Back spasms - should we travel?

When we went for our first long haul trip my DH, who suffers from occasional bad back, complained of back pain soon after taking off, I guess sitting in the relatively crumped seats of Economy class. His journey was pretty bad, he kept having to get up and walk, and swearing that he'll never go on a long haul flight again! Even with short European flights he's still in some discomfort despite taking strong painkillers ( co-codamol). If it's an option have have you thought about upgrading to Business class? That should help with the comfort aspect. Hope all will be OK for your very important trip!

I agree with Jane10 and others - nervousness. I have been flying to the US for over 20 years to visit family, however I had two successive visits in 2017 and 2018 ending up in A&E the day before the flight. One was due to a massive case of hives, including distortion of my face and the other a muscle spasm in my leg so severe I ended up with Valium and crutches! Both sorted themselves out within a day or two (and I did take the flight both times.) I don't know what I was fearing, but I am convinced it was in my head.

I have a Tens machine, it is very helpful and would be reasonably easy to use on the flight. Valium is what does it for me though, great muscle relaxant. I also find moving and stretching the best. Hope you have a wonderful time and congrats on the GC.

What bad timing! An appointment with an osteopath a good idea ( I found they help more than a physio) Some of those heat packs in your hand luggage as well as topical gel. I must say that if you decide to take a pack of ibuprofen with you DO NOT take them on an empty stomach as they can cause stomach ulcers (as I found out) . Keep mobile as much as you can while in flight.
I would have suggested accupuncture but you need an initial course of that!

I would advise telling your travel insurance as well.

He could try wearing a firm supporting corset I think you can get them from shops that sell orthopedic materials.
I've had those back spasms occasionally after twisting my back ages ago getting out of the car. Best to keep straight as he can for as long as possible.

Can you pick up a TENS machine? Many pharmacies/chemist sell them and they are no longer expensive. Magnesium tablets may also help.

I had back spasms for a few years and had to travel from Yorkshire to Hereford on a crowded coach every month and 4-5 hour journey with no possibility of standing up or easing my back.

It was agony at first but with the help of TENS and a hot water bottle (and latterly anti-inflammatory tablets), I coped.
Your husband will at least be able to walk about in the plane and on landing anywhere.

I also stayed away from fresh coffee which, for some reason (caffeine maybe?) made the spasms worse.

Hope to see you safely in Aotearoa soon
Nau mai, haere mai ki tenei wahi ataahua

I should go and take my own advice

Jalima I do those every day just to keep my back moving and to stop the painful muscle spasms which seem to occur when I have joint pain. My physio said it is an automatic muscle reaction to protect the damaged joints.

Lay on your back with knees bent then gently rock your knees from side to side for a couple of minutes.
that's a good yoga exercise - perhaps some gentle 'dog' and 'cat' exercises could help too.

Thanks GrannyGravy - hope your flight goes well too x

Heat alternating with ice packs.

Lay on your back with knees bent then gently rock your knees from side to side for a couple of minutes.

An appointment with a physio should help.

I can understand your worries I have been having physiotherapy for back and SIJ pain for 6 weeks and have a 10 hour flight at the weekend.

Hope all goes well for your husband.

I know you can buy inflatable foot rests and pillows but I don't know about backs.

No, it's strange. He's normally very fit and active (plays County standard badminton 3 times a week). We were babysitting GC at the weekend, so maybe pulled something unknowingly messing about with them.

Has he been lifting heavy cases to weigh them? Climbing in the attic to get the cases down?
Has he pulled the muscles on one side of his back?

Some Diclofenac gel massaged in could help too.

Sympathy to your DH. Back spasms are extremely painful.

Fab! Thanks Jalima1108

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How long do you have in Singapore Airport? I think you can get a massage there as there is a spa.

If it is due to muscle spasms then try to get hold of some magnesium tablets which are a muscle relaxant - they are supposed to help prevent cramps anyway.

We've done long flights before and I do think you need to walk around as much as you can without disturbing your fellow passengers . Perhaps sitting up won't affect him as much unless you are flying flatbed. Or could it be a fit of nerves?

Try to get an appointment with a good physio. Meantime, use an ice pack (covered with thin cloth) for about 20 minutes every hour to get the inflammation down. Get some ibuprofen gel to apply and take anti inflammatories. He will need to keep getting up to stretch his back so an aisle seat will be best. I think you can get ice packs to activate (by pulling off a tab?) so these would help on the journey. Don’t worry - there will be physios and doctors in NZ but his back may settle by then. A small cushion behind his back might help on the plane.

Thanks Bluebelle. Our son and his partner are expecting their first baby next week, so I really really don't want to cancel!

Spasms? Sudden muscular contractions? Very odd. Please don't be offended but is he scared of the flight or the trip in general? Could there be a psychosomatic aspect to this? The Diazepam should help. Not much a GP could do at this point other than refer for Xray. Too late for flight by then most likely.
It does seem to improve over the course of the day so most likely he's OK. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

He will need to get up and walk around at very regular intervals Pain killers and definitely a visit to an osteopath if you have time When I went to the oestopath he hit on the spot immediately and I felt some relief after the first appointment £35 well spent I had about four subsequent appointments to almost totally get me back to normal
His back spasm is obviously pressing on a nerve and a good massage will hopefully relieve some of the initial screaming pain
It’s a long long journey and I wonder if I ll manage one more trip or not if not my son will have to come to me in future ?