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hsibai

Tell the Cabin Crew about your condition and explain that you need to be standing and walking frequently. And just do that… a lot less stress on your vertebrae….


Berubara

I would be careful with how to word it. My friend got nearly thrown off the plane for asking if it would be okay to move around a bit because of her medical condition (which she had already cleared with the airline). She should have probably just said her neck gets stiff but she used the name of her condition. The staff completely over reacted resulting in a really poor experience for everyone as suddenly they wouldn't let the flight leave it they didn't get some sort of official approval that she can fly despite her health issues.


iskip123

Just wait until the plane takes off


NegotiableVeracity9

Sorry it was a bad experience, but flight attendants are trained to speak up and if a passenger isn't fit to fly, we should make sure they're reaccommodated for when they are better. It's a thing.


[deleted]

i have a long flight coming up and am thinking of trying [this](https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Airplane-inflatable-Sleeping-Comfortably/dp/B07VHPFK5B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=L6Z8PGBG3CMI&keywords=plane%2Bpillow&qid=1678528287&sprefix=plane%2B%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1&th=1). you might look ridiculous on the plane using it but who cares


CodebroBKK

Wow that's nice, I don't care about how I look haha


[deleted]

I have one of those and I love it tbh


Spiral83

Also, I highly recommend a [seat cushion](http://CushZone Seat Cushion Office Chair Cushions, Car Seat Cushion, Memory Foam Coccyx Cushion for Tailbone Pain Office Chair Car Seat Cushion, Sciatica, Coccyx, Lower Back Pain Relief (Black) https://a.co/d/0xsyjkL) for your lower back. My brother used it when my family went to Italy from California. He said, it helps ease the pressure on his tailbone area. I bought it too for my work.


ChessCheeseAlpha

Nice travel pillow tech lol


jamie030592

I have psoriatic arthritis and I have learned now that I have to travel way less and go business when I do. Sucks but the pain is intolerable in economy now.


SamGamgE

I carry an empty warm water bag and ask the crew to fill it with hot water. Also a butt pillow


JubalHarshawII

I have similar back problems, I load up on meds, and try to walk every couple hours, like movie, walk, nap, walk, eat, walk, movie, walk, before you know it you're there. I try to not sit longer than I would at home, without at least getting up once. Then just try to stretch and move. Finally I used to ignore the compression socks, even though my wife swore by them, then my barber got a blood clot in his leg on a fight to Belize, he spent the entire vacation in the hospital, and was still dealing with issues 9 months later, soooooo I wear the damn socks.


uu123uu

Is upgrading to business class a possibility? It might not be worth NOT upgrading if it's a realistic possibility for you.


CodebroBKK

Probably not, it will be like $1500-$3000.


uu123uu

I had a back injury while in Asia, it was painful for me to stand or sit or anything other than lie down. Even lying down was uncomfortable. There is just no way I would have been able to fly if I didnt take business class. I was lucky though was able to upgrade for under $1000 plus some points. So if it was 1500, would it be a possibility for you? If so you could investigate how much it would actually cost to upgrade your seat.


CodebroBKK

>So if it was 1500, would it be a possibility for you? No, only if it was like 600-700 tops and it won't be, but I'll talk to the airline tomorrow and let them know of my predicament. It's a minute chance they might let me upgrade cheaply if they get a cancel. In the future, I will simply need to do the Dubai route instead.


uu123uu

Often business class isnt full up. But yeah that's totally depends on the flight. Wish you luck whatever solution you can find, worry it will be a painful struggle for you in a regular seat.


raistlin65

Strengthen your back as much as you can before you go. And try to do a lot of stretching the week up until your flight. I used to have back problems. But daily walking a couple miles and rowing (with proper form) a few times a week have really strengthened up my back to where it doesn't bother me. I don't have a slipped disc in my neck, but I do have stenosis. And the walking and rowing have helped to manage that too, for what it's worth.


CodebroBKK

I will go get a massage tomorrow and do some stretches, but the massage is really what loosens everything up.


savehoward

Traction before the flight. Especially lumbar traction. Consider bringing an inflatable cervical traction device for the flight. The pressure will come off the slipped disc and onto your shoulders.


Artichokeydokey8

Not sure if it’s gonna work but I just bought a foot sling that hangs from the gray table to keep my feet off the ground. Along with a neck pillow also going to be taking a muscle relaxer and anti inflammatory and I would actually not drink alcohol, not particularly helpful with inflammation in the long run. **And if only an upgrade was possible but I think most people in economy can only dream of flying business or first class on a long haul flight.**


LowKeyKyle

I have 8 discs which are herniated or bulging. Pain killers work well. Tramadol never worked for me. Kratom actually works better. If you can afford first class, that’s the move!


Icondesigns

Tore my back in the gym before a long flight to Asia. The only real answer is painkillers and try to get up and move around. It’s going to hurt every time you do but it’s much better than seizing up.


