Patients call in while on vacation. Boating, beach time, hiking up in the mountains, all these different roller coasters at theme parks – all these things we’re doing to stay active. There’s going to be different severity of injury. Sprains and strains and hopefully not anything terribly serious.
If you have low back pain or neck pain or strain an ankle, it’s important to get some ice on it first. With any type of acute injury, ice is going to be the best option for you. There is typically some kind of swelling or inflammation and we want to focus on bringing the inflammation down. That will quicken your healing time and it will also help you feel better and will help with pain relief.
Secondly, if it’s an extremity like a foot or a knee, it’s always best to get it elevated and in compression and rest. If you are the beach hopefully you can ice your knee and elevate it a little bit.
Over the counter Advil, Aleve, those are anti-inflammatories and are a good option. Related to low back pain, research shows that activity is good, some form of activity. Research shows that some form of activity or movement is good. I’m not saying to go and exercise or go to the gym but movement is key. Move around and try to do something with low back pain. Legs elevated, something under your knees should take some of the pressure and irritation off of your low back as well.
Neck pain – try to stay neutral as you can. You might feel limited with rotation if you are driving your family and can’t look over your shoulder so try to rotate the body. And try to get in positions that will make you feel a little bit better. Some form of exercise, get down to the spa or gym, get moving around on a treadmill, recumbent bikes that unloaded position is really good for you as well. Elliptical machines that aren’t tough on your joints.
I’m speaking just to general aches and pains but if you feel like its something serious it’s always a good option to contact your physician back home. Visit with them about the problem. Sometimes a simple prescription might be called in – a steroid or some other type of inflammatory or pain med to get you through your trip. If it’s something more serious, we have colleagues all around the country and can make a recommendation in that area. But at all costs if you’re really concerned about something, urgent care or ER but that’s always a last resort.
Err on the side of caution. General aches and pains and strains are treated conservatively and you can get through and you can enjoy your vacation. But if you feel like its something a little more serious I would always call your primary care physician back home, visit with them a little bit, get the recommendation and go from there.
When you’re on the road and get back to Tulsa with a little pain be sure and contact the team at Tulsa Spine and Rehab at (918) 743-3737.
