‘Tis the season for travel, whether it’s an hours-long drive to grandma’s house or a cross-country flight. It also means plenty of long nights spent tossing and turning in an unfamiliar guest bed, hours spent standing in lines, lots of late evenings out with friends, and more than a glass or two of wine. If you suffer from chronic or acute neck pain, all of these factors can quickly turn merriment to misery. Here are 3 tips from our expert cervical disc surgeons to help you travel comfortably this holiday season.

Pack Light

Most episodes of acute neck pain are due to a muscle strain or soft tissue sprains involving ligaments or tendons. Unfortunately, these types of injuries can be caused by exactly the hazards of normal travel, such as whiplash or straining the neck by sleeping in the wrong position or carrying a too heavy suitcase. Keep your bags light and consider taking a backpack or a suitcase that has wheels. If you do carry a shoulder bag or backpack, make sure to alternate shoulders when standing in line at the airport.

Support and Stretch

Maintain good posture by using lumbar support for your back, which keeps your spine in alignment and reduces strain in your neck, in addition to using a neck pillow. Make sure to stretch your neck muscles from side to side and up and down, rotating your head and shoulders gently. When reading, support your book or magazine rather than just holding it with your arms and don’t forget that talking on your phone with your head tilted to the side can put stress on your neck muscles, so invest in a good headset.

Be Prepared

Remember to put your neck pain medications in your carry-on bag or backpack. Pack a heat wrap or ice pack, or ask the flight attendant for some ice, and ice your neck every five minutes for 30 minutes if your pain flares up with you’re in the air. When sleeping away from home, make sure to call ahead and ask the hotel (or your host) if you can get an orthopedic pillow, or simply bring your own.

When to Call Expert Cervical Disc Surgeons

If your neck pain has become chronic and is disrupting your daily routine, you may want to consider a cervical discectomy with an artificial disc, such as the Prestige LP Cervical Disc. This artificial cervical disc replaces the diseased disc in the neck that causes arm pain, weakness, or numbness while maintaining the distance between the two adjacent cervical vertebrae and allowing for a range of motion that includes bending and rotation. Dr. Stachniak, one of our expert cervical disc surgeons, was the primary investigator in the research for the Prestige LP Cervical Disc.

To learn more about the Prestige LP Cervical Disc or to schedule an appointment with one of our expert cervical disc surgeons call Brain & Spine Center of Texas at 972-943-9779 today!