Travel After Spinal Fusion. Like... 3 Weeks After

M

Megss

New member
Do you think I will be able to handle it? I will be 20 days post op when we leave, and 4 weeks post op when we travel home. We found incredibly cheap airline tickets (like under $200 per round trip ticket!) to Fort Meyers, so I had to say yes. I will have lots of help on the plane for myself and with my 18 month old. We are going to my parents vacation home in Naples, so I will be resting there, just as I would be at home. I don't have to leave the house if I don't want to, but I am thinking I will want to walk around the neigrabroadorhood and to the beach. The house is 2 blocks off the beach, and it is a very flat walk. It will just be so wonderful and relaxing, and a great place to recoup. I am just worried about the air plane ride. On the way there it is non-stop, but on the way back we have a layover in Houston. But like I said, I will not be traveling alone so I will have help. And I can probably get a ride through the airports by those cart things.

What do you all think? Am I in over my head?
 
I don't think you're in over your head, but I do think that you'll have to be extra careful. Maybe request an aisle seat so it's not hard for you to get up and walk around on the airplane if you need to. I can imagine that turbulence would be very difficult, so take pain meRAB with you.

I think the most stressful part of the trip will be getting ready - packing for you and your baby. Will someone else be going with you on the trip? Or at least to the airport?

The beach would be a wonderful place to recoup! Just make sure to cover the scar with sunscreen (or it will darken).

Have fun and take care!
 
I will not be traveling alone. My mother and sister will be with my daughter and I the whole time. Thanks for the tips though, that is a good idea to request an ailse seat. I would imagine my daughter will have to sit on my mom or sister's lap and not mine. I have flown with her twice before, alone each time, and it was really hard, and that was before all my back issues began. It is such a pain to have to bring the car seat and buggy.

Will I be able to swim with my incisions? I will have one in my back and abdomen. My parents have a pool, and then the beach is 2 blocks away. I would imagine I wont be able to at that point, especially in chlorine or salt water. OUCH!
 
Hi Meggs,
My post-op orders specified no swimming pool or hot tub for six weeks post-op due to risk of infection. I would think that would apply to the beach also as you never know what organisms are in the water.

That said, have a good time and I would definitely get that aisle seat so you can get up and walk when you feel the need. A non-stop flight can get pretty long when you are uncomfortable with sitting for prolonged perioRAB of time. I found that to be worse than walking at the three to six week period post-operatively. Naples should be great this time of year for walks outside!!
Jan.
 
What a brave person you are!:) The TENS unit was the only thing that let me travel by plane...and ice of course. All the other suggestions are great. Maybe bring a handtowel so you can roll it up for back support now and again.

success story
 
You should be just fine. At about 5 weeks...Husband and I traveled back home via plane after a very extensive back/surgery that included fusions. Be sure to bring along your pain pills or patches whatever you use to have handy just in case you have a layover or something stupid like that. Good luck and have fun.
 
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