Whether you’re traveling by plane, train or car, being prepared is the key to avoiding chronic pain flare-ups. If you’re traveling alone, it’s important to have every last reservation and travel accommodation dialed down to the minute. Arrive at the airport or train station 30-45 minutes earlier than you normally would to beat the hustle and bustle. If you have trouble walking long-distances or for longer periods of time, call the airport ahead of time for a wheelchair/scooter accommodation and/or the hotel for a room that’s close to an elevator. Here are a few of my tips and I included a couple of articles with additional ideas to make your travels
Get some protein at breakfast.
It may not be typically Continental, but it’s important to ingest some protein early in the day to keep energy level stable and muscles moving. Hardboiled eggs and yogurt are a great start.
Use elevators whenever you can.
There will be plenty of places where elevators don’t work or don’t exist. Just because I can climb some stairs doesn’t mean I need to climb all of them. You will get lots of chances to climb stairs but to avoid flare ups during your trip ride the elevators and escalators whenever you get the chance.
Bring cold and hot packs for quick pain relief
Despite taking the necessary precautions, your back pain may still flare up. If it does try applying a cold pack or alternating ice and heat. Ice and hot packs should be easily accessible while traveling. If not, you can simply put some ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the area of pain. Plan ahead by bringing disposable hot packs that heat up when you open them. Commercial heat wraps are also available, which wrap around the middle of the body and incorporate heating units. Some heat wraps last several hours, making them ideal during a lengthy trip. However, too much heat can add to swelling, so be cautious. It can be helpful to alternate ice and heat for 10-15 minutes each.
Best of luck – and have a great trip!
Related Articles:
Pain Management Tips for Traveling
The Imperfect Traveler’s Guide to Traveling With Pain, by Liz Hamill