This post is in partnership with Complete Care Shop, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hear about how my club foot and osteoarthritis affect me while solo travelling, and discover six great tips on how to travel independently with mobility issues.
“We could fuse your bones together.” I shot up out of my chair, tempted to leg it there and then.
Having been born with bilateral talipes (a.k.a. club foot), I’ve always struggled with my feet. From little aches and pains here and there; to prolonged pain after standing, or during the colder months, foot pain is something I’ve come to live with. When I saw my consultant recently, however, I was astounded when he suggested bone fusion surgery. Normally, I’d be referred to podiatry, or physiotherapy. Unfortunately, though, my foot pain has progressed into Osteoarthritis of the talonavicular joint, for which steroid injections and, failing that, bone fusion surgery (with a lengthy recovery period), are the usual courses of Osteoarthritis treatment.
Great! As someone who loves to travel often, usually all by myself, the thought of potentially losing the ability to walk independently, at such a young age, fills me with complete dread.
At first, anyway. That’s until I begin reflecting on how I’ve never let my foot pain hold me back in the past. So, why should it be any different now that my osteoarthritis (which I reckon I’ve actually had for years!) has been diagnosed? Admittedly, if I go down the surgery route, I won’t be back on my feet for at least a year. However, it’s unlikely I’ll opt for this anytime soon and, in any case, I’d like to think it may even help me to travel more independently in time; while I may need to make a few adjustments in coming years, I see no reason to let my condition stop me now.
It’s entirely possible to travel independently with mobility issues, even on a solo basis. Here are six simple tweaks to make when booking your next trip.
6 tips on how to travel independently with mobility issues
Choose accessible travel destinations to visit
Picking accessible travel destinations to visit is a great place to start when it comes to travelling solo independently with mobility issues.
From prioritising destinations which are largely flat, rather than steep, or hilly; to visiting places with reliable, extensive public transport systems, choosing accessible countries to visit could make the difference between having a memorable holiday, or an experience you’d rather forget.
For inspiration on where to visit if you’ll be travelling with mobility issues, check out my previous blog post on the best accessible travel destinations.
Book an accessible hotel room
Just as it pays to choose an accessible destination to visit when travelling with mobility issues, it can also be wise to book an accessible hotel room for your stay. After all, it’s pointless visiting an accessible country or city if, when you arrive, you’ll have to clamber up several flights of stairs to reach your room, or struggle to move around in the space due to a lack of hand rails, for example.
Accessible hotel rooms are adapted to make it easier for guests with mobility issues to stay in the room safely. For example, accessible rooms will usually either be based on the ground floor, or accessible via a lift, so you can avoid having to walk up stairs; hand rails will be installed in both the bathroom and the bedroom to help you to move around, and
Take a look at my previous post on accessible hotel rooms to find out what other features or adaptations to look out for when booking your room.
Travel independently with walking aids
Many of us tend to shun the thought of using walking aids at first, seeing them as unnecessary until we reach an older age. In actual fact, however, such aids aren’t intended to limit our independence, but rather to add to it.
Established in 2007, Complete Care Shop offer a range of reputable daily living aids and mobility equipment aimed at helping us all to live more independently, for longer. With over 5,000 products in their range, you’re bound to find something that works for you, from walking frames, and rollators; to walking sticks, and crutches.
Ensure you pack all necessary medication
It should go without saying, but you’ll be surprised at just how many travellers forget to pack their prescribed medication into their suitcase when they head off on holiday.
If you need to take medication prescribed by your GP doctor for your mobility condition, ensure you bring the medication with you when travelling. If you’ll be travelling by plane, normally, it’s advisable to pack prescribed medication in your carry-on bag, along with a copy of your prescription. Carrying a copy of your prescription can also be helpful in the unfortunate event that you might lose your medication during your stay. Once you arrive at your destination, be sure to take enough medication out with you each day, so you don’t end up falling behind on doses.
Besides your prescribed medication, you should also travel with any necessary over-the-counter pain relief, alongside any other remedies you may take. Travelling with the medication you need will help to manage your mobility condition, and limit pain while travelling.
Plan your route in advance
When you travel solo as someone with mobility issues, planning the best travel route in advance can really help to increase your confidence, enabling you to travel more independently. This is especially important if you’ll be relying upon public transport, rather than using you own vehicle.
Begin by considering where you need to travel to and from, and finding out all the potential routes you could take to get there. Then, look at walking distances to bus stops, Metro or train stations, to ascertain which form of transport will enable you to keep walking to a minimum. Of course, you’ll need to factor in your overall journey time, too; if travelling by bus will add considerable time to your journey, for example, you may prefer to catch the train instead, perhaps with the aid of a taxi to the station to limit walking distance.
To calculate the best travel route to take when travelling, just about anywhere in the word, I recommend the Rome2Rio app. Simply tap your starting point and destination into the app, and it’ll show you all potential routes you could take to get there, in addition to journey times and estimated costs.
Treat yourself to a pool or beach day
While these tips should hopefully encourage you to travel solo independently, even with mobility issues, don’t deny yourself a relaxing day by the pool if it all gets a bit too much for you.
Even with planning my transport route, choosing accessible destinations to visit, and ensuring I’m taking all my prescribed medication and pain relief, I often experience foot pain while travelling – especially towards the end of a trip.
Sometimes, the best way to ease pain is simply to give your body a break for a bit. So, don’t be too hard on yourself; if you’ve been exploring your surroundings on foot for the last few days, why not reward yourself with a relaxing day lounging around next to the pool, or on the beach, to take the weight off? Check out my beach packing list so you don’t forget to bring any essentials with you.
Do you have experience of travelling solo with mobility issues? Leave a comment to let me know if you can think of any other tips to help fellow readers in your position.
This post is in partnership with Complete Care Shop, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.