Traveling can be stressful. Whether you’re flying or driving, you have to remain alert, and make sure you get places on time. This can be increasingly difficult if you are suffering from intense back pain. With that in mind, here are a few tips for traveling with spine pain (whether from an injury, or previous surgery).

Bring your Meds

If your doctor has prescribed you any pain control medications, be sure to bring them along with you. Having to deal with your pain while traveling can be frustrating to say the least. If your doctor has not given you any prescription pain medication, bring some over-the-counter pain meds like Ibuprofen, or Advil to help control your pain.

Communicate with your Physician

If you know you are going out of town, tell your doctor and ask them if there are any additional steps you can take to lessen the pain while you are out of town. Your surgeon may have special recommendations and restrictions for you if you have just undergone a minimally invasive spine procedure.

Bring a Pillow

Regardless of where your back pain is located (in the neck, the low back, or anywhere in between) a small pillow can make sitting much more comfortable for the duration of your drive or flight.

Move around

Staying seated for long periods of time will only increase your back pain. Shift around in your seat every few minutes, and get up and walk around whenever you can on an airplane. If you’re in a car, take pit stops to stretch your legs and keep your back moving.

Traveling with back pain isn’t fun for anyone. But following these tips and tricks can make the ride smoother, and less painful. And always be sure to tell your surgeon when you are traveling soon after a surgical procedure.

Comments are closed.