Recovering
from a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be long and tedious. There will be pain and
discomfort, worry and frustration about the lack of mobility and fear about the
long term recovery prospects. On top of that there are the side effects of the
medication that may be prescribed and the physiotherapy that has to be done.
All in all, recovering from SCI is not a good time in a person’s life. A
positive attitude and finding ways to relieve the stress can relieve the
tension and worry and even help to facilitate the recovery. One of the best
ways to do this is to travel. That does not mean hopping on a plane and flying
off to distant places. All you need to do is move out of the home to get away
for a day or two. It is not as difficult as you may think.
Check with Your Doctor
Being
spontaneous is fine when you are well, but with an SCI, you need to be sure of
what you can and cannot do. The first step is to consult your doctor and get
clearance to travel. Tell him about how you are feeling, physically and
mentally, and why you want a break. Give full details about your travel plans.
If you get the go ahead to travel, follow all the instruction you receive to
the letter, including the means of travel. If you are told not to
travel, there is nothing that can be done about it – you don’t want to slow
down your recovery or cause complications. Do not presume to know more than the
doctor.
Find the Right Destination
Make
a list of possible destinations and then check to see if the facilities in each
place are what you need. Choose the destination that best fits your needs.
These include:
·
Wheelchair
accessibility
·
Disabled
friendly bathrooms
·
Whether
any special foods that you may need are available
·
Activities
that you will be able to participate in.
·
Anything
else your doctor may have advised.
·
Things
you want and can do. Remember that this is a getaway for you and not a
temporary change to another care facility. Within the bounds of your medical
limitations, looks for activities that will be a change from the regular
routine and which you enjoy doing.
Plan for Contingencies
Check
to see if the place you are visiting has:
·
A
hospital you can go to in an emergency.
·
Medicines
available nearby.
·
A
wheelchair repair facility in the area.
·
Anything
else that you can think of that you have needed as part of your recovery.
·
Any
special services that you doctor had advised should be available if you need
them.
The Right Transportation Is Critical
The
right vehicle is essential to a safe and comfortable trip. Car travel may not
only be uncomfortable, it may be dangerous. The best option is to use a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Service
(NEMT). This service will have special vehicles that are both safe and
comfortable to travel in and drivers who are specially trained in transporting
people with health and mobility issues.
With
the right planning, a few days away from home can be a rejuvenating experience
that will help in working through your recovery.
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