Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Tips for a road trip

Hi All,

I will be undertaking a 20 hour road trip this weekend by car from Pune (Mumbai) to Bangalore and was wondering if there's anything special that i need to take care of, given my AS. Not many people in India do this, so i figured it would be best to ask here. I am doing this because, I have been asked by my company to stay in Bangalore for around 12 weeks and i thought it would be nice to have my own ride in the city.

ASwise, things are a little shaky these days with the right hip causing some pain on weight bearing...

Any thoughts welcome. Thanks in advance.

Ankush

Take breaks in between. May be after every few hours. Would advice a break for rest over the night and start again for the next day. Better take a break if you feel tired.

Ankush, the most important thing is to take frequent breaks from driving. Stop every hour or so (every half hour would be better, but then the trip would take DAYS!) and walk about, stretch a bit, get your muscles and joints moving again. See if you can get good lumbar support for your seat and make sure your seatback is properly vertical, with the head rest up high enough that the top of it comes to about half way up your head. That way, if you have an accident, your head can't flip backward over the head rest. Doing this drive over two or three days would be best, so you can have less time behind the wheel every day.

Hope that helps.

Warm hugs,

my first thought was the frequent breaks like everyone else suggested.

for me, that's not really enough, unless the trip were to become a week event. for me, i can stretch my journey from an hour to maybe two or three with ice packs. but that's not really very practical for longer trips.

i've thought about and eventually will get heated seat cushions. since my vehicle didn't come with them, i see they can be bought, though don't seem as reliable, so looking for a reliable source. i figure if i can sit in my recliner or office chair for an extended period of time with my heating pad, then heated car seats might do the same thing for me.

so i guess it really depends on what helps you with sitting in general. for me it would be the breaks and heat or ice.

and as was also suggested. whenever i travel, usually a short plane ride, i always make sure i arrive the day before, so i can recover before the week's activities begin.

once there, i'd make sure i had anything that helps you to sleep. things you use at home for a good nights sleep, be it a special pillow, drugs, etc.

have a good trip!

I found that a really soft foam cushion to sit on helped. If they are available there, I love the ThermaCare heating pads. There is a chemical reaction that heats them up without any electric plug. Ice bags help also, if you can get ice cubes along the way. I agree that you need to give yourself extra time to get there.

Hi Ankush,

Have we ever talked or email before here.

Anyway, apart from what others have mentioned (100% correct)make sure you take ample precautions while getting in and out of the vehicle, driving or sitting for hours makes us cramped and suddenly when we get up we either loose our balance or try to stretch ourselves, so get down slowly and wait for sometime till your used and then stretch slowly only as much as possible by you - don't force yourself.

There are some very good Remu doctors in Bangalore some are Mahendranath, Sandeep Subiah just google for there numbers.

If you need anything more please feel free to mail me, i will be in Bangalore in the 2nd week of decemeber.

Regards
Manju

I do quite a lot of driving at times and do it with at most one hour at a time before stopping and walking a bit. I also have a car with a really comfortable drivers seat, so its not the seat that causes the problems, its the immobility. Also, very careful stretching as I get out. The other thing I do on work trips is programme in stops along the way - I make sure that I don't have to do more than a few hours driving in any one day. Is there any way you can do legitimate work-related stops on the way?

Hi everybody,

Thank you for your response... I have earlier done around 3-4 hours drive in one go and back the same day.... it does get exhausting, resulting a sore back, knees and ankles....

I am worried more about my right hip and knee.... although i was looking more on driving right through to Bangalore with breaks for snacks, meals etc in between.... I am excited about doing this and I guess this is the age that i can try it, can't see myself doing it 5 years down the line.....

But your advice is really helpful. I will plan to take more frequent breaks... although i am still not sure of lodging overnight. The roads are friendly but i am not too sure of the highway motels.... I was planning on starting early in the morning and reach Bangalore by 9pm or so.... I know its going to be exhausting but i will have the whole of Sunday to soak in warm water and relax....

I have a good car with a comfortable car seat which has, may be, a little less than desired thigh support. This is going to be my maiden long road trip... So i will see what i get on the road and take my decisions accordingly....