Family Travel with Chronic Pain: Sandwich-Generation FAQ

The honest answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no – and the line is different for each person. Factors include your diagnosis, recent flares or surgeries, clot risk, and how intense the trip will be (flights, altitude, climate, activity level).

A good starting point for your clinician appointment is:

• Share your full itinerary (flight durations, stopovers, driving times, stairs, heat/cold).
• Mention any previous complications when travelling (flares, clots, severe migraines, ER visits).
• Ask explicitly, “Do you see any red flags that make this trip unsafe, or things we should modify?”

If you’re unsure whether to cancel, the TBL Decision Hub walks you through “go / adjust / don’t go yet” scenarios in a structured way.

I think in terms of risk layers:

• Body risk: pain level, stability, clot risk, recent medication changes.
• Trip risk: long-haul flights, multiple connections, extreme climate, demanding relatives.
• Support and flexibility: can plans be slowed, split, or adjusted without catastrophe?

If two or three of those layers are “high”, you’re likely in a “go but significantly adjust” or “not this year” zone. TBL’s tools are built to help you see that clearly, not gaslight yourself into over-doing it.

Focus on seat choice, support, movement and hydration:

• Choose aisle or extra-legroom seats on the longest legs if you can.
• Use a small lumbar cushion and, if helpful, a thin wedge or folded jumper under your thighs.
• Stand, stretch and walk briefly when the seatbelt sign is off, especially on flights over four hours.
• Sip water regularly; go gently with alcohol and heavy meals.
• Wear loose clothing; consider compression socks if your clinician recommends them.

If you have a personal or family history of clots, major recent surgery or are on hormone therapy, ask your clinician specifically about clot prevention before flying.

Many of my patients feel pressure to “keep up” so no one is disappointed, then crash later. It’s kinder to everyone to explain your limits early using simple, concrete language.

For example: “If I walk all day, I’m likely to be in too much pain to enjoy the evening. If I rest after lunch, I can join you for swimming and dinner.”

The communication scripts in the Sandwich-Generation Travel Guide give you ready-made phrases to adapt to your family.

You are allowed to say: “That sounds lovely, but my joints/back don’t cope well with that. I’m going to choose a gentler activity so I can stay steady for the rest of the trip.”

Offer an alternative (coffee in town, board-games with the kids, a shorter walk) and stick to it. You’re not being difficult; you’re protecting your health for this trip and the next ones.

Keep all essential meds in your carry-on, in original packaging where possible, with a clear list of names and doses. Ask your clinician for a travel letter and check in advance whether any of your meds are restricted at your destination (especially strong painkillers, sedatives or injectables).

Pack more than you think you’ll need (within legal limits) and split supplies between two bags in case one is lost. Use phone alarms or a travel pill organiser to avoid missed doses in time-zone changes.

Ask specifically about your clot risk and whether you need extra precautions, especially if you have: inflammatory conditions, recent surgery, previous clots, are on certain hormones, or will be immobile for long periods.

General advice usually includes moving regularly, staying hydrated and avoiding tight clothing, but only your own clinician can advise you on medication or compression stockings for your situation.

Plan for flares before you leave:

• Know which meds you can safely take more frequently (if any) and which you must not adjust alone.
• Identify where you would seek urgent care at your destination if needed.
• Agree a “flare protocol” with your partner: who takes over kid duties, how plans will be adjusted.

TBL’s Holiday Risk-to-Plan Builder walks you through designing this rescue plan step by step.

You don’t need luxury to protect your body. Many of the biggest wins are free: honest pacing conversations, building rest into the day, using assistance, and simplifying the itinerary.

When money is tight, focus on one or two high-impact investments, like strategic seat choices on the longest legs or more body-friendly accommodation for the most demanding nights.

Ticked Bucket List tools are designed to help you make those trade-offs consciously, not reactively.

TBL is built specifically for travellers with complex pain and fatigue, not for generic “wellness” tips. We help you:

• Decide whether to go, adjust or decline a trip (Decision Hub).
• Turn your risks into a concrete travel plan (Holiday Risk-to-Plan Builder).
• Set up pacing, rest and communication plans that respect your body and your family responsibilities.

The goal is simple: you come back saying, “I did things differently – and I enjoyed time with my loved ones without completely crashing.”