Whether you’ve planned a local staycation with the family or you’re flying halfway around the world to reach your dream destination, back pain can ruin the best laid travel plans. Packing the car and carrying luggage and kids, then driving for long distances in stop and go traffic, can make anyone’s back hurt. Add travel stress and tension, airports and TSA, and you have a recipe for muscle spasms. If you have pinched nerves and sciatica, we’re talking about a different level of discomfort while traveling.
As a busy spine specialist, I help patients get ready for the big occasions in their lives – graduations, weddings, anniversaries, trips – because they count on me to see them through their back pain, no matter what is happening in their lives. That’s part of my job that I love – helping you live your best life possible, even if you have a back issue.
So, take my advice…the best time to act is now, by getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan weeks or months BEFORE your scheduled departure date. That way, we can get your treatment well under way and get you feeling better and ready to enjoy your vacation rather than dreading it!
When you come in for an office visit with me, I’ll order x-rays, do a complete physical examination, ask you a lot of questions and ask you to move and bend your back to the front, side and backwards. I learn a lot by watching you move while we are in the exam room.
Most back pain is either caused by a muscular issue or is nerve related, but certainly there are patients who have boney arthritis or other structural issues that cause back pain. Be forewarned – I don’t prescribe opioid pain medications for simple back pain.
Most patients are treated conservatively with prescription anti-inflammatory medications given orally at first and sometimes I will add other medications known to help with pain. I may prescribe muscle relaxants when there are muscle spasms. Steroid injections are used for more severe inflammation, swelling and stiffness in muscles or tendons. These typically provide relief in less than a week.
Physical Therapy can relax and strengthen the muscles in your back for your upcoming trip. The Physical Therapist can also use specific modalities, such as hot packs, H-wave and laser treatments, which can help to reduce inflammation in the back, speed healing and aid tissue repair. As a bonus – the therapies feel great too! The more sessions of PT you can complete before your trip – the better.
Patients who have back pain caused by a pinched nerve that doesn’t respond to oral steroids may need an epidural steroid injection to reduce inflammation at the nerve root. These are highly effective at relieving pain. For some nerve pain, we may also try a nerve calming drug, like gabapentin, to see if we can stop that nerve from over-reacting and constantly sending pain signals.
For patients who are planning on long plane trips, I recommend the purchase of a seat with more leg room, so that you can move and switch positions often. Get up, walk around and stretch your back and legs whenever possible.
Heat patches are often a comfort to patients traveling with a sore back. Purchasing capsaicin patches that can be worn under your clothes will provide hours of heat to keep your muscles loose and relaxed while you travel. A bonus is – they don’t have an odor, like many topical muscle creams do.
Purchase roller-board luggage and avoid carrying heavy bags which places additional strain on your back.
If you’ve had a particularly active day and your back is hurting, take it easy the next day with more leisurely activities. Use some common sense and don’t let your travel companions talk you into something else. Sit out bungee jumping this time and opt for the sunset river cruise. If everyone else goes canoeing, it’s absolutely okay if you spend a day in camp relaxing in a lounge chair reading a book. Rest when you need to do so.
Continue your at-home PT exercises for your back while you are on your trip. Remember to stretch every day before starting your activities and before going to bed every night. Stay well hydrated.
Wherever you’re headed, I’m sure it will be an adventure to remember! Bon Voyage!