Vacationing with Scheuermann's Disease

Scheuermann's disease is a condition that affects the spine. For people with a mild form of the condition, there aren't many activities that are affected; however, for a person with moderate to severe Scheuermann's disease, simple tasks may be painful. Regardless of the severity of the condition, special considerations must be taken when going on vacation.

Pack a Survival Kit

Having a bag with supplies available at a moment's notice is a vital part of making it through a vacation. You need to pack instant hot and cold packs to use during your trip. When I go on vacation, I pack four of each for each day. Also include naproxen, ibuprofen or prescription medications to take as needed/directed. Epsom salt, two bath towels, and a tennis ball should also be included.

Take Frequent Breaks

When you plan out your transportation to your vacation destination and when you plan your vacation activities, be sure to plan a break to stretch your back and put either a hot pack or cold pack on it for 15 minutes every three to four hours. There are some heat patches that don't contain any medication that you can place on your back if you are unable to schedule time to rest while you put the hot or cold pack on. These, however, should be used sparingly as you need to rest periodically during the day in order to keep your back as pain free as possible.

Relieve Pressure

If your back starts to hurt worse than normal and right before you go to bed at night, you need to relieve pressure on your spine. To help your spine out, roll up a bath towel. Lay on it with your spine on the towel. Use a towel that is long enough to reach from the base of your skull to your tailbone. Roll the other bath towel up and place it behind your knees to bend them slightly. When you first start doing this, lay down for five minutes. You can then gradually increase the time you do this. If your spine starts to hurt worse while you are laying down on the towel, get up and remove the towel before laying back down.

Soak Your Back

Once every day, or more often if desired, soak in 1cup Epsom salt mixed with a tub full of warm water. This helps to reduce inflammation and relax the muscles. If you have any preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, check with your