Psoriatic Arthritis and Long-Distance Travel

Doing things with PsA does not normally look like doing things without it. PsA challenges us in the best and worst ways and teaches us things about ourselves that we did not know we needed to know.

From traveling to sleeping to existing in day-to-day life, it all looks different. We have to find ways around normal tasks and ways to manage day-to-day life.

Tips for comfortable long-distance driving for people with PsA

Traveling long distances in a car is one of these things that just looks different for us. Sitting for long periods can be excruciating if not handled correctly. Over the years, I have found ways to make these trips more comfortable and bearable for me.

I have a long 16-hour car trip coming up in a few weeks, and I am reminded to get prepped and ready for it. So herewith are some of my tips for long-distance car trips with PsA.

Space the trips out.

If you love to travel, it can be tempting to push your limits and do multiple trips or long distances a few days in a row. I cannot stress enough: do not do this, I run the risk of ruining my whole holiday If I do that. 

The equivalent of being mildly allergic to a food and then consuming it in high quantities as you were kind of okay after having it once. Allow your body to rest and recover from the long trip.

Sitting on eggshells

I have cut an eggshell topper into seat-size squares. and these are used in the car. Just slip a pillowcase over it and you are sorted. as they are usually only used for 8 hours at a time when I sleep.

I interchange them halfway on the trip and sit on a fresh one. This alleviates a substantial amount of pain from extended sitting.  My joints and my body, in general, do not handle long periods of sitting and laying down well.

Take lots of breaks

We try not to drive for longer than three or four hours without stopping, and while this does add time to the trip, it is 100% worth it. Getting out of the car for a bathroom break, a cup of tea or coffee, and a short walk has served me so well. 

I find that finding a place to sit with my feet slightly elevated for just fifteen minutes can make a massive difference to how my feet feel. The first time, I did not take enough breaks on a trip. I could hardly walk on my feet when we stopped. Elevating them for short periods has changed that for me.

Keep it tight

Compression socks and gloves are some of my favorite tools for PsA. Compression socks while driving long distances are an absolutely essential item for me. Even as a passenger, it is helpful to manage blood flow and it just makes my legs not hurt as much as my feet too.

Non Drowsy pain killers

They must be non-drowsy because staying safe on the road is my number one priority. This includes being an awake, vigilant, and present driver and passenger. We believe that those up front are awake and keeping everyone else safe.

I usually take tablets the night before and then again the morning of and rather in a preventative dose that my doctor prescribes for me. This keeps me going and makes sure that when I arrive, I am in some kind of shape to still get bags unpacked.

This has made long-distance trips manageable and possible. The difference is that now I can actually complete the trip and even plan another in the future. However, it does not remove the total discomfort and pain.

Safe travels!