As everyone knows, I re-injured my TOS on a long drive last year from NJ to Disney World in Orlando. I drove there and back almost exclusively. My bad judgment, but, I have to say, my hubby is not a great driver and made me EXTREMELY nervous when he did drive. I was stressed and became in extreme pain when we got home. Also, this was during the VA tech murders and we stayed in a hotel next to the school. That was all that was on the radio and it was upsetting.

Dr. Togut has given me driving tips and I was hoping others will have something to help me.

My daughter will be helping since she has her license.

Obviously, frequent stops are required.

A pillow for my arm for support.

Any others???

My husband can help, don't let him know I wrote that he sucks, but he does. He makes me too nervous but I'll let him do alittle. It's kind of like, he's driving, you try to rest, and look over and he's slapping himself in the face to stay awake. Would that make you comfortable!! Linda

Gosh, I wish you had a healthy friend male or female who would like to ride along (drive) to go on this trip with you. Is there NO one who can tag along to help with this?

I will worry the entire time for you...

maybe plug in an extra night each way so there is less on the road time for each day?

My youngest daughter already gets numb, and pins & needles hands. Does your daughter get any symptoms from her computer use, or driving? I'd question her to make sure she doesn't get over-tired from driving also.

And how 'bout some major caffeine for the hubby when he's driving? (Gosh, he's just like my ex, I used to look over, and his eyes were shut as he was driving...)

We love you and want you to come home healthy and fine...

One thing that helped me was I made a foam cylinder to put against my spine in the car seat. This then helps to keep my shoulders back WHILE driving. I also try to practice using my back muscles to pull them back WHILE driving.

Note that car seats are the worst because they are "bucket" style i.e. curved to create a rounded shoulder and thus the compression bad for TOS (in those where this is a problem...and some people's TOS is not apparently affected by this posture). I cannot over emphasize reversing the rounded shoulders. More work on a foam roller and strengthening back muscles. And yes...until then...stop every 20-30 minutes and walk around. I can now drive for much longer periods without having to stop.

Gosh, I hate to see you drive even a bit.

You know when fiances' back went out many years ago, and I already couldn't drive we knew, we found the greatest, sweetest, retired professional driver by putting out a local ad.

He dressed impeccably like a driver for James Bond. People made a fuss when we went to the airports. Older ladies had to flirt... And he actually became part of the family pretty quickly. My girls shouldn't have, but once in a while they called him to pick them up from a late party to avoid getting me out of bed... (You can do background investigations to include criminal arrests these days for just $150 or so to clear it for your family's safety. I can tell you more about those if you'd like.)

And he drove like butter! You could get limos - he had all of these in contact. But we liked black Towncars, with ice and water.

His charges were very reasonable. Of course, we had to have an extra room for him if overnight, but he never took advantage. Most economical was his preference for us - he knew we were a struggling family.

If you have a retirement community around you, maybe this is the answer.

And guess what he'd done for a living before us? FBI. No joke. He - well, I loved him like an uncle, and sadly, he passed on and no one had told us at the time. Fred. May he rest in peace.

You need a Fred now Linda It's worth every penny, and it's not that much.

We have a mini-van which barely holds my family. I think the suggestion of the foam behind my back is a good one. I think if I use something for my back and a pillow for my arm I should be ok. We will stop often and stay over one night on the way down then coming home. My husband does well first thing in the morning and ok in after noon. Just not night time. I just made the mistake last time of thinking only I could do it. I think, as Dr T. told me, I am the type A personality. Take on the world.

My daughter doesn't have any symptoms of tos. She actually does not spend much time on the computer. She has sports every day after school and doesn't sit around on computer.

Thanks, Linda

I know exactly what you mean. We also have a mini van that barely holds our family of 6. This Christmas we went to my family, it was a 15 hour drive each way. My boys were helping to pack the van, and my husband helped me get settled in. We were an hour away from home (the longest I can go without some kind of support) when I asked my kids to pass me my pillows.
Well, long story short, I doubled up on pain pills, my hubby did all the driving, and we stopped at every store that had any chance of having a pillow that would help me.
Drive safe. When Hubby is driving lots of deep breaths. (I don't know if it will help or not, but it can't hurt) LOL.
Have fun.

Trixlynn, Thanks for your advice. I think as long as I have some pillows I'll be ok. Also, frequent stops. It is tough having someone else drive, especially if they make you uncomfrotable. Oh Well!! Linda