As the festive season draws closer, it is quite natural for you to have a vacation on the cards. Whether it is a trip to Asia or a quiet family get together away from the hustle and bustle of daily activities, nothing should go missing from your list of priorities, even when it comes to arthritis. To make things easier for you, here is a list of things that will keep you away from the unbearable trauma of arthritis during the vacation.
Prior the trip tips
Before any vacation or trip, it is absolutely important to pack all essential stuff that you might require over the course of the holiday. However, rheumatic arthritis demands a little more attention to the packing chores, if you want the vacation to remain free of hassles. So, pack the following stuff beforehand and you do not need to worry about arthritis in a foreign land.
Make sure that you have brought more than the required quantity of medication in case circumstances force you to delay the return or extend the stay a few days longer.
Always remember to pack assistance tools which include heating pads, walkers, additional pillows, and canes for a comfortable travel.
Assemble important information before taking the flight. The list includes your physician’s contact number or the phone numbers of emergency services both back home and the place where you are slated to spend the vacation.
Traveling by air
No matter where you choose to fly off to, one thing is certain- you are bound to face congestion at one point or the other. Roads leading to the airport are crammed with traffic. A long queue greets you outside the ticket counter. Even the flights are mostly packed to the brim. The journey promises to leave you tired and worn out and an arthritis problem will only add to the woes. To escape arthritis, it is advisable to practice the following methods.
If possible, book your seats in a flight where the passenger crowd is likely to remain thin and offers a flat travel schedule so that you don’t have to undergo the re-boarding trauma.
Arthritis pain is triggered worse when you stand in a line or sit on an airplane seat for a long time. In order to avoid the situation, keep moving the joints at every possible interval. You can bend the knees while waiting in a queue or get up and walk around during the air travel.
Despite taking all the precautionary measures, if you, sadly, fall prey to arthritis pain, then do not hesitate before summoning a wheel chair or motor escorts at the airport. The idea is to save up every bit of energy left in your body for the holiday and not wasting it while traveling.
They say water is life and it surely is if you are living with a particularly bad case of arthritis. Irrespective of the destination you are going, always make it a point to drink lots and lots of water.
Alcohol is a must no for every vacationer suffering from arthritis. While alcohol may help the flight come off quicker, it accentuates pain all the same. If you are particularly thirsty, pick up a bottle of juice from the drinks cart.
If your seat offers just enough room to squeeze your legs through, ask the cabin crew for one with a bigger space for the legs. There are lots of people around who will be more than happy to exchange their seats for an ailing co-passenger
Traveling by train
You will always fell less stiff when traveling by road transport compared to a flight. Contrary to airplanes, the options for seating are plenty. While buying the tickets, ask for available options in terms of easy accessibility or ones that have been designed keeping people with physical ailments in mind.
While boarding, find out where all the major facilities are situated- a nearby restroom is a case in point. Similar to air travel, it is always better to keep the crew members informed about your situation.
Traveling by road
Automobile is by far the most comfortable among the other travel options. Whether you are handling the wheels or just a rider-the quantity of freedom is always greater. Another big benefit of using the car for traveling is that you don’t have to worry about meeting the schedules.
Leave early for then you have ample time in hand to come out often, flex your body and walk around a bit.
Post arrival tips
If you have come for the vacation accompanied by near and dear ones, inform them beforehand about when and how you might require assistance. Try and book accommodations closer to the ground. The higher you go, more painful it becomes. Arrange your accommodation in such a way that you can avoid the staircase, there is chair you can rise from effortlessly and other stuff to make the stay comfortable. Here is a checklist of things, if you plan to book rooms in a Hotel.
Find out more about the availability of rooms on the ground or first floor.
Ask if there are handrails in the bathrooms.
Look for an accommodation that offers heated pools.
It will be really good if the hotel runs a shuttle service to and from the airport.
With these tips in mind, you are sure to win the battle against arthritis during the upcoming vacation. After all, it is not always that you can make time from your busy schedule to spend with family and friends and nothing should be allowed to spoil the fun, least of all arthritis.
