Seeing The World With Arthritis

Travelling can be stressful at the best of times, let alone when you have arthritis. Seeing the world is more popular than ever but flying, travelling and temperature all come with arthritic challenges.

Follow these 8 tips to make globe-trotting as relaxing and pain-free as possible.

1. Your pre-flight checklist:

• It’s important to take a trip to your doctors beforehand to ensure you have enough medication to last the trip. For those ‘just in case’ moments such as lost baggage, taking spare medication with you is also a good idea.
• Informing your airline of your arthritis in advance allows them to provide a variety of helpful benefits. Wheelchair assistance and early boarding will be on offer if necessary. A member of staff should also help you with your luggage including lifting it into the overhead locker. It should also be possible to take a shuttle to and from boarding.
• If you book a flight that’s not too busy there will be more opportunity to stretch and walk. Ask your travel agent or airline about flights that are less busy than usual. Aisle seats are a must, so you can stretch your muscles and joints even when you’re seated.
• Avoid booking flights that require an early morning start. Most arthritis sufferers know all too well that joints tend to ache in the morning, so make things pain free for the journey by booking a later flight.

2. Bring an assistant...

Whether you’ll be taking lots of taxi rides or going on excursions that require long coach journeys, remember to provide support for your joints by bringing back rolls, pillows, and braces if necessary. It is also important to practise good posture throughout the journey.

3. Take control of the temperature

Hot and cold therapies can be very helpful for pain and stiffness; heat pads and wraps as well as ice packs are handy things to travel with. Choose hotels that have facilities such as heated pools, hot tubs and saunas, especially if you’re visiting a cold destination.

4. Keep moving

When travelling, plan trips that involve regular breaks. Sitting still for long periods of time can provoke stiffness; if you’re road tripping, make time for regular stop-offs to maintain joint movement.

5. Go easy on the Aperol Spritz

Although we’re all guilty of treating ourselves to delicious food and drinks on holiday, it’s still important to choose meals carefully. Airport and rest stop foods are often processed and high in fat which can contribute to promoting inflammation. Carrying healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water (not too much alcohol or caffeine) will help to prevent this.

6. Don’t rush

While some holidays can be full of rest and relaxation, others tend to be full of busy daily itineraries. Planning an extra day at the end of your trip to rest before returning to work can be very beneficial.

7. Accommodation is key

When it comes to choosing where you’ll be settling down each night, always aim to stay in rooms close to ground level to avoid stairs and long walks.

8. Don’t forget Flexiseq

Last but not least, Flexiseq is your ultimate travel companion. Have it with you on the go to relieve joint pain and stiffness so you can continue to explore the world time and time again. If you’ve forgotten to pack it, don’t worry! Flexiseq is available at most airport pharmacies in the UK.