As an Interventional Pain Management Physician, one of the main goals of my practice is to encourage my patients to live the best quality of life possible even with pain. By learning how to manage their pain actively and effectively, chronic pain patients can live full and productive lives, which includes taking trips to wonderful places they’ve always wanted to visit. Traveling and exploring can happen in many ways, and many of my patients tell me of wonderful trips they’ve taken cruising down Europe’s rivers or traveling through Alaska’s Denali National Park by train – seeing all the splendor of nature and the beautiful countryside through large viewing windows or from a ship’s balcony – without walking miles every day. If you can imagine it, it can be done.
So, whether you’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon, visit the Magic Kingdom with the grandkids or view the majesty of Niagara Falls in person, as your physician, I can help you follow your dreams.
Let’s talk about traveling with chronic pain.
When you come to me for a consultation for your chronic pain, you’ve already seen several other physicians who’ve not been able to help you manage your pain effectively or haven’t been able to nail down the root cause of your pain. Don’t hold that against them – it typically requires a bit of detective work to tease out the cause(s) of chronic pain – and that is something in which I specialize. I spend time reviewing your medical records, diagnostic images and testing, and what your other physicians have had to say about your care. I then talk to you extensively about your health issues and your pain, what has worked to alleviate it and what has not.
I then will diagnose you and formulate a treatment plan for your condition and your pain. This plan will be a work in progress and will be tweaked as we learn what is effective. It should work with all aspects of your life and activities, which can include travel, if you wish. As we continue to refine your plan, we will update dosages, make changes to medications, if necessary, utilize clinical procedures to address root causes, and try different therapies to alleviate symptoms. I will encourage you to keep a pain diary to track the efficacy of everything we do.
Because any journey brings special considerations – here are my recommendations for traveling with chronic pain:
- Let me know when you have a trip coming up. The more advanced notice, the better. That way, we can discuss all options beforehand.
- If you are planning international travel and are taking any controlled substances for pain/your conditions, I will need to provide you with written prescriptions/office notes, so you don’t have any issues with foreign customs and border enforcement.
- Chronic pain patients should always buy travel insurance – just in case – that will cover the cost of your medical care, wherever you are, AND the cost of getting home safely.
- There is an advertisement on TV that talks about “Hitting the easy button!” That’s what I recommend for my chronic pain patients. Make it easy.
- Get a rolling suitcase – don’t carry anything if you can help it.
- If walking is difficult/painful – get assistance, especially through airport terminals. Call your airline customer service number to arrange gate-to-gate passenger transport before your departure date.
- Ask for help. If packing is difficult, ask a friend, relative, spouse to help you. If shopping for trip toiletries is an issue, ask for assistance. People love to help others!
- Give yourself plenty of time to prepare and pack.
- Make sure you have all your medications and written scripts in a carry-on bag (if flying).
- Understand that the tension of planning and the stress of traveling, whether by car, plane, RV or boat, will cause you to be more tired and to feel more pain. Be prepared. Stay well hydrated, bring snacks and any regular medication. Long travel days may be good opportunities for capsaicin patches that provide long-release warmth or topical rubs that give long-lasting relief.
- Avoid getting overly tired, which can make chronic pain worse. Take rest breaks often. It’s okay to have a leisurely day of activity between busy sightseeing days. Use common sense and pace yourself.
- Many hotels have spas that provide therapeutic massage, saunas or whirlpool tubs that can feel great to sore muscles after traveling. Take advantage of those when possible.
- Keep a positive attitude. Understand that even though you will have some pain, you are going to have a great trip anyway!