IanFromHKG

There's a rather obvious solution here - ask your physio... Since s/he is a trained medical practitioner familiar with your condition (and with all deference to all the thoughtful people who have given responses), s/he is far more likely to be able to provide the answer which will be suitable for YOU

flyinbob

Lots of strange advice here. Like not being covered by insurance if you aggravate it on a business trip! NONSENSE. As the post above says, consult your doctor or a good neurosurgeon.

Otherwise, perhaps some advise from someone who has had multiple spine surgeries, AND had to travel? Me. First, the fact is that the coach seat is better than most up-front seats. Because they are so stiff and straight, that's what works better for most back conditions, perhaps with a pillow at the lumbar region.

If you can get a business or first seat, make sure it is fully flat, not like a barcalounger. It is the angled positions that might feel better sitting, but are worse long term. Make your reservation NOW, and stress to the agent that you have a back issue, and require an aisle seat. Have them put it in the reservation notes if you can. Try to get a 747 if possible. Stretching on the stairs is nice. Get up and stand or walk if you can.

There is one other thing I can suggest. However, I won't do it in the thread. It's not illegal or immoral or anything like that. Just PM me if you really are concerned about traveling with your back and I'll point you in the right direction.

Ancien Maestro

+1.. Cost is a major factor, and for some consumers, travelling is a bit of a stretch.

As a passenger, I would get up when I need to and walk the aisles a bit. Stretch out, go potty, stand in the back a bit, run a few errands, etc. 13 hours is an awful long time. Even those who are healthy would probably get a sore back sitting that long.

largeeyes

What kind of bizarre health insurance do you have, man?

YOWgary

THIS is what I came here for! Thank you!

casinoguy

I will be ordering this for an upcoming Asia trip, has mostly good reviews. Sold by Magellans for $40.

The 1st Class Sleeper turns your cramped coach seat into the lap of luxury. It's like having a "bed in the clouds". Your neck, shoulders and spine will be kept in perfect alignment, eliminating stiffness and pain so you'll arrive at your destination perfectly rested.

Product Features:

Keeps neck, shoulders and spine in perfect alignment
Inflates with only 10-11 deep breaths of air
Compact---about the size of a travel umbrella
Eliminates stiff neck and back pain
Arrive at your destination rested---ready for work or fun
Provides excellent lumbar pillow when folded in half

Size: Rolled up: 12 x 3"; Inflated: 36 x 17 x 8"
Weight: 1 lb 2 oz
Fabric: Nylon
Product Manual
View Product Manual
Product Type
inflatable travel airplane seat bed lumbar cushion

nux

All medical and travel insurance policies I have used require you to declare any pre-existing conditions, and not doing so can invalidate insurance if the insurance company can show that you knew about the condition and had not informed them.
They also require following any medical advice, and not following that advice may invalidate it for any claims arising from that condition. (In this case, the OP has not specifically been told not to sit for extended periods. I wonder if they told their physio they would be flying longhaul economy for 13 hours though..)

I know that CIGNA (a US global insurer) states this in their policy, Aviva/AXA/BUPA (global) also do.

Different countries obviously have different insurance regulations, policies, etc. If you have read your policy and know that you do not need to declare new medical information to your insurer and that you do not need to follow medical advice then great, no more needs to be done.
Assuming you do not need to follow medical advice may lead to a large medical bill your insurer will not pay.

Remember that this is a global forum, what is true in one country may not be true in another. Nowhere have I said that it will invalidate insurance, only that it may, whereas you have all said that it will not. If you look through some of the policies from the medical insurers I listed above, in their general terms it will show what you have said is not true.

Personally (and knowing my own policy) I would seek medical advice and have confirmation I was ok to travel from my insurer.

Pulley

+1 - Being in the insurance business I've never seen an exclusion for this. If that was the case anybody that smoked would have their insurance "invalidated".

wordsew

Here is the inflight back pain prevention formula

1. a good night sleep on the night prior to departure

2. light exercise and stretching prior to flight even if that just means bending and touching your toes which can be done almost anywhere.

3. A towel/cushion/pillow anything that can be placed behind you to give lumbar support that your airline seat is lacking in. If you are in a pinch take the inflight magazines and roll them up and place behind a pillow blanket in your lumbar area for additional support . Also an additional towel/cushion/pillow to sit on if your backside is sensitive to airline seats.

3. A non steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Motrin, Alleve will last the longest. mild muscle relaxant such as Flexeril will keep everything loose and may help with inflight sleep/rest.

4. a TENS unit if you can get one.

5. Get up and move around inflight you can touch quickly your toes while waiting for the bathroom. If you're in coach buy your seatmates a cocktail and they will be much more understanding about your need to get up every now and then. But, under no circumstances should you indulge in the booze it will eventually make your back worse.

6. a light massage at one of those airport kiosks when you land

7. a strong back massage the day before the flight. As a therapist once said to me "it's better to have your back a little sore from a good massage then to have back spasm and pain"

7. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

mules

Can you afford to purchase the economy seat next to yours? I think that having more wiggle room and ways to place your feet could help.

Ancien Maestro

Re: Insurance

If you're required to travel in First Class.. Is Business/First Class covered by the insurance company? Which insurers would do this? A lot of us would jump on with this insurance company.

cascade

Aisle seat or business/first so you can lie down.

chgoeditor

I have a herniated disk (L4/L5) as well as arthritis around the spine in the same area. If I were in your position, I'd consider the following:

1. What pain medicine and anti-inflammatory medicine are you taking or can you take on a periodic basis? I'd probably up my dosage (with my doctor's OK) or add another medicine if it might provide temporary relief.

2. My physical therapist has recommended certain exercises that "reset" my disk when it's flaring. (For me, forward bends movements--such as hugging my knees to my chest or sitting in a chair, bending forward and grabbing the back legs of the chair and pulling myself into a strong forward bend--help ease pain.) I make a point of doing these stretches every hour or so, particularly when seated for an extended period of time.

3. I find that sleep helps ease my back pain, so I'd either take back meds that would make me drowsy or take a sleeping pill (again, talk to your doc about interactions) to ensure that I'd sleep as much as possible through the flight.

4. Does your seat have a plug and can you bring a heating pad or use a stick-on heating pad on your back for the duration of the flight?

5. If possible, I'd check as much luggage as possible/only carry on a light item. Travel can involve a lot of lifting and, depending on your exercise regime, may be more physical exertion than you're typically used to. That along can cause more pain, so do all you can to eliminate factors like these that may exacerbate the pain.

6. As others have said, get up regularly to move around and stretch.

VivoPerLei

Totally off topic, but how long is that flight in reality, if somebody has taken it recently? Just ran a simulation that I think had some stronger than normal winds and show 13:37 outbound (YVR-HKG) , and only 10:36 on the return.

My advice to the OP, defer the opportunity until you are healthy. It's a long enough slog for those of us without back pain.

COSPILOT

I had a spinal fusion for L5/S1 in May/2013 after 8 long years of pain, injections, etc. My advice is to pick a really good surgeon and get this fixed now. After surgery I used a TENS device, but better yet, mine has IFC (Interferential Current). I now function like normal without pain.

Added info: In IFC mode I get at best 3hrs out of the batteries. Mine is the nexwave unit by Zynex.