Hi all,

I know everyone is different and pain levels/management vary greatly.

To provide some info on my condition, I'll explain how I get
through the day.

My pain is in my feet, calves and backs of my thighs. I soak my feet and calves in ice water each morning before I go to work. This helps for most of the morning. Upon arriving at the office, I sit on soft ice packs under my thighs. I have to do this or I can't sit because it hurts too much. I have two pairs that I rotate thru the freezer. I leave work around 2 each day and go home to lie down for 30-60 minutes. This kind of rejuvenates me. When I get up, I again soak in ice water for about 1/2 an hour.

I take Gabapentin (1200 x 3 times a day) and 50 Tramadol X 2, plus 1 Norco in the evening.

Okay, now here's my question... In about a month, I have to take a 3 hour flight. The NSA website is unclear on whether I can take my ice packs to sit on. I'm over-thinking this whole thing, but the thought of being stuck in a plane for 3 hours in escalating pain is scaring the crud out of me.

I plan on consuming a large dose of edible m.j. right as I pull up to the airport, which should kick in about the time we board. Weed is my best pain killer, but even it won't numb the pain when I sit without ice.

Anyone have travel tips for me? Something amazing would be great!

Thanks!

Well, you could try this...

I had unfrozen gel ice packs confiscated by TSA from my soft carry-on cooler one time. They weren't frozen because they were to be used on the return trip. It never occurred to me that the gel was technically a liquid.

My solution for the trip when I needed something in the cooler? Bags of frozen peas. If I were you, I'd get something like that and put them in a strong freezer-type Zip Lock bag to sit on.

Thanks janieg,

Your idea gives me one. I wonder if i could put a couple of sandwichs in a soft cooler with ice packs as the 'coolant', if u know what i mean. That may take the attention off the packs.

Im afraid i might have 'Princess and the Pea' experience if i sat on a bag of peas? Also if baggie leaked, it would be pretty ugly, lol.

Do they allow outside food? I dunno, I think they would still take them away because of it being a liquid....when my jaw was wired shut and I had to travel, I took Boost on the plane...but through baggage and they had a fit....after a vigorous examination, they allowed it....sorry this doesn't help you....I feel you should contact the disability people or even the 'shops' to see if you can buy ice packs on the other side...

Just some brainstorming....

Instant ice packs. You shake them and they get cold.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/wal...459971-product

A letter from your doc explaining why you need the above or your regular gel ice packs. I used to travel with a device for my pain called an H- wave machine. It literally looked like a bomb( it was a black box with 4 wires/ electrode looking things that I put on my body). I always got pulled aside and they did an explosives check but I always got on the plane with it because of the doctors note.

You HAVE to plan for delays...ice packs don't last long...how about lidocaine patches, they can be left on for 12 hours. Or a lidocaine cream.

I freeze wet face clothes or small towels and put them in zip lock bags and when I arrive at my desrination I have a wet facecloth to freshen up with or if delayed, can freshen up on the plane....no one has ever questioned them and they are not liquid. You could buy a cheap styrofoam cooler, freeze them at home and just toss in your carryon at the last minute and ditch the cheap cooler. maybe that would suffice to replace gel packs.

use the Norco for the flight

have a good trip,
Diandra

Have you asked the airline about the availability of ice or icepacks on board? Most airlines are very anxious to accommodate passengers with disabilities and yours is a modest request compared to what is asked of them.

Diandra - that was a great idea about the instant ice packs. I Googled it and it might be just the ticket! Also, we just had our first grandchild and her name is Deanndra! An E and two n's, but close enough, lol. May I ask your nationality? My daughter-in-law's family is from El Salvador. I'm not sure if there's even a connection, but your the first Diandra I've sort of met (either spelling). Again, thanks for the idea on the instant ice packs. I feel muuuuch better!

I am about to do just that. I might as well see if they can at least help me navigate the security situation. Thanks!

I forgot to finish the story....

So, I called the airline and they said it should be no problem to take the ice packs on the plane, just explain it to the tsa. Of course the tsa took it away. It was soooo stupid. I watched the girl look in the soft cooler I brought them in and call over a supervisor. He came over, kind of shrugged and then looked at the girl and shook his head no. He could have just as easily shook his head yes, but he didn't.

I watched all this at a distance and then they called me over and said I couldn't take them on. I explained the situation and told them I would basically be in pain as soon as I sat down and it would escalate throughout the flight. They said they were sorry, but they had started to melt. I looked at the supervisor and gave him my best 'if you weren't tsa, i might have to take you out back and shove that badge up your *&%.' I'm 6'3", 225 and tend to look pretty menacing if I want.

Anyway, I ate a good edible as we pulled up to the airport and it was kicking in just as we were boarding. I sat down, put my shades on and basically 'zoned' out. It worked perfectly. I did the same thing for the flight back, but couldn't quite repeat the perfect escape I did on the flight there, but it was manageable.