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Traveling After Joint Replacement

Joint replacement surgery is becoming increasingly common. The object is to enable patients to regain the mobility and freedom of movement they have lost. After having lived with joint pain and limited mobility for a long time, getting your joint replacement surgery done will give you a huge sense of relief. You can now look forward to being pain free and having your freedom of movement back again. Keep in mind that replacing a hip or knee is not a small thing, it is major surgery and you need to take your time and recover properly, failing which the new joint could be affected and the end result of the procedure less than what you expect. How long your recovery takes and what you need to do during that time will be communicated to you by your doctor.

Image Courtesy: Pexels
It often happens that the improved mobility even shortly after the recovery begins leads patients to presume that they are fit to undertake more than they safely can. This can result in major complications.One area where patients tend to jump the gun is in traveling. There are the precautions that need to be taken till such time the doctor says they are no longer required.

Traveling By Air

Keep in mind that in some cases you may have to climb or descend stairs to access the plane. As for your seat, if financially viable, travel first class so you have the leg room you need not stress the joint. If first class is not possible, find a seat that offers the maximum leg room in your price range. Take and aisle seat so you can stand up and move about a bit if you need to. If the journey is a long one, see if you can break the journey along the way to give your new joint the rest it needs. An often-overlooked factor is the security checks. It could mean standing in long lines for an extended period of time. Be prepared for this. Ask your doctor for a letter stating you are recovering from joint replacement surgery and cannot stand for too long. Give it to the TSA agent in charge and ask if you can bypass the line. It may mean extra screening, but it is worth it in terms of time and stress saved.

Travel by Car

In most cases, travel by road is the first step to moving outside the home. There is so much you want and need to do and you can’t wait to get moving. You may be careful not to overdo things, but even the very act of getting in and out of a car can place stress on your new joint. Its really not worth the risk. That does not mean that you have to stay tied to your house. Using Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) means you can start traveling by road as soon as your doctor okays it and do it in comfort and safety. NEMT is not an ambulance service. It provides specially equipped vehicles to enable those who are recovering from surgery with a safe and comfortable way to move around. Entry and exit are easy and without stress. The drivers are specially trained and understand the needs of their passengers. You can use NEMT for any kind of road travel for any purpose from a doctor’s visit to going shopping, visiting friends and so on. With doorstep pickup and event standby, you can be sure of reaching your destination on time and returning safely. Whether it’s during recovery from joint replacement or any other surgery, contact a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation service and be mobile again.
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