Advice for traveling with leg/hip pain
 

Beginning of April I started to have a nerve like pain in my right leg (mostly calf and hip) Well after many doc appts and phy therapy so far the consensus is that I may have a hip that is out of alignment, hence putting pressure on the sciatica nerve. I have also gone to the podiatrist to get inserts as my feet have pronated for many years. (Have been wearing those in my shoes for 2 months without any relief) While the pain doesn’t make me have to stay in bed all day, I still go to work and such. The pain is pretty bad when I am standing and some walking. I am going on a Viking river cruise to Eastern Europe in late July with my mother. I have tried all kinds of OTC and prescription pills to no help. I am currently doing stretching exercises that the physical therapist taught me that offers very little relief. I have ordered a mini collapsible stool and I am taking with me on the trip when standing becomes unbearable. I was wondering if anyone out there has been in the same or similar situation and can offer any advice that I might have not thought of to help make my vacation more enjoyable and less painful!

I used to have a very physically demanding job, up & down ladders all day. When I began to have sciatic pain I found that a once a month chiropractic "tune-up" kept me free of it. It makes perfect sense, keeping things aligned. If you haven't tried chiropractic, I suggest you do as it's very good for particular problems and this is one of them.

If you do, get recommendations. As in any profession, not all are "stars" and you want a star. Whether they admit it or not, physical strength is an advantage. My very best one was a bodybuilder and I don't think it was coincidental. You'll likely need several adjustments in a row to get things back in alignment, then a regular tune-up, like I did. I wish you well!

My yoga teacher recommended a modified "frog" pose for sciatic pain.

Lay on your stomach on a mat, on a firm surface, put your arm straight out on the sore side, with knee bent and leg out to the side, flat on the floor, slide your knee up toward your hand as far as you can, try to hold for at least 90 seconds.

I second the suggestion to see a chiropractor. Mine saved me from foot surgery for a bunion. But you do need to find the right one.

Take folding walking sticks with you. I find that just having something to slightly lean on eases the pain somewhat. Does your collapsible stool also function as a cane or walking stick?

For your trip in late July, walking sticks and the collapsible stool/cane are good ideas, although I would urge you to practice walking with whatever you decide to bring--you don't want to use something for a full day only to discover that carrying it hurts your shoulder, or whatever.

Bring your stretching bands with you, too, and keep up with those stretches! They may not cure the pain, but stopping stretching is likely to make you feel worse. Ditto the orthotics.

Longer term, consider yoga and Pilates, one on one to begin with (not a video or a large group class). If you are out of alignment and have a weak core (most of us do), working on those issues will bring you relief, but it will take time.

Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

You need to see a chiropractor.

My spouse had similar pain problems which put a real damper on our travel. Visits to chiropractor was ineffective. Using a collapsible stool and walking sticks didn't really provide any lasting relief - pain/discomfort would return in minutes not hours after activity was resumed. The problem didn't get resolved until surgery corrected the problem.

Best advice is seek competent medical help.

<may have a hip that is out of alignment>

That is exactly the type of situation a chiropractor CAN help.

In conversations with a surgeon friend, where backs are concerned he said surgery should be seen as a last resort after other non-invasive alternatives have been exhausted. Surgery isn't always the fix and sometimes makes things permanently worse, as was the case with the doctor's own wife. Try everything else first and give each a chance to work before moving on to the next possibility. Many MDs discount chiropractic entirely while other, more open-minded ones, have one in their office.

Indeed, suze. Chiropractors are mechanics for the spine and limbs. And just what one often needs for a small, and sometimes very painful, misalignment.

But there are chiropractors and chiropractors. It pays to be selective, and if the first doesn't work out, try a second. For instance, mine does feet and legs, and not all do.

well of course I agree you need a GOOD chiropractor (I thought that would go without saying).

I saw a pillow recently that is specifically made for sitting on to relieve sciatic pain. Maybe would be worth having something like that especially for long plane rides?

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I have made an appointment to a local chiro and he was able to get me in this coming Monday. Fingers crossed it fixes the problem or at least alleviates it. I always thought I would have to slow down for my mother, now it looks like my mother might have to slow down for me!!

If it doesn't fix the issue , I guess I will be able to test my theory that "Traveling with pain is better than no travel at all"

Don't give up, D_M, if it isn't a quick fix. Sometimes misalignments that have taken some time to arrive at their current condition also take a while to correct. I'm sure you'll hear that from the doc. Exercise helps the process, walking especially. So please do persist. I'm glad you're giving it a try.

Don't expect a single visit to the chiropractor to "fix the issue". Chiropractic doesn't work like that. Hopefully you will have some relief immediately, but it takes time to get things back into proper alignment when you are so far out/off.

Thanks all!! Its hard not to give up on a treatment when it doesn't work right away, as when you are in pain you defiantly want instant gratification. Will defiantly give it a very fair try!!

It took several months to fix my foot problem, but avoiding surgery was more than worth it. On the other hand I tripped over my own feet a couple of weeks ago and wrenched my leg out of alignment. I saw my chiro today and it seems to be fixed.