Marsh

My husband and I just returned from a five week trip to Spain and Portugal which was planned by me. We had many great experiences, but my husband has bad knees and stairs are a pain for him. Of course, it seemed that everywhere we went there were stairs! Also, a lot of walking is involved in sight-seeing a city. He prefers to sit whenever possible. Early into the trip he stated that this might be his last trip! We have made about a dozen trips of at least a month in the past. I am trying to think of how we could make travel easier for him in the future. We would prefer not to do a group tour, although we have done so in the past to China, India, Thailand, Egypt, and Russia. I know that many people really like solo travel, but I don't think I could do that. I am 65 and in good health, and my husband is 69. Any ideas for us?

lavandula

Had you thought about cruising? Not quite the same as a group tour. I was thinking specifically of some of the river cruises you can do through Europe, such as those on the Rhine. They allow you to get off and explore periodically, but how much you do of that is up to you.

Lavandula

thursdaysd

Your husband has my sympathy - I'm currently traveling solo in Asia with unhappy feet - I turned my ankle in Vancouver at the start of the trip. Plus, if you click on my name you'll find my "Sore Foot" tour report. Unfortunately, older buildings and poorer countries (and even some not-poor ones, like Japan), come with stairs. Lots of them.

In poorer countries, however, taxis are cheap. I didn't want to take taxis in Japan, but have taken them quite often in South Korea and Taiwan. I won't take them in Hong Kong, but I'll be taking rickshaws in India. This doesn't help with sights with lots of stairs, but it does get you around. So, have you considered travel in Asia rather than Europe?

persimmondeb

I know they make people feel old, but a walking stick or cane can be a great help. My father started using one just before our trip to Ireland, and it made such a difference. He can walk easily without one, but with it he can walk much farther without tiring as fast, and feels much more stable on stairs, or if surfaces are wet or slippery. It's also a visual cue that he really could use a seat, especially on public transportation.

suze

Use the wheelchair service available at most airports. It's really a lifesaver. It's free and they are very nice about it (in my experience after a knee surgery). They whisk you around behind the scenes.

How about taking city tours? Still travel independently but sign up for bus tours that shows you an overview of the major sights of a city, without so much walking.

Dayenu

Another vote for cruising. No worry about restaurant or hotel locations, steps, evening activities. You can come back early if the whole day on feet is difficult, or you can take a tour - on cruise websites they have the degree of difficulty posted.

Can your husband use a seat cane? It's a walking cane with 3 legs, and a small chair seat fold out. I've seen people using them.

If you decide to travel alone, check out Elderhostel. They also have degree of difficulty posted on the website.

LEANNA

Use a cane!!!! I have no problems in real life but since I rolled down that pyramid in Mexico a ocuple of years ago I have been using a cane for travel and all those uneven surfaces.

It helps soooo much!! Makes all the diff and also reminds me to slow down and be a bit careful

Once you fall.....you will get over any ego about canes and what nots.....the important thing is to walk, climb, slowly and safely and come home in one piece!

Marsh

Thanks so much for some excellent ideas! While on this trip a person loaned a walking stick to my husband for him to test for a short while. He has resisted taking a walking stick or cane when I suggested it. I think it is the idea of it, plus he doesn't want to have to keep up with it.

thursdaysd

What I take is a collapsible hiking stick from REI, that just fits into my checked backpack. If my feet are happy, it's a hiking stick, if they're not, as on my current trip, it's a cane. It has a wrist loop, so I can hang it off my wrist to take photos.

Bokhara2

Two of the fittest people I know are their late 40's and always travel with Nordic poles for their walks. Your collapsible stick looks perfect, thursdaysd. Theirs have wrist straps too and weigh practically nothing.

I always thought a shooting stick would be perfect if the "U" piece was high enough to use as a walking stick. That way, I'd have a seat if I needed it and a handy stick for negotiating slopes etc, otherwise.

Call it a "hiking" stick & wipe 30 years off your husband's mental image of it

Iowa_Redhead

Don't let him give up on traveling because of his knees, you sound like you both have plenty of trips left in you!

The cane that folds out into a seat is an excellent solution for a lot of people. It gives the extra support and balance of a cane but also gives him an easy rest stop whenever he might want it. If his resistance to a cane/walking stick is that it makes him feel old then ask him if he'd feel younger sitting at home.

Can you try other types of trips... cruises have been suggested, but also driving vacations. Drive around the country for a few weeks, or fly to the other side of the country, rent a car and drive back or just in a regional area. Would traveling for 2 weeks at a time be easier on him than 4 weeks at a time? About the time his knees really start to feel it, it would be time to head home.

Use taxi's when you can to save his knees and have him sit (the cane seat or on a bench) whenever possible. A private driver is actually pretty cheap in some areas/cities and that would allow you to walk from car to location and less in between. Build more rest breaks into your daily plans.

