Liz Hamill Scott
I’m Liz Hamill Scott, author of the Moon California, Moon Northern California, Moon Southern California, and Moon Coastal California travel guidebooks. It took me more than a year to research and write these books. Research consisted of traveling the length and breadth of what turned out to be a really muckin’ big state on weekends, while working full time from home during the week. And writing the book text, of course.
All of this while dealing with moderate and deteriorating chronic pain.
As I traveled, I learned that my chronic pain and my bladder disease make me a “special needs” traveler.
Bladder disease = embarrassingly frequent need for restrooms. Many other conditions, including “drinks a lot of water on road trips,” can also cause this need.
Chronic pain gets more complicated. Sometimes I can hike five miles and have dinner at a four-star restaurant later the same night. Other times I can stagger five feet, then collapse in a moaning heap. Can I predict which day will be which with any reliability? Of course not. Where’d be the fun in that?
If you suffer with fibromyalgia, lupus, endo, PCOS, cancer, just plain chronic pain, and all the other fun diseases that can cause this kind of unreliable health, you know just what I’m talking about.
The single most important thing I learned was that I CAN travel with pain. Even better, traveling diminishes my pain. Real science backs the theory that both bright shiny distractions and the experience of pleasure can diminish pain.
I learned many different ways to mitigate my pain while on the road. From asking for ground-floor rooms in motels to seeking out seating in museums, planning ahead for comfort and staying flexible enough to break for a nap, I’ve devised dozens of strategies to keep myself as happy and comfortable as possible while traveling. I’m always checking out my surroundings when I travel too–viewing and “reviewing” the attractions, lodgings, and dining options around me with an eye for special and unusual needs.
I hope some of my strategies work for you too! If you’ve got your own secret key to easier traveling, please comment here–I’d love to try it out, and to host you as a guest blogger.
Hi Liz,
I’ve added you to my interesting links/blogroll and wish you would do the same.
I’m a chronic pain patient (run over, literally, in 1976, 3 breaks in my lower back, 5 in my pelvis, some nerve damage) and “talk” from time to time about dealing with pain/limitations/travel…
as far as Paris museums… ask for a wheelchair/map… when I was in Paris this spring and went to the Louvre I got a chair, and a map marking special doors etc for chairs… and at the mona lisa I got to go IN FRONT of the rail.
ttyl
So nice to come upon this blog…giving me some much-needed inspiration during a tough time, my 5th year dealing with chronic myofascial and musceloskeletal pain.
Best,
Sharon
Sharon, thanks so much for reading, and for your kind words. You have no idea how much it means to me to know that this blog helps people.
I am so sorry you’ve been suffering for so long–chronic pain just sucks. (I’m on year 6.5 myself.) I hope that you’re having a good day today, and that you’re able to find relief.
Hi Liz
Your blog is a really good idea.
I’ve suffered chronic pain for over 2 years, and like you, have my better days, as well as those where just a few steps are agony.
I have to prepare myself well for days out – knowing where I can park the car (as close as possible); whether there are lifts (elevators) if necessary; is the seating there comfortable enough, or do I need to bring a pillow?; make sure I have my medical supplies…and so on. Having understanding people about you is a great plus (emtional and physical support although you are determined to be as independent as is possible!).
Leisure or optional days out are another thing, thank goodness for the net so I can peruse online: museums, restaurants, training centres and the such so I can make an informed choice of whether to go – that I am able to park near enough and that there isn’t too much walking involved!
I’ve always wanted to cross the Pond to visit SF. But in my current condition, seeing all those hills is a little intimidating!
All the best!
Liz,
Thank you for “coming out” with your strategies for traveling with unpredictable chronic pain.
I also travel with severe, disabling pain that makes every day an unexpected adventure, and I agree that the distraction of experiencing novel places is the best painkiller.
In fact, travel is my favorite drug! Looking forward to reading more.
Lanora @WritingTravel
Hi Lanora, thanks for reading! I’m looking forward to checking out writingtravel.com. Though I’m sorry you have chronic pain, I’m so happy to read that you have overcome it enough to travel. Travel is definitely my favorite drug too.
Though it can sometimes be uncomfortable to talk about myself and my physical problems “in front of everybody,” I also find it liberating. It doesn’t seem as big and bad if I’ve written about it, and I can use my own blog posts to remind myself that I *can* leave the house.
If you’d ever like to write a guest post for TravelsWithPain, please let me know! You can reach me at lizscott04 at gmail dot com.
Hi Liz, my name is Bryant, I am a student in Seattle WA, i recently started a travel insurance blog. Would you be interested in partnering with our site? We would love to be a resource for your readers on where to find travel insurance information and resources. I love your site.
We want people to be safe when they travel abroad.
Please let me know if your interested.
Thank you,
Bryant