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Updated March 2020 – Read our top tips for travelling with arthritis to make your journey as easy as possible. Travelling with Arthritis can be an uncomfortable business. Not only is it painful but it can be exhausting. Don’t let that put you off. There are ways to help manage your condition when you’re travelling
Arthritis Research
According to Arthritis Research UK nearly 30 per cent of the population suffers with some form of arthritis. Being in both the rheumatoid arthritis and osteo arthritis camps I know how unpleasant it can be. Sadly, it is no longer just a problem for older people as 2.7 million arthritis sufferers are under 35 with a heartbreaking 12,000 of those being children. Depending on the severity of your condition it can be debilitating and painful.
In Winter time the thought of trekking thousands of miles to your holiday destination can seem daunting. Bad weather makes everything hurt just that bit more and you lose sleep because of the pain, but don’t despair. Getting away from Britain to somewhere warm and sunny can bring welcome relief.
Basic Preparation
It really goes without saying. The most basic pre-journey prep is travel insurance. Make sure you’ve declared every condition you have had ever! Leaving something out, however insignificant it may seem will give the insurers the excuse they need not to pay out. Be honest with them. If you’re going somewhere medically expensive like the USA then a holiday injury or illness could financially ruin you.
There are many specialist insurers out there who will cover you for any number of ailments. From our own extensive research we found that the top two travel insurance companies were All Clear and Staysure . If you are or have been a cancer patient then TreatUFair, HolidaySafe and TravelInsurance4Medical should be more affordable. We’ve personally used All Clear, Staysure and more recently Treatufair. Be sure to get quotes for both the time period you require and for the whole year. We shaved over £300 off our travel insurance with treatufair by taking out an annual policy rather than the 4 weeks we actually needed. Crazy I know but the saving was real enough.
If you have travel insurance with your bank contact them first and update your details. It may be that they won’t initially cover you for some conditions. But after a couple of trouble free years of that condition they will then cover it. Barclays Bank offer particularly good cover up to the age of 80 years.
Meds
Don’t forget to order extra medication to get you through your holiday. If like us you prefer to go away for a month at a time we usually give our surgery 3-4 weeks notice of our requirements. Don’t scrape through with your meds running out the day you’re due home. You don’t want to be left without them if there are any delays to your return journey. Read on for our top tips for travelling with arthritis!
10 Top Tips for Travelling with Arthritis
- Travel to the airport the day before and check in to a nearby hotel. Premier Inns offer a great nights sleep for a reasonable price. Break your journey into smaller segments whenever you can. Driving to the airport can be the first joint-stiffening challenge so take plenty of breaks and give yourself time for a leisurely lunch on the way. After all, the moment you leave home is where your holiday truly begins.
- Make sure your flight isn’t too early in the morning. I know you want to get there soon but if your joints are stiff in the mornings it’s better to have some time to get moving. If this can’t be avoided then be sure to give yourself some extra time. You don’t want to start your journey feeling exhausted by the pain of trying to move reluctant joints.
- Check in on-line the day before. It takes a lot of stress away if you’re running late. If you’re travelling to the airport on the same day it only takes a minor traffic accident to ruin your holiday plans. If you’ve followed our advice and booked into a hotel nearby the night before you can afford to sleep in. Then on arrival at check in all you have to do is drop your bags off.
At The Airport
- Get through security at the first opportunity. It’s the pain before the pleasure and if the queue is long don’t be afraid to ask the airport staff for assistance. They’re always happy to help.
- Use an airport lounge. If you don’t have free access to one with your airline then No.1 Lounges (https://no1lounges.com/ ) will cost you from £26 per adult. You’ll find they are often located fairly near the gates so mega convenient. They have lots of comfortable seating and fresh food and drinks ( even alcohol but not champagne!) are included in the price. And let’s face it you can easily spend silly money in an airport just for a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich!
- I don’t often stray into this territory but just before you board USE THE LOO! It is much easier to use the airport facilities than the cramped confines of the onboard WC and will save you at least one unpleasant visit. If you have obility issues this simple action is more important than you realize. No one is a fan of aircraft loos!
- Assistance is also available when boarding. Your airline want you to have a positive experience so they’re happy to help. It’s always a good idea to request special assistance when you book so they can prepare for your arrival. They will at the very least give you a lift to your boarding gate and may well give you priority boarding so it’s definitely worth asking.
Onboard
- Whether you’ve upgraded or not try to bag yourself an aisle seat. That way you can get up and move around as often as you need without disturbing your fellow passengers. Sitting still for long periods of time is going to encourage your joints to sieze up. Do small exercises rotating ankles and wrists whilst seated. Stand up and wiggle a bit – you won’t be the only one!
- Take your time disembarking and again assistance is available and you’ll be whisked through the airport on a buggy or at least a wheelchair. If you’re feeling more energetic and want to make your own way, let everyone else gallop off to baggage reclaim where they’ll have to wait anyway and take it slowly.
- Finally and most importantly, relax. Your holiday has already begun and stress no longer belongs in your life. Only fun and enjoyment should lay ahead of you.
BONUS TIPS – Travel midweek. Airport queues are always longer and busier at the weekend. Check out accommodation accessibility and reviews on TripAdvisor.
So now you’ve read our top tips for travelling with arthritis be sure to keep them in mind. It’s often the simple actions and detail that can make the most difference. Your journey will rarely be perfect but hopefully following our tips will help to make it more bearable. Read our article Travelling With Fibro for more useful advice. Happy Travels!
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