The holidays are the best time of the year for most of us, filled with nostalgia, family gatherings, and tradition. A not-so-fun tradition? Your joints flaring up whenever you travel, forcing you to miss out on the annual turkey bowl or sledding with the kids. Thankfully, your traveling doesn’t have to be painful with our helpful tips. 

What causes pain while traveling?

First, it’s important to know what is causing your pain. Pain has several categories including acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and more. Your pain can stem from an acute injury such as an ankle sprain or a chronic condition like arthritis, old injuries, ligament tears, rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, and more. If you suffer from any of these conditions you know exactly how debilitating it is and how it can quickly damper your day. 

Sitting for long periods of time

Did you know that the average American is sedentary for 21 out of 24 hours? That’s over 90% of the day! When this is paired with little exercise, chronic pain is inevitable. Traveling often involves sitting for extended periods of time without breaks to stretch. Not only is your body compressed longer than normal, it doesn’t have room to breathe. Staying in a cramped position for hours at a time exacerbates your chronic pain and can leave you with new ailments like a stiff neck. And in addition to being uncomfortable, sitting can lead to a multitude of health issues such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

Being out of your routine

Another important point of consideration is your routine. Our bodies adjust to the routine we keep it in, and some are more sensitive than others to change. If you’re not used to walking a mile and a half through the airport and lugging around fifty pound bags, your body will respond negatively to the stress. Even a time zone change can have an impact, especially if you forget your supplements or eat food that’s out of your usual diet. Sitting slows your gut down, which can cause stomach upset.

How to manage pain while traveling

Pain management while traveling doesn’t have to be a hassle. It can be prevented if you take the proper measurements beforehand and stay on top of them during your trip. With simple modifications to your travel plans, you can ease your pain naturally without having to reach for the pain medication. 

Hydration & movement are key 

As we love to say at MedLink Health Solutions, motion is lotion! Our bodies are meant to move so our lungs can breathe and our joints can stay lubricated. Without the proper nutrients your body will become lethargic and rigid, and it can be easy to forget your stretch breaks when you’re stuck in a car or plane.

Another important consideration is your water intake, no matter your mode of transportation. If you’re flying however, it’s more crucial to stay hydrated. Drinking water helps flush toxins out of your body which can help with inflammation. Because airplanes carry less humidity compared to the average environment, your body will dehydrate quicker. Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, which can lead to nausea and dizziness–which will only make your chronic pain worse. 

So how do you prevent aches and pains while traveling? With the help of your doctor, you can avoid the hassle of a soured trip naturally without needing to pack a pain killer. Your doctor will advise you on the proper mediations, refill any supplements as needed, and answer any questions you may have about your specific condition. 

Prepare for your trip early. In addition to packing your supplements, make sure you have everything you need to keep the inflammation at bay. Other items to pack include:

• Travel and neck pillows
• Anti-inflammatory snacks 
• Braces for joints, if needed
• Refillable water bottle
• Eye mask for sleeping 

By anticipating chronic pain flare ups and creating a plan you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation with little to no discomfort. But did you know that you can avoid chronic pain overall by reversing and preventing it? Natural and regenerative medicine is what you’re looking for.  

What is regenerative medicine?

Regenerative medicine is a form of natural medicine that utilizes powerful growth factors to rejuvenate tissues and promote healing. This is done with various therapies including Amniotic Liquid Allograft, platelet rich plasma (PRP), and regenerative joint injections. 

Natural medicine promotes whole body wellness by preventing, treating, and healing diseases. By examining you from the inside out, our goal at MedLink Health Solutions is to find the root cause of your symptoms.

The healing power of nature

Your body is intelligent. As soon as you are feeling sick or injured the healing process begins. Sometimes though this isn’t enough, which can result in more pain or longer bouts of sickness. Regenerative treatments solve this by working in conjunction with your body. Our therapies work with your body to promote healing so you can return to living your life pain-free, naturally. For more information on naturopathic and regenerative medicine, click here to check out our previous blog.

Regenerative medicine and chronic pain relief 

Regenerative medicine is a powerful tool for treating chronic pain. When you visit our office, you are greeted with the kindness and warmth of the MedLink team. Your initial appointment lasts an hour and a half so we can thoroughly analyze your health and answer any questions you may have. We strive to be the atypical doctor’s office–instead of providing cookie-cutter treatment, we take the time to get to know you, review your medical history, diet and lifestyle habits, and review your blood work to create a customized treatment plan. 

Nature’s cure 

Your body is as unique as you are. Treatment plans at our office are not one-size-fits-all. They are catered to your unique background, diet, and lifestyle. We also have an array of supplements to enhance your diet to keep you healthy and aid your achy joints. 

Even if you’re not suffering from chronic pain, regenerative therapies such as ozone therapy and regenerative joint injections are great for keeping your joints healthy and even preventing chronic conditions. Instead of preparing for the worst during travel because of your chronic joint pain, wouldn’t it be great to relieve it altogether? 

Join the MedLink family

At MedLink Health Solutions, you will no longer wait around for your doctor or be rushed out the door. By bringing hospitality to healthcare, we treat each patient as if they are our only patient. We welcome you with open arms so you look forward to your treatment and we explain each step along the way. You don’t have to suffer from pain while you’re traveling. You can treat it naturally with MedLink Health Solutions.