Travel tips post-ATR

I’ve noticed a lot of helpful tips about traveling post-ATR that are appearing down in people’s comments pages (now that there’s only a month left of summer, especially!) I thought it would make it easier for future readers to have a separate entry with keywords.

At 3-4 weeks post-op, while NWB in cast, I did a 660-mile drive (as a passenger), toured there with kids and a dog, and then flew back as the solo parent. Since my ATR is in the left leg and I have an automatic car, I’ve been driving pretty comfortably since the beginning, with splint. Although I’m now PWB 30% and 5 days into PT with the lightest theraband and ball–still on crutches, and shoes seem very far off–I’m optimistically planning to stick with plans to attend a conference in Germany in mid-September, at my 12-week mark. Crossing fingers!

Please add your favorite travel tricks and tips in the comments.

-When driving, I use a rectangular travel pillow that’s been slightly deflated to rest my left (ATR) leg on. It’s about 9×12, much easier to fit into car than a cloth pillow.

-In general, inflatable travel pillows are incredibly handy, because if you don’t have a helper handy you can deflate it and tuck it in your bag to carry. Get a bunch of sizes-my local discount store carried them.

-Driving as passenger: I was surprised that I didn’t need to recline the seat way back on the long drive. Setting the casted leg up on the dashboard was surprisingly OK.

-Padded cycling gloves make crutching for any length of time so much easier on your hands (especially before they’ve developed crutch callus).

-I also dug out my roomy fanny pack from the days when I was a bike commuter (pre-kids). The very words “fanny pack” conjure hilarity, but they’re easy to access with one hand and the weight is properly distributed.

-Lodging: so glad I asked ahead for handicapped room on the first floor. It makes such a difference to have a pull-up handle by the toilet, not to mention a detachable shower wand and folding seat in tub/shower combo.

-I wish I had thought to ask the surgeon to sign off my Dept. of Motor Vehicles form to get a handicapped parking pass *before* surgery. I lost precious time and still haven’t seen that thing in the mail!

-Restaurants: take aisle seats or booths, request an extra chair for leg, avoid little cafes where because of regulations they can’t add that extra chair for you.

-Airport: I decided to skip the wheelchair treatment (which they were happy to give me), and went through x-ray by hopping with a cane. Cast was chemically scanned (! gotta love TSA paranoia). Was supposed to gate-check the crutches after sitting down, but the flight attendant surprisingly fit them into the overhead. The last person to board the plane had a hissy fit–”Oh, please, CRUTCHES? Will someone get these out of here so I can get my bag in?” I hope she gets a big karmic payback for that one.

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