The end of the year is a popular time for elective surgery because people are more likely to have met their maximum out of pocket insurance expenses late in the year, meaning they can save some money by getting the procedure in December compared to January or February. The winter months are also a popular time for people to head south to a more tropical location to escape the colder weather, meaning we oftentimes field questions from patients wondering how a shoulder procedure could affect their travel plans.
While it’s important to get individualized advice from your treating surgeon based on your individual procedure, we’re going to use today’s blog to share some travel tips if you plan to travel by car or plane a short while after your shoulder operation is performed.
Traveling After Shoulder Surgery
If you expect to undergo major shoulder surgery at the end of the year, our recommendation is that you postpone any significant travel for at least 6-8 weeks, but we understand it’s not always as easy as opting not to book a vacation. Perhaps you have a destination wedding on the calendar or a family emergency requires you to do some significant travel shortly after your procedure. Again, you’ll want to seek out individualized advice from the surgeon who performed your operation, but odds are their advice will mimic some of the tips we share below:
- Pick Your Seat – If you’ll be traveling by airplane, we recommend that you take a closer look at the seating chart and pick a seat that will be most comfortable given your recent surgery. A middle seat will be more uncomfortable than usual, and while an aisle seat may offer more room, your shoulder is more exposed to passengers and the flight crew as they walk by. We recommend picking a window seat with the window on the same side as your surgically repaired shoulder, and bonus points if you can find a seat that has an open middle seat next to it.
- Pack Light And Smart – Pack light so that you’re not trying to carry a heavy bag with one good shoulder. Also consider packing in a suitcase or travel bag that has wheels so that you can roll the item instead of carrying it with your good arm. If there are items that you can buy or borrow at your destination, consider leaving these items at home to limit the weight of your bag.
- Travel With A Companion – Consider traveling with a companion who is aware of your shoulder restrictions and who is willing to help as needed. This is especially true if you are driving to your destination and you have driving restrictions following your procedure.
- Confirm Travel Is Safe – While most of the focus is on how uncomfortable it can be to travel after shoulder surgery, there’s also a potential safety issue at play. Blood clot formation is more common following a surgical procedure, and this could mean that the pressurized cabin of an airplane isn’t the safest environment for you. Before you discuss how to travel after surgery, be sure that it is safe for you to travel after surgery.
- Don’t Let Travel Disrupt Your Rehab – Really make it a point to continue with your rehab exercises during your travels. Whether that means waking up a little earlier to do your exercises before the day begins or connecting with your physical therapist for a virtual PT session, don’t let travel cause a setback for your rehab. Your rehab schedule needs to remain the same even if you’re traveling.
- Medication Management – Make sure that you have enough medication to get you through your travels without having to go to a pharmacy in a different state or country. Call your doctor and see if they can re-up your prescription before you travel, and be sure your meds make it in your travel bag before you go!
If you keep these tips in mind, you try to avoid extended travel for 6-8 weeks after shoulder replacement surgery and you have an open and honest conversation with your surgeon to get travel clearance, we believe you can make travel less uncomfortable after your surgical procedure. For more tips, or if you need help overcoming a shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