Has he talked to his doctor about it? My Mom has really bad knees and was on arthritis meds for it, which really helped. She switched from the traditional arthritis meds to something called Lubrisyn (sp?). It takes about a month to really get the full effect but it acts like a joint lubrication I think. Mom is completely off of the arthritis meds and only uses the Lubrisyn. Something else that has helped some older friends is a light knee brace (think a stiff sleeve around the knee). It adds just enough support to help but doesn't really restrict movement or add bulk/weight. Have him at least discuss various options with his doctor before he gives up something like traveling.

gail

(Rehab nurse here). If his knees bothered him on stairs on your trip they bother him at home - unless he sits all the time, which contributes to the problem. So start with getting some specialist attention to his knees - which might not be the actual problem at all. Hip problems can cause knee symptoms. Even circulation problems to the legs may make them feel "heavy" and make walking difficult.

So start looking at the knees rather than the travel. My mother, age 75 at the time, went to London with my dtr and me - knowing the walking and transportation systems would be a problem. A cortisone shot prior to the trip was a big help, but the experience prompted her to get some really good medical advice about her knees in general. She is now age 82, has 2 new hips, 1 new knee, and is able to do stairs, drive, go to exercises at the Y twice a week.

As far as the answer to your question - hop-on/hop-off buses on first day of trip to any city give you an overview of city and ability to make sightseeing more efficient thereafter.

Consider the walking surface - it is at least twice as difficult and tiring to walk on uneven surfaces like cobblestones, which cause the knees to twist with every step. So more modern cities might be a better choice. Also shoes - cross-trainer shoes/sneakers are often the best choice for different walking surfaces.

Second the taxi vote - resting the knees during regular walking can save some strength for unavoidable stairs. My guess is that your travel style is to walk - so taking a taxi for shorter distances becomes a travel style shift, but really is not all that expensive for 2 people compared to mass transit.

nona1

Try taking shorter trips. 5 weeks is tiring for anyone.

JAGM

I am a fellow knee sufferer and have been told I need both replaced. I truly appreciate the difficulty with steps. I am 59 and in good shape, but have a structural problem. Before 2 trips (Peru and Holland), I got cortisone shots. I walk nearly daily and use the collapsible walking poles and I think I look sporty, not old and decrepit!! I do try to walk on as flat a surface as possible. Best of all, I have been doing Iyengar YOGA for 6 months and my knees have improved so much, I may not need the replacements for years. My instructor helps adapt poses and I am using less padding behind my knees than when I started. My orthopedic doc said yoga was excellent.

Marsh

Just found your recent suggestions! Thanks! My husband saw a Dr. about a month after a knee injury over six years ago (I had to drag him there!), and the Dr. said the only solution was knee replacement surgery! My husband will not even consider that. He takes glucosamine supplements & thinks that helps. On this last trip we did use taxis a lot, and the idea of shorter trips is what he has suggested. And yes the statement that if his knees bothered him on the trip, they bother him at home is true. And, he does sit a lot, in spite of my encouraging (nagging?) him to exercise some. I really appreciate the good suggestions from you fellow travelers!

Iowa_Redhead

Marsh, why won't your husband consider knee replacement? It's not for everyone or every knee problem, but I've known SO MANY people who have asked "why did I wait so long??" The rehab isn't fun and you have to be good about doing the full rehab, but so many people get such amazing results from a replacement.

Please have him discuss it with his doctor and talk to people who have had knee replacements. I think there's at least a few regulars on the Lounge forum who have had replacements.

Iowa_Redhead

Marsh, here's a topic on knee replacements.

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...eplacement.cfm

dutyfree

As someone who needs both knees replaced;has stomach ulcers from aspirin and ibuprofen for pain and has my knees drained and cortisoned shot every 90 days-I say travel by renting a car. I find that my best vacations lately involve a rental car so it is shorter for me to get from point a to point b.I can leave alot of my stuff in the car instead of trying to carry everything around which relieves the strain on my knees.
Yes, I know that surgery is the best but in the last few years my life does not allow me to have 3/4 months of not getting around till I am well.I wish your husband all the best AND personally,a couple glasses of red wine always helps the pain at night to sleep. My doctor agrees!

frogoutofwater

You could also look at doing some travel that involves less go-go-go. Rent an apartment or a house for a couple of weeks and enjoy living like residents. Go shopping in the markets (some walking but not hours of it) for interesting meals at home, or for picnics in parks. Do some sightseeing, but spread it out over several weeks - a couple of hours a couple of times per week. Hire a guide with a car or van for a couple of half-day or full-day sightseeing trips. Rent a car for a few days to do some exploring. Go to a language school for a couple of hours in the morning, or find a teacher who will come to your place or meet you in an interesting cafe where you can learn the language while people-watching.