Hello Fellow PNers,

Apparently I have small fiber neuropathy. I take 100 mg per evening of Lyrica. About once every few months we fly from Texas to San Diego to see our sailor son. And every time my pn gets so bad I have to take 200 mg for a few nights and then once we return home I am able to taper back to the 100 mg. I asked my Dr about it and he said it was due to stress. I dunno, I don't think so. Could this have something to do with cabin pressure and maybe this is a vascular issue? I can't believe I am the only one this happens to, since it happens every single time.

Hi Mary
This has happened to me also, it is so bad we have decided to stay at home in Scotland for our holiday this year. Last year we flew an 8 hr flight to Mexico and I was in agony - I put this down to sitting in a confined space for so long.
When I travelled to Malawi in Africa on three flights adding up to 14hrs flying time I wore the flight socks when I came back to ease the pain - this certainly helped which makes me wonder whether this too is vascular.
Arlene

Hi I have flown a lot with this. A few things that have helped me is to make sure I get up a few times during the flight. When I get stiff and cramped the pain sets in and is hard to settle down. Proper clothes cause I am sensitive to cold and that too increases pain. I take a wheel chair to and from the gate. For me it would be too much to walk cause sometimes it is so far. I am not sure about the pressure of the cabin but for me it is stressful to fly cause I don't know how I will feel and it is a long day. A person without pain or health problems talks about being tired after a day of travel so for us it is even harder.

On a flight to Scotland (actually 2- one to NY, and one to Shannon) last summer, I found the problems due to stress, anxiety, and lack of mobility during flight.
On the flight back, trying to get to a gate almost a mile's walk
with no moving walkways or escalators working, and the need to
connect very quickly cause the flight from Shannon started 1-1/2 hrs late (only had time for a 1 hr 50 minute layover to connect- only 20 mins with the delay) and no wheelchairs in sight - I was a wreck trying to get thry Kennedy Airport.
I don't think cabin pressure has anything to do with it,
but barometric pressure can affect me.
Its probably a combination of all factors that make flying with PN, problematical.
Depends on urgency and need to get to where you want to go,
to compromise and decide to fly on long flights.
Shorter flights (the connecting one- from D.C to NY)
aren't as much of a problem, it seems.
But the stress factor is always there with controls, immigration, searches, shoes off, bags lost, and on, and on and...........!!

I, too have noticed that flying more than an hour will jack up the pain.

I haven't flown in over a year and don't plan to fly anywhere that is more than 2 hours (possible exception: Hawaii). I think it is the cabin pressure.

CB

i find sitting for a period of time wether in a chair, car, movie or a waiting room makes me really stiff and difficult to walk. An airplane seat is even more constricting than a normal seat so that might be part of it, it would be for me anyways.

I, too, have a hard time narrowing down why flying makes my PN pain--and numbness--worse, but I'm certain that vibration has a role to play. Even when I've taken a relatively stress-free Amtrak ride from Portland to Seattle (with very little elevation change in-between), I'll notice it.

Part of this seems to be irritation of my lower back--when my spinal health is good, all my neuropathy symptoms decrease. And when I'm being vibrated by transportation, I think it irritates my spine--and that's where the other end of my nerves are, after all. Shrug.

Interesting topic!
I wonder how much may be impaired circulation?
Plane rides are notorious for deep vein thrombosis, etc.
Might even slightly impaired circulation have and impact upon nerves in these situations?
It is likely multi-factorial for some/all?
I do not travel much at all. I am just not up to it.
I hope you each will find your answers.

~DejaVu

Just got back from Laguna Nigel, CA. Flew with one stop each way. I think the stress in general contributes to aggravating my PN. Lack of mobility is an issue as I will NOT get up and go to the lavatory, I don't care if my back teeth are floating. Just having to make someone get up out of their seat is enough to make me stay in mine. I always find that the temperature inside the plane is cold, so I carry a lightweight blanket. I also try to sleep on the flight so that I am not focused on my discomfort. We will take a small DVD player and watch movies too which helps to distract me somewhat. And pre-medicating helps!!

I have not flown in years, but after an over a 3 hr flight when I was finally able to lie down at home my whole body was trembling. I wore compression socks on my legs --don't know if does any harm when you have neuropathy. The plane seats are hard -- like the one member who posted I have spine issues.
I am in the middle of many things changing. I sure wish I had written symptoms down and when they started like I think it was Dr Smith mentioned as I don't know when things got worse but it is all over my body now with many kinds of symptoms.