I'm due for my resurfacing at the beginning of November, and my family is trying to make travel plans for December. I guess that although I know every body and every recovery is different, I'm looking for advice about travel planning. I'll be nearly 7 weeks post-op by the time we have vacation, does anyone have advice on plane travel that early? It's possible it'd be a long one (12+ hour flight) and I've heard that sitting for long periods can be painful, and I don't want to either wreck myself or my family's vacation. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.
My only travel experience post op is about five days later by car. I needed to get out and exercise about every hour.
I am sure your surgeon or his/her office could give advice.
Mr McMinn's website advises overseas patients to wait a week after discharge from hospital (so nearly two weeks) before a long-haul flight.
David
This might sound crazy, but can you afford to travel business class? I had spinal surgery in '06 and went on a long flight a few weeks later. I was lucky enough to have amassed enough frequent flier points to get the upgrade. When you factor in the length of the flight, not to mention the 7 hours we spend on the tarmac due to "mechanical problems", I don't know what I'd have done without the ability to stretch out.
I flew to Asia on a business trip ~7 wks post op. Everyone is different but by then I think you should be fine with the general sitting needed for boring travel. You may find yourself a little stiff and need to move every hour or so etc.
Barring any complications you should be fine to travel, by week 8 1/2 weeks I played 18 holes of golf.
As with anybody, make sure to get up and walk around during a long flight one can easily end up with a clot in the leg even if you have not just had a surgery. If you cannot get up, do foot pumps.
Chuck
I did a 5 hour flight to Hawaii at exactly seven weeks. It went fine, but I would highly suggest getting up and walking/ standing for at least five minutes out of every hour. I did three flights at about 4 days after surgery, and first class with a bulkhead seat was very wonderful, not something that I would normally do. By seven weeks, the seating didn't really matter as long as I got up at least every hour.
jennym - can i ask, how old (about) are you?
as you mentioned, this will vary and depend on a number of things that you can't really control. for me -- i was 45 and 46 --- and both times at 7 weeks traveling that far on a plane would have been no problem. at 7 weeks, i was walking without any assisted device and feeling great.
yes, getting up and walking a few times would be a good idea for all people on the plane, including you!!
I'm 42, and have been biking a lot this summer to strengthen. Also will be contacting PT and the surgeon this week about pre-surgery exercises or anything else I can do to be strong beforehand. Thanks everyone for the tips!
All good, positive things Jenny. Keep it up as long as you can. It can only help, try to work the upper body too, you'll need it for standing up / sitting / operating early on.
Sounds good and reassuring. Just booked a cruise South Pacific leaving early March 2014. See surgeon next week. Hope he is free for surgery early November 2013.last cruise in April this year to celebrate turning 50- hip was so sore and pouting on 6 kg in 12 Days didn't help. Looking to hit the gym and recover on the boat. Cannot wait for cruise and more importantly my hip resurface
P.S. Will I be right to travel on a cruise 10 weeks after surgery.Obviously the operation will dictate how much or little I do- not that I intend to do much.it would be nice to hear from someone who has travelled on a cruise shortly after their op.
Of course everyone heals differently --- I am 8 weeks post op and am having no issues sleeping, walking or sitting for longer periods. We just make the 7 hour car trip to the beach and outside of making sure to stop every 2 hours for a restroom / stretch break, I did just fine.
We are heading to Disney World in 4 weeks -- so I'll be 12 weeks post op. I'm not expecting to have any issues and will just plan to rest (and even ice the hip) when needed.
As far as a cruise 3 months post op -- you should be great! There may be activities on shore you want to avoid, but a relaxing cruise would be awesome :) I am having my other hip done in mid-December and we are cruising the Caribbean in early April. Looking forward to it!
Thanks Juno.. The Caribbean sounds awesome. The closest we got to the Caribbean was Rhapsody of the sea .(via Royal Carribean Cruise lines lol) absolutely magic. On the last cruise a few oldies with walkers , crutches ,wheelchairs and the like. Good on them for travelling. I intend to be far mobile by then. You will have a ball on the cruise especially once both hips are done:)