I’m pretty sure everyone loves the idea of traveling, from a simple shopping trip to a picnic in the nearby park or beach. But usually, we tend to get more excited if it involves visiting a new country. Of course, it’s a new environment. There are different kinds of food, attractions, activities, and so on.
However, there are situations when one might not have the capacity to fully enjoy such a trip. Let’s say you have a medical condition, such as a problem with your spine. Traveling might cause some discomfort to your back. Of course, this requires long hours of sitting down on planes. And upon arriving, you’d spend a lot of time walking around.
But you shouldn’t need to worry that much since there are still ways to go and see the world despite such hindrances.
Get Some Treatment
Not all spinal problems are serious to the extent where one might need surgery. Take scoliosis, for example. There are now clinics that are offering a non-surgical treatment for such a condition. Usually, that would last for about four weeks.
For those who have chronic diseases, it’s still possible to travel as well. Of course, with old age comes the risk of acquiring more illnesses. But with the proper planning and preparation, one can still enjoy going on trips. However, there are a few precautions that you need to follow beforehand.
Careful Planning
Consult a Doctor
While you’re planning a trip, you’ll usually need to consider the flight and hotel arrangements before anything else. But, if you happen to be experiencing health problems, it’s ideal to consult with a doctor first.
Ask them about the things you’d need to bring if there are any medicines you need to take, and so on. Since you’ll be staying in a different environment, it may pose a threat to your well-being.
Your doctor may also recommend that you do some research. This is because there are instances when you might need to get vaccinated. However, this would depend on your itinerary. Different countries have their own safety protocols, so you should know these as well.
Flight Arrangements
Afterward, you can now proceed to book your flight. It would be ideal for taking one that has lesser people on board. You can check the schedule or contact the airline directly. You should also let them know of your condition so that they’ll be ready to assist you on the day of your flight.
If you underwent therapy, you might be taking some medications for the pain as well. So, make sure that you know the guidelines about bringing those throughout the journey. As mentioned, long flights might also cause discomfort if you have complications in your spine. So, you can ask for some pillows to support your back. After a while, you may experience stiffness as well. So, try standing up from time to time and do some stretching to relieve your muscles.
What to Eat
Upon arriving at your destination and settling down in your hotel room, of course, you’d want to go out and explore. You might decide to find something to eat first, so you’d have the energy to walk around.
However, you should keep in mind that your nutrition is important at times like these. You should watch out for food with a lot of additives, salt, sugar, and caffeine. These may cause your body to lose calcium, which isn’t good, especially for your condition. Instead, go for healthier options like nuts, eggs, vegetables, and protein.
Yes, I know that the variety of new dishes can be tempting. And since your vacation won’t last forever, you can spoil yourself every once in a while. You might want to try out the different fast food establishments around the area.
Or if you want to go for something a little fancier, you can reserve a table in a fine dining restaurant. The country you visit might be popular for its selection of meat products. So, don’t allow yourself to miss out on the opportunity. But, remember that you’d need to consume all these in moderation. You wouldn’t want to end your trip earlier than expected.
Live in the Moment
Yes, you’d need to consider many things if you are experiencing such conditions, from carefully planning out every aspect of your trip to the diet that you need to follow, and so on. However, you shouldn’t let that stop you from enjoying life.
What matters is that you still have the privilege of traveling around the world. Not everyone is capable of doing so. Whether it’s due to financial matters, time constraints, or other reasons. So, consider yourself lucky and make the most out of your journey.
