1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles
Profile picture for fifilacarnivali

severe spinal stenosis and travel

Posted by fifilacarnivali @fifilacarnivali, Nov 23, 2024

hi! i have severe spinal stenosis in L4-L5. i just went through a brutally painful flare up of nerve pain and that nasty buttock pain. i have it under control somewhat after a few visits to an active release therapist. wow! a lifesaver. my question is has anybody travelled any distance in a plane with severe stenosis. this is a recent diagnosis for me and i have a trip to a.e. asia booked for january. i know, a stupid thought to pursue this trip. but wondering if anyone has travelled any distance with this condition and to what effect? or if there are any tips to keep spine supported while sitting a long time? i’m actively doing glute and ab exercises to strengthen my spine. thanks for any input! 😊

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.

Profile picture for gidget1280
gidget1280 | @gidget1280 | Nov 23 5:16am
In reply to @sbcarcht "@gidget1280 I also have severe L4-5 stenosis and was experiencing crippling sciatica pain. I began following..." + (show)
Profile picture for sbcarcht @sbcarcht

@gidget1280 I also have severe L4-5 stenosis and was experiencing crippling sciatica pain. I began following the Gokhale Primal Posture method and have now been pain free and avoided surgery. Start with the book, but I recommend some training with a certified Gokhale teacher.

Jump to this post

@sbcarcht i am so new to this site and so do not see if I replied to this..but it bears repeating ...I appreciate you telling me that this method helped you and l will be looking into it. Thank you !!

REPLY
Profile picture for sbcarcht
sbcarcht | @sbcarcht | Nov 23 7:50am

You’re welcome and good luck.

REPLY
Profile picture for audreytwo
audreytwo | @audreytwo | Nov 23 9:37pm

Zippo handwarmer on Amazon brings a lot of comfort on a long flight. Those flights are cold!

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for fifilacarnivali
fifilacarnivali | @fifilacarnivali | Nov 24 1:34am
In reply to @audreytwo "Zippo handwarmer on Amazon brings a lot of comfort on a long flight. Those flights are..." + (show)
Profile picture for audreytwo @audreytwo

Zippo handwarmer on Amazon brings a lot of comfort on a long flight. Those flights are cold!

Jump to this post

@audreytwo costco sells disposable back heating pads that wrap around your waist like a back brace. they last about 15 hours and are wonderful. 😊

REPLY
Profile picture for Randy Shields
Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | Nov 24 3:28pm
In reply to @gidget1280 "@randallshields56 Thanks so much for your input. You asked my age ..I am 70 and have..." + (show)
Profile picture for gidget1280 @gidget1280

@randallshields56 Thanks so much for your input. You asked my age ..I am 70 and have always been active and still was till this happened . i realize it did not happen overnight and due to my age there are degenerative issues and arthritis. But being bent over at waist in the morning and taking awhile to get up from sitting and with pain..those are all new to me this year. The MRI revealed the degenerative age-related wear and tear but the most significant issue is at the L4-L5 level, where one vertebra has slipped forward slightly, and severe arthritis has narrowed the spinal canal there which they say means a nerve is compressed in that area due to that . The dr and Physical therapist said exactly what you have.. build core muscles. And I believe too my biggest threat is losing patience but I am very committed to the PT. And I know in spring when we were away and before I started PT and chiro regularly and before the MRI ..i think I did overdo and not give it enough rest. for instance I pushed through on the treadmill at the gym,
not for a huge length of time but enough to set me back. And one physical therapist did me more harm as he had me doing press ups which I have heard now is not good at all.
Your progress after being bed ridden for six months is incredible and encouraging and glad you are doing better.
Thank you again for your input. I know it is a long road and there is no cure but good to know otters manage it and do make progress . I just get discouraged and down worried I will not make more progress as it is day to day with how I feel. And do not think the pain meds.. celebrex and extra strength tylenol are a huge help.
Thanks again for your encouragement.. it helps!!

Jump to this post

@gidget1280
i now every morning do 50 sit ups from the side of the bed. feet flat on the floor like you were sitting on the commode, lie back- have a couple pillows to help you lie back. do 25 this way but only come back uo to a sit position. the next set of 25 , slowly to what you can handle is like reaching for your drawers. and back to lying on the pillows. IE sit ups. do what is comfortable if they help. its a good exercise. month two for me and can touch the floor. helps with that low ache in te back aas you first get up to walk somewhere. and no im not a Pt person i just know what helps me. i just turned 69. have a blessed day.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for derrsk11
derrsk11 | @derrsk11 | Nov 25 10:52am

I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in or near extension (ex. standing, sitting up straight, laying on my back, etc). I had been trying to correct this by adjusting my posture at the lumbar spine level, but my current physical therapist suggested adjusting my hips gently into a neutral position. This small adjustment is making a difference in my pain!

