6 hour car ride ahead

**Cindylou** · 07-16-2010, 02:23 PM

We are heading out the door in a bit for Omaha Nebraska....a best friend's Dad died this week and the funeral is there tomorrow. My pain levels have been up and I am pretty nervous about this long of a car ride. (this is double a cabin drive) We plan to make numerous stops to stretch, etc....so hopefully that will help keep pain tolerable. And then after funeral tomorrow morning we are turning right back around and heading back. But it's important that we do this and be of support to our dear friend.

**KBear** · 07-16-2010, 03:24 PM

I'll be praying for no extra pain for you. Car rides are the worst, amazing the little things that we take for granted, that are now big things. I'm hoping your husband is driving, so you can recline and do whatever necessary to be comfortable (as much as possible in a car at least). That's a lot of driving back to back, I had to do that a couple of months ago and it wasn't too bad. I had to go 4 hours to get a piece of equipment for my husband, go there and it was not at all as described. Decided not to get it, then had to find it somewhere else, drive some more, then drive home the same day. Ended up being 10 or 12 hours in the car. Hope you have some muscle relaxers or something to help you too.

**Katie** · 07-16-2010, 04:38 PM

I actually find that driving is easier on my back than being a passenger. There are more adjustments on the driver's seat than the passenger's, and somehow when I am driving and have control over the bumps and turns, it doesn't seem to hurt as much when they come up. Maybe it is something as simple as the anticipation of hitting a bump that is tensing the muscles and causing pain.

CL, stopping and walking around at least once an hour seems to help me. We went on a small vacation, a four hour drive each way, two weeks ago and although I was tired at the end, I wasn't overly sore.

I hope you have an uneventful trip and I'm sorry for your Dad's loss.

**Greg** · 07-16-2010, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Katie

I actually find that driving is easier on my back than being a passenger. There are more adjustments on the driver's seat than the passenger's, and somehow when I am driving and have control over the bumps and turns, it doesn't seem to hurt as much when they come up. Maybe it is something as simple as the anticipation of hitting a bump that is tensing the muscles and causing pain.

CL, stopping and walking around at least once an hour seems to help me. We went on a small vacation, a four hour drive each way, two weeks ago and although I was tired at the end, I wasn't overly sore.

I hope you have an uneventful trip and I'm sorry for your Dad's loss.

Katie, I couldn't agree more with what you said (...it seems like that phrase gets used an awful lot

) When I have to take long car rides I much prefer to drive (unless I actually think I can recline in the passenger seat and sleep through the ride....NOT!) because it does feel that anticipating bumps and jerks of the car make them easier on ourselves since we see it coming and our muscles tense (or relax?) to prepare for the jerk. The last cross country trip I took (North Carolina to Colorado) was 28 hours non-stop with sister driving 1st 6 hours and me doing the next 22

and even though I did 22 hours straight driving my back was surprisingly a lot better than I expected....it still hurt but it should have been a lot worse. But I made sure to stop at least every 1 to hour and half....maybe 2 to walk around the car for a minute and I brought a blanket that I would lay on the ground and do the stretches where I pull my knee to my chest. That one seemed to be the best one for lossening tense back muscles from sitting in the car for so long.

Luckily you only have 6 hours to do (what am I talking about....thats a lot

) but I do hope CL that you have a muscle relaxer to take with you pain meds. Thats what I do if I'm not driving....plus the flexeril makes me sleepy as well so helps me get a little shut-eye. I hate it when I end up seeing old friends under these kind of circumstances but you guys must be pretty good friends (cause I already know your good people

) to drive the 6 hours to be there and support your husbands friend. Good luck with the driving.....there's a lot of crazies out there with no regard for other people's lives. I'll keep my

for an uneventful trip and look forward to hearing you made it there in back safely. Take care!

**Cindylou** · 07-19-2010, 09:38 AM

I much prefer being a passenger on a long car ride as I can squirm and move around more. When I am driving I tend to feel lulled to sleep by the monotony of the whole thing and not good to want to sleep when you are the driver!

Glad we did it as it meant the world to our dear friends but now glad to be home. Hubby and I were dragging all yesterday after doing 800 miles in 24 hours and then we had to hurry and get home for my daughter-in-law's birthday celebration yesterday. One word: exhausted. Pain levels up. Definitely need to call SI Joint doc about that pain back there. Not good. I keep avoiding calling his office as am afraid of what I may hear, but have to get over that avoidance hump and just do it.

**Gilbert P** · 07-19-2010, 01:04 PM

Hi CL

Glad to hear you are back home sounds like you need a day of rest and maybe some

You should give your Doc a call and get to the bottom of your pain.

Will be in New Hope next month will see Dr Garvey

Take Care

Gil

**runagain** · 07-19-2010, 04:38 PM

Cindylou,

You made it. Hurray.
I know how it is when you just have to see someone. I am sure they appreciated it greatly.
I was going to say, use icepacks.
I have those two ones from Chattanooga, Tenn and they work great.
I switch them out.
I have to go out in the car today as my husband is having some heart issues and he never goes to the doc, well, hardly ever.
The last thing I want is to sit in a car today but I have to.
My pain levels are in another realm from the disco on Thursday.
So I am letting my ice packs freeze up real good for when we head out today.
Cindylou, you know you have to call the doctor about your SI fusion.
Don't put it off any longer.
Sometimes it is better to head things off or just to have the peace of mind.
You have been through enough to know that.

take care,

Runagain

**Cindylou** · 07-19-2010, 06:04 PM

Runagain....thanks for the nudge. I finally called my SI Joint Fusion surgeon and made an appt. The soonest was in 2 weeks, so not too bad. He's going out of town or I probably could have seen him sooner. I do feel a little bit better....at least I took the first step. I just so need a break.....I don't want to even begin to think what's next if this damn SI Joint never fused.

Yes, I am a huge icer too. Have an ice pack on right now.

Gil, if you are up for it, and/or I am in town, PM me and I will send you my cell phone number, k? Maybe we could have a coffee? Good luck with your appt.

Take care too you guys,

CL