The last thing you want to deal with on vacation is chronic pain, but travel can sometimes be hard on the body. Long car rides, flights, unfamiliar beds, extra walking, disrupted sleep, and changes in routine can all contribute to pain flares.
The good news is that a little preparation can go a long way. To help you travel smarter, protect your body, and spend more time enjoying your trip instead of recovering from it, we’ve asked Commonwealth doctors how to travel with less pain for more joy and R&R.
Talk With Your Care Team Before You Leave
If you live with chronic pain, Dr. Kyle Young, Commonwealth's medical director and co-founder, says it can be helpful to check in with your care team before a trip, especially if you're planning a longer vacation or already dealing with increased symptoms.
“We can often help prevent problems by reviewing medications, coordinating refills, timing procedures appropriately, and making a plan for flares,” he says.
Travel often involves prolonged sitting, lifting luggage, disrupted sleep, and changes in routine, all of which can aggravate pain. Making a plan before you go can make a major difference in how you feel when you arrive.
Keep Your Medications with You
Before you head out, make sure you have the medications you need for the full trip, plus a little extra in case your plans change.
Dr. Gary Reasor offers a simple but important reminder: “Make sure to take your meds and don’t leave them in the hotel room on the way home.”
If you are flying, keep medications in your carry-on bag instead of checked luggage. It is also smart to bring an updated medication list, including dosages and any important medical information, in case you need care while away from home.
Keep Moving When You Can
Long stretches of sitting can make pain and stiffness worse. Whether you are driving, flying, or sitting through a long travel day, try to build in safe opportunities to move.
“Movement is a key to living a long and healthy life,” says Dr. Nicolaus Winters, who spends a lot of time in his car, driving to different Commonwealth clinics.
That doesn’t mean you need to turn vacation into a workout. Instead, Dr. Winters suggests breaking up long car rides with regular stops to get out and move. Take gentle, easy walks, and if you have an at-home exercise routine, try to incorporate some of it during your days away.
Pace Yourself
It is tempting to pack every vacation day with activities, but doing too much too soon can lead to a pain flare that affects the rest of the trip.
“Pace yourself,” says Dr. Reasor. “Vacations and travel are supposed to be a little relaxing.”
Try to balance active days with quieter ones. Schedule breaks, leave room between activities, and listen to your body if it is telling you to slow down. Rest is not “wasting” vacation. For many people with chronic pain, it is what makes the vacation possible.
Pack and Plan with Your Body in Mind
Small choices can make travel easier on your joints, back, and neck. Use luggage with wheels when possible, avoid overpacking, and ask for help with heavy bags when you need it.
Supportive shoes can also make a big difference, especially if your trip involves sightseeing, airports, theme parks, or long walks. For car rides and flights, consider using lumbar or neck support to make prolonged sitting more comfortable.
Know When to Get Medical Help
Some soreness or stiffness after travel can be expected, but worsening symptoms should not be ignored. Seek medical attention if you experience severe or unusual pain, new weakness, numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, signs of infection, chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms that feel significantly different from your usual pain.
When in doubt, it’s better to check in than to push through something serious.
Traveling with chronic pain does not have to mean staying home or missing out. The goal is simple: plan ahead, keep moving, and prioritize the rest and relaxation you deserve.
