Traveling with Nerve Pain Symptoms

The peripheral symptoms of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) may prove troublesome for the maneuverability of patients. Caregivers are faced with the daunting task of helping patients navigate day-to-day errands and long-term travel. Symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and stabbing pain can all inhibit mobility.

For caregivers, understanding smart ways to travel helps improve patients’ quality of life. Following are some suggestions on how to make travel easier for neuropathy patients.

Understand where you’re going

Caregivers must be aware of where they will be taking their loved ones. Wheelchair users may have issues with getting around in places that are not handicapped accessible. When going out with my mother-in-law, we made sure to do our research. This included calling ahead and visiting websites to ensure that her mobility would not be an issue during our visit.

Planning ahead saves time. For routine travel such as trips to the grocery store, knowing the layout of the location makes navigating errands with a wheelchair second nature.

Avoid places with large crowds

Navigating areas with large crowds can be extremely difficult for people with nerve pain symptoms. The risk of a passerby unknowingly grazing a sensitive area may make the experience uncomfortable. There were many instances in which someone would unwittingly bump into my mother-in-law’s foot, causing her great pain while we were on family outings.  

Always have a backup plan

A backup plan is a necessity for instances in which unpredictable occurrences may threaten the well-being of a neuropathy patient while traveling. Caregivers may have an alternate location planned ahead of time or may know of a few places they could go spontaneously. Limiting the risk of aggravating nerve pain is important for caregivers to consider when traveling with a patient.

Know which vehicles are handicapped accessible

Knowing which vehicles make travel for patients easier is important. When neuropathy patients with nerve pain symptoms require a wheelchair, accessible vans make routine travel, such as running errands, simpler. 

Pack medicine, heating pads, or ice packs for nerve pain symptoms

When traveling, it is important to bring reinforcements in case of the pain flaring up. Caregivers must be aware of which treatments their loved ones require. As you won’t be close to home, where medicine may be easily accessible, it is important to prepare treatments ahead of time when traveling.

When traveling, peripheral symptoms and other symptoms associated with polyneuropathy may make mobility difficult for patients. With an awareness of the symptoms and the locations best suited for travel, caregivers are best equipped to prepare both short-term and long-term travel for their loved ones ahead of time.

***

Note: FAP News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of FAP News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to familial amyloid polyneuropathy.