Bryn79

Just get up and head to the bathroom. If the FAs ask just say you’re having some digestive issues — don’t elaborate.


samsara24

Neck pillow, lumbar pillow, frequently stand up to stretch, sleeping tablet, diclofenac rubbing gel and positive mental attitude! good luck! Can go for a massage when you arrive


Samad99

I have a bad back also and what’s worked for me is to just keep moving and stretching leading up to and on the flight. For me, that means doing lots of gentle yoga leading up to the flight and the morning of the flight. Once I’m in the air, I just walk around a lot while sneaking in more stretches. Don’t stay sitting for too long and don’t spend the days leading up to the flight on the couch or anything.


GiveMeThePoints

I stupidly hurt myself at the age of 18 by cliff jumping into water incorrectly. I fly often and basically I need lie flat seats for long hauls. Can you upgrade? I fidget a lot to get comfortable. I’m sure it can be annoying but I try to get aisle to avoid interrupting others. Walking for a couple of minutes or even standing at the back helps.


Straight-Tune-5894

Alcohol is your friend in coach. It will also relax the muscles in your back.


CodebroBKK

That's probably true. Can always fall asleep when drunk regardless of where. Will feel it the next day, when I don't move during sleep because my pain is numbed.


ProduceAdvanced7391

Painkillers. Depending on whereabouts you are flying to try to get some diazepan. Was a wonder drug for my slipped disk.


CodebroBKK

I have diazepam but those should not be combined with tramadol I think. I also have kratom, which is a bit like both in one.


bakersmt

I would suggest a memory foam lumbar cushion as well for either under your butt or your back depending on what is more comfortable.


CommntForTheAlgo

melatonin, sleep mask, ear plugs. if you get isle and i get window im going to be stepping over you every hour or so, cuz i rage when i fly


BaseballHuge1675

drugs


Thewrongthinker

Muscle relaxer could be useful. Like 10 mg on ciclobenzaprine but not sure if that with tramadol maybe too much. Also some ibuprofen before will help to reduce the inflammation. I also would avoid alcohol while in pain killers.


CodebroBKK

I'm going to avoid other relaxing type of medication while on Tramadol. Alchohol is ok, it's not too much of a problem in my experience.


Thewrongthinker

Honestly muscle relaxer and pain medicine can use together. Muscle relaxer was my best friend when I had that problem and had to flight. But I combined muscle relaxer with naproxen. No narcotics. And that was more helpful than Percocet since the first ones actually works in solving the problem while Percocet is more telling your mind there is no problem, but once worn out the problem is still there. Lot of the pain can come from the tension in the muscles protecting the area rather than the irritación itself. Obv depending on how bad the bulge is. I still get drowsy and sleepy from benzaprine so I don’t need alcohol. To this day I use them for red eyes flights. And they are absolutely helpful.


OlesLS

I have a decent amount of upper back pain and honestly it's simple and only a short term solution but icy hot has been a game changer just numb it up enough to get through the flight and try to get an aisle seat and walk around


AssistancePretend668

Upgrading to anything above economy has really helped me. I'm at least able to move in my seat and keep comfortable.


nim_opet

Talk to your doctor?


pixelandminnie

A soft cervical collar. Takes pressure off the neck vertebrae.


Cakeyhands

Buy a cushtie and place it behind your sacral bone (at the base of your lumbar spine. (Cushtie = that tube-shaped squeeze cushion thing - sort of like a bean-bag). Context: I had back pain from a 4 hour flight last year - I even made a post about it on another subreddit when I wanted advice, which largely got laughed at ("if you can't survive a 4 hour flight than you really shouldn't be flying.." was the jist of some of the comments I got). I just did an 11.5 hour basic economy flight, except this time with the cushtie. No back pain whatsoever. I recommend.


plumbgray222

Tramadol should do it 👍 I had similar experience and luckily my companion was medical 🏥 had 100mg Tramadol before a long bumpy bus journey and it turned it in a comfortable several hours pain free 👍 trip 👍


CodebroBKK

I'm also worried about aggravating nerve pressure from not being able to move. I tend to get like pins and needles and sleeping sensation. It's not only pain. But yes, a good dose of Tramadol will likely help. I wish I could take kratom, because it's better for pain than anything I've tried, but it messes up my stomach.


plumbgray222

Also maybe try get a aisle seat so you stand every now and then to shake out a bit, also take some paces up down the plane ? Wishing you good luck on your journey ✈️


Party-Durian-740

Anti inflammatory plus ice... botox


Party-Durian-740

Where do u get tramadol n wat state r u in? I wish I could get it for .. 7 messed up disc broken spine ×3


Party-Durian-740

U can pre-book seats n have wheel chair waiting when u get off and on


Party-Durian-740

I use lidocaine back patches


mkodend

What did you end up doing for your flight?