Back spasms - should we travel?

What bad timing! An appointment with an osteopath a good idea ( I found they help more than a physio) Some of those heat packs in your hand luggage as well as topical gel. I must say that if you decide to take a pack of ibuprofen with you DO NOT take them on an empty stomach as they can cause stomach ulcers (as I found out) . Keep mobile as much as you can while in flight.
I would have suggested accupuncture but you need an initial course of that!

I have a Tens machine, it is very helpful and would be reasonably easy to use on the flight. Valium is what does it for me though, great muscle relaxant. I also find moving and stretching the best. Hope you have a wonderful time and congrats on the GC.

I agree with Jane10 and others - nervousness. I have been flying to the US for over 20 years to visit family, however I had two successive visits in 2017 and 2018 ending up in A&E the day before the flight. One was due to a massive case of hives, including distortion of my face and the other a muscle spasm in my leg so severe I ended up with Valium and crutches! Both sorted themselves out within a day or two (and I did take the flight both times.) I don't know what I was fearing, but I am convinced it was in my head.

When we went for our first long haul trip my DH, who suffers from occasional bad back, complained of back pain soon after taking off, I guess sitting in the relatively crumped seats of Economy class. His journey was pretty bad, he kept having to get up and walk, and swearing that he'll never go on a long haul flight again! Even with short European flights he's still in some discomfort despite taking strong painkillers ( co-codamol). If it's an option have have you thought about upgrading to Business class? That should help with the comfort aspect. Hope all will be OK for your very important trip!

Grannygravy's advice is good. I was referred to a physio by my doctor because of quite severe back pains and now do this exercise most days. Also lie down with legs bent and knees together. Put a doubled up pillow between your knees and squeeze for about 10 seconds, 10 times,
I improved almost overnight and now have no problems.
All the best for a comfortable flight and enjoy your time abroad. .

I get painful spasms with sciatica. I have a corset which prevents sudden movement of the spine and gives support. Also a small cushion in the small of the back helps particularly on uncomfortable aircraft seats.
Strong pain killers help too. Personally I wouldn’t want such a long flight with back spasms.

For eight years, only by taking 400mg doses of the muscle relaxant Ibuprofen three or four times a day did I manage to travel long distances (driving 40,000 miles a year).

NHS X-rays showed nothing. My repeated pleadings for an MRI were refused for eight years by my GP (admittedly MRI machines then were rare).

Then in 1992 my new job gave me BUPA coverage. Within six months I had my MRI and an op by a wonderful neurosurgeon who removed the remnants of my burst disc from between L3 and L2.

Since then I’ve not had any back pain.

Your husband’s circumstances may be very different but now it seems to me that you risk invalidating your travel insurance.

I wish you the very best of luck and an enjoyable trip.

OP has said she has checked and their travel insurance will cover them. I would definitely get a quick appointment with a recommended osteopath, and use alternating hot pads and bags of frozen peas as often as you can. Exercises mentioned above also good. If GP not contactable, try minor injuries clinic, queues there usually not too bad.

In addition to all the other good advice google back exercises so your DH has some ideas to help him and he may be able to get going on them now.

Also if heat helps take a hot water bottle and ask the cabin crew to fill it up when you need to. I have done this and it really helped. Or take a good plastic bag and ask for ice - they don't always have enough ice to keep this topped up.

If you can do go get to an Osteopath/Physio before you fly, if you have time get a massage at Changi but book it ahead. Then ask you relatives in NZ to see if they can book an Osteopath/Physio for either after you land and or before you fly back.

There is a really good Pharmacy in terminal 3 Changi so if you need anything ask there, they can do over the counter things we can't and if you're stuck might be worth a try.

I flew to NZ with a bad back and survived :-) Not easy but strong pain killers, muscle relaxants and all of the above got me there and back. I also had a few different blow up travel aids. pillows, neck and foot support.

Good Luck and it seems like you will have some added expense but if it gets him there in the best shape possible for a great reason it will be worth it.

