7. Use loose-fitting clothing that fits and will not limit your activities or apply more pressure on your legs as you sit. Tight-fitting clothes add unneeded pressure on the thighs when you are sitting. Also, some trousers can put more pressure on the knees. So still with loosened clothes to remove that additional factor.
8. Ward and cold compresses are another conveniently available and effective therapies for pain. Both of them help yet differ in physical effects. In the case of leg discomfort, as a result of recurring activities or muscle aches from driving, using heat will certainly help most of the time. Nonetheless, it does not suggest that cold compress or ice treatment has no worth. If you are not aware of when to use a warm or cold compress, be sure to know the difference.
Give Your Legs as well as Nerves a Break from Pain and Pressure
Offering the nerves a break from the pressure of sitting will stop it from obtaining too unbearable in the future. This will also make your trip less demanding and even more delightful. Think of all the fantastic memories you can make by stopping and looking around.
Pain-Free Driving is Much More Enjoyable
Lower back and leg discomfort prevention while driving will undoubtedly make your trips much more delightful. If you love driving around and taking journeys, yet despise the pains and discomfort you deal with sitting still for all that time, then why not give these methods a shot. See the difference they'll make. If you currently have your very own strategies for making driving long distances a lot more comfy, include new ones and try them out.
