How Can I Ease My Back Pain During a Road Trip Away From Fanwood?

Road trips are fun. Gathering up the family or some friends (or both), packing up the car and hitting the road is pretty much a recipe for making lifelong memories. The simple act of taking a break from your everyday life in Fanwood can be thrilling. It really doesn't matter if you are traveling down the Garden State Parkway in the summer sun headed for the beach or loaded up with boots and skis on your way to the mountains for some wintertime adventures. There might be unexpected and delightful roadside stops especially when traveling somewhere for the first time. New sights to see and places to explore can really make a road trip one exciting vacation. Unless, of course you find yourself suffering with back pain during the long car ride. Then, you might not be having a good time at all.

Back pain is common during long car rides. In fact, back pain is common period. According to the Mayo Clinic everyone suffers from back pain at some point in their lives. Here's a few suggestions to avoid having that back pain during road trips:

1. Be Prepared with Ice
   Think about what to pack for the actual car ride just as much as what you pack for your destination. Include a cooler for reusable ice packs that can be helpful to ease back pain during the ride. Commonly back pain comes from inflammation and applying ice to the area can be beneficial to reducing the pain and swelling caused by inflammation. Pack a few to swap out as needed.
2. Adjust for Comfort
   Take the time to figure out the most comfortable setting for your seat. Most newer model cars come with a wide variety of possibilities to configure the seat position to work best for you. However, it's usually best to lean slightly back (but not so far your are straining to reach the wheel) rather than hunching forward over the wheel. Also, consider lumbar support for your lower back. Most cars do not have adequate support for the lumbar spine. Plan ahead by bringing along a towel to roll up and place as a support for you low back.
3. Plan for Frequent Movement Breaks
   No matter the distance you will be traveling to your destination, plan ahead to take frequent driving breaks outside the car. Sitting for long periods of time in the same position is never a good idea. It can cause muscle stiffness that could lead to muscle spasms and pain. In the car it can be aggravated further by sitting in a stoic position while dealing with the car's acceleration and bumps on the road itself. Aim for movement outside the car every 1 to 2 hours. Walking and stretching can increase blood flow, alleviate stiffness and just plain feel good.
4. Make It There in a Manageable Timeframe
   This one is directly related to previous tip of taking frequent breaks. Too much time spent in the car without a break can really aggravate back pain. Try to avoid the temptation to push how long you can keep driving to make "good time". If the trip is set to take 12 hours of driving time and you are uncomfortable at hour 7, listen to your body. Consider stopping for the day and finishing the trip after a good night's rest. Any road trip and vacation destination is way more fun without back pain caused by ignoring the signs of what your body needs.

There's nothing quite like driving to a far away destination whether that means to a different area of New Jersey or across state lines. There can be good times with music, audio books and games in the car. But maybe most importantly, making sure that you stay pain-free is key to a great road trip.

If you return from your trip and find that you do have back pain, make an appointment with a Fanwood chiropractor to help alleviate the pain. Chiropractors are highly trained in treating back pain from all types of aggravating conditions, including long car rides. Fanwood Back Relief Center offers short-term care for your back pain and we welcome walk-ins. You can always give us a call or stop on in.