Now when it comes to achieving this while traveling, I am thinking that a small folding foot stool may help raise the knees and make it easier to adjust one's hips. I'll probably try this myself when I fly to Europe next.

REPLY
3 replies
Profile picture for derrsk11
derrsk11 | @derrsk11 | Nov 25 10:53am
In reply to @derrsk11 "I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in..." + (show)
Profile picture for derrsk11 @derrsk11

I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in or near extension (ex. standing, sitting up straight, laying on my back, etc). I had been trying to correct this by adjusting my posture at the lumbar spine level, but my current physical therapist suggested adjusting my hips gently into a neutral position. This small adjustment is making a difference in my pain!

Now when it comes to achieving this while traveling, I am thinking that a small folding foot stool may help raise the knees and make it easier to adjust one's hips. I'll probably try this myself when I fly to Europe next.

Jump to this post

@derrsk11 Also - gentle stretches (ex. reaching for one's toes) helps with my pain as well. Do not pounce in a stretch though!

REPLY
Profile picture for fifilacarnivali
fifilacarnivali | @fifilacarnivali | Nov 25 11:25am
In reply to @derrsk11 "I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in..." + (show)
Profile picture for derrsk11 @derrsk11

I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in or near extension (ex. standing, sitting up straight, laying on my back, etc). I had been trying to correct this by adjusting my posture at the lumbar spine level, but my current physical therapist suggested adjusting my hips gently into a neutral position. This small adjustment is making a difference in my pain!

Now when it comes to achieving this while traveling, I am thinking that a small folding foot stool may help raise the knees and make it easier to adjust one's hips. I'll probably try this myself when I fly to Europe next.

Jump to this post

@derrsk11 the portable foot hammock helps with that too! 😊

REPLY
Profile picture for gidget1280
gidget1280 | @gidget1280 | Nov 25 1:03pm
In reply to @randallshields56 "@gidget1280 i now every morning do 50 sit ups from the side of the bed. feet..." + (show)
Profile picture for Randy Shields @randallshields56

@gidget1280
i now every morning do 50 sit ups from the side of the bed. feet flat on the floor like you were sitting on the commode, lie back- have a couple pillows to help you lie back. do 25 this way but only come back uo to a sit position. the next set of 25 , slowly to what you can handle is like reaching for your drawers. and back to lying on the pillows. IE sit ups. do what is comfortable if they help. its a good exercise. month two for me and can touch the floor. helps with that low ache in te back aas you first get up to walk somewhere. and no im not a Pt person i just know what helps me. i just turned 69. have a blessed day.

Jump to this post

@randallshields56
thanks so much for this. It is so helpful to know what others are doing that help. Yes getting up in the morning. I am bent over and I’m doing pelvic tilts in bed before I get up, but it’s good to have an idea of something to do on the side of the bed as you are mentioning. You had said that you were bedridden for six months so it is remarkable how far you have come and I thank you so much for your advice and for everyone’s input that is going through spinal stenosis or something with their spine.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for gidget1280
gidget1280 | @gidget1280 | Nov 25 1:09pm
In reply to @derrsk11 "I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in..." + (show)
Profile picture for derrsk11 @derrsk11

I also have spinal stenosis. I get the most pain when my lumbar spine is in or near extension (ex. standing, sitting up straight, laying on my back, etc). I had been trying to correct this by adjusting my posture at the lumbar spine level, but my current physical therapist suggested adjusting my hips gently into a neutral position. This small adjustment is making a difference in my pain!

Now when it comes to achieving this while traveling, I am thinking that a small folding foot stool may help raise the knees and make it easier to adjust one's hips. I'll probably try this myself when I fly to Europe next.

Jump to this post

@derrsk11 thanks so much for your input. Yes, keeping the hips neutral does seem to really help with the pain.

I seem to be experiencing the most difficulty as I said in the morning because I’m bent over after a night sleep and then too getting up when I’ve been sitting for a while. Walking itself is not real great and I know from reading other responses that that takes a while. I am hoping that improves as we have more travel next year too that we are hoping on doing.

we are going on a trip back east to visit family next week. The trip itself won’t be real active as we just will be visiting people, but I am concerned about it as I was the trip to Hawaii.

The trip over to Hawaii wasn’t great the next day as far as the effects of being on the plane, although I did get up a couple of times. On the way back, it was better. We had more room in front of us and it seemed to be better moving around when I got home although not great. I did get a wheelchair in the airport as I will for the back east trip as that’s two connections just because it makes sense to save energy right now when I am rehabbing this.

thanks again for your input

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.