Health professionals differ in their ice pack/heat pad advice. Physios suggest heat only. As a back pain sufferer, and also GP Secretary, for such a long flight I suggest lots of diazepam, though he’ll be out of it, but it’ll stop back going into spasm. Deal with the problem properly when you get there with osteo, chiro or physio and regular back stretches and exercises. But just get yourselves there first! Good luck

PS If you do get strong drugs before you fly take the back part of the prescription with you and tell NZ immigration.

They have different rules and if you are up front, show then it's prescribed they are fine but their sniffer dogs don't miss much.

Any chance of changing/ affording business class seats. More room, flat bed and easier to mobilise while flying?

No need to cancel . Diazepam will help as it's a muscle relaxant and will also help him sleep on flight too...Just take 1 tab on the 13 hour flight and if needed 1/2 tab on 8 hour flight
Love Melbourne so enjoy before going into NZ

Get more diazepam as this is a muscle relaxant. and take some pain relief. go to new Zealand you need the holiday. It is highly likely all will be well when you get there.

I would suggest that an appt with an Osteopath would be in order for temporary advice. A diagnosis by a nurse without having an x-ray is not a good way of going about it. I would think that some exercise regime at least should be engendered.

Jalima is correct. If it's a proper 'spasm' where the muscles have seized up, then he will need painkillers and muscle relaxants.

I suffered with these for years after having 3 children close together when I was no spring chicken. I tore a muscle and had problems for a very long time. The pain was worse than childbirth/kidney stones. Last 2 times I was hospitalised and put on morphine for 24 hours. I had physio afterwards but no one could touch me at the time. I couldn't even go to the toilet.

The diazepam will relax him and back in the day I had Diclofenac (sp?). I know there has been some controversy regarding that in later years though so always check with your doctor.

The problem with advice to get up and move about is, you can't if it's in spasm. You can move about with other types of bad back but if it's a full blown spasm then you are set rigid.

I so hope you can get the right medication into him quickly so he can sit comfortably and move around on the flight.

I see you have notified the travel insurance company. Could it be worth notifying the airline and asking if you could have a seat with space in front of it in case he needs to get flat. I did this once coming back on a flight from U.S. I was by a panel that separated the cabin and I was able to lie on the floor for a while to stretch my back out.

What awful timing for you. If he is still in agony could you try to delay flight by a day or two? I hope he can make it. I wish you both well and best wishes for new grandchild

Sorry, meant to add 'anti inflammatories'

This may not apply to your husband at all but when I woke up with a bad back which eased during the day, we needed a new bed. The beneficial effect of a good bed can't be underestimated! Perhaps if you can get to NZ you'll find out if he's more comfortable on other beds.

I would use osteopath, tens machine (brilliant) and painkillers, also regular walks round the plane

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. His back was a lot better this morning. He's been to the doctor anyway and been prescribed Naproxen and Zapain. The doctor also ran a battery of tests and took blood samples.
Bags are packed, boarding cards printed. Wish us luck!

btreeze back in the day I had Diclofenac
I think that's the correct spelling!
Yes, that drug worked well but GPs won't prescribe it now (at least ours won't) and it's not available over the counter either.
Naproxen is good but our GP will not prescribe that either, except in exceptional circumstances.

Have a comfortable flight and enjoy your holiday GrandmaKT

I’m flying to Thailand tomorrow and left hip is playing up and my back is very stiff. Not as concerned about the long flight as I am about the miles of walking one has to do at airports.

Yes, I have been plagued by back spasms, usually the big muscle at the side and I have carried on travelling. If possible an ice pack and hot water bottle plus anti inflammatory tablets or gel. Ice pack and gel could be difficult to get through security though. I spent a great deal of time standing up at the back of the plane moving around which helped but made me so tired. Another time I took a sleeping tablet which knocked me out. When I woke up the pain had gone as it had relaxed. I did it to NZ once with a stop over in Singapore and a visit to the hospital for some help. The ret of the years I have travelled to Thailand so you can do it.

Thanks for your advice Barmeyoldbat

glammagran ask for help at the airport. My Thai SIL suffers with RA and was unsure about travelling to Thailand to see her family last October. I advised her to ask the airline to arrange assistance which she did and said it made everything so much easier. No walking what seems like miles in the airports. I yhen had to use airport assistance myself coming home from England in November.