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- - - - - - - - - - - - -Arthritis
A Guide to Traveling with Arthritis
If you are like most people, you enjoy traveling
— close to home, across the country, around the world.
If you have arthritis, you may have missed out on the joy of
trips both simple and exotic, or enjoyed them less, perhaps
needlessly. Following are some tips that should help make vacation
travel a little easier, whether your arthritis is mild or severe.
Arthritis may be no day at the beach, but neither should it
keep you from the beach — or Paris, Tokyo and points in
between.
A Good Vacation Requires Good Planning
Enlist a good travel agent to help you plan your trip, and be
specific about your needs or limitations. Many travel agents
and senior citizens' clubs organize special tours with more
leisurely travel and sightseeing schedules.
Write ahead of time — to tour groups,
travel agents, hotels, visitors bureaus for information about
where you are going, what you hope to see and whether those
sites will be accessible to you. Is an elevator available in
place of stairs? Are the paths long and are they paved? Lists
of vacation spots accessible to the disabled are available from
individual states' departments of tourism.
See your doctor while making your travel plans
and discuss your itinerary and physical capabilities with him
or her. Your doctor can advise you about what to do in the event
of symptom flare-ups while traveling.
Select a vacation trip that you are physically
up to. Are you in shape for camping? How much walking can you
manage comfortably? Be realistic about your endurance and plan
your vacation with this in mind.
Build in enough time during your travels to
take needed rests. If traveling with a group, select tours that
set a reasonable pace and offer any special accommodations or
access you may require.
When making hotel accommodations, ask about
the availability of rooms that best meet your physical needs.
Request a room close to the elevator if stairs are a problem
for you. Are bathrooms equipped with bathtub and toilet handrails
and elevated toilet seats? Do doors and faucets have round knobs
or levers? Make sure your hotel is located near the points of
interest you plan to visit. Instead of traveling on weekends,
try to go midweek, when crowds in airports, bus and train terminals
and at popular attractions tend to be thinner.
Pack enough medication to cover the duration
of your trip, then include an extra supply in case of emergencies,
especially if you are traveling outside the country. Keep medicines
in your carry-on bag or purse; that will enable you to follow
your dosing schedule while in transit or if your checked luggage
is lost or delayed. For customs and emergency purposes, carry
your doctor's name and phone number along with a copy of the
prescription for your medication.
Consider using a "fanny" pack —
a small, lightweight pouch fastened by a belt around your waist
— to carry your necessities instead of a shoulder or handbag.
A fanny pack is easier on joints during long walks.
Choose soft, lightweight luggage with shoulder
straps or suitcases equipped with wheels. Use luggage carts
in terminals.
When Going By Plane
Many airlines offer special programs and less expensive fares
to older adults. Be sure to ask about them.
When booking flights, request seats on the aisle and/or behind
the bulkhead; they are easier to get in and out of.
If flight connections require you to move from one gate or
terminal to another, ask in advance about the availability of
wheelchairs or motorized carts.
Airlines always extend seating first to passengers desiring
"extra time" to board. If you need such time, take
advantage of this offer.
When Going By Car
Make motel or hotel reservations in advance. Secure accommodations,
then drive.
Consider bringing along an inflatable horseshoe
pillow for good neck and head support and a back cushion for
back support.
Pace yourself while driving. Don't try to cover
long distances all in one day. Stop often to get out of the
car, stretch muscles and walk or exercise to relieve stiff.
Keep your medications with you; never leave
them in the car where they can be damaged by excessive heat
or cold.
Feeling Good On The Road
Start your trip well rested. Plan and pack at a comfortable
pace; use your energy during the vacation, not before.
Be realistic when planning sightseeing.
Better to start slowly and discover t you can see more than
you'd expected than to wear yourself out early in the trip.
The Arthritis Foundation recommends guarding
against stiffness while travel by performing simple range-of-motion
exercises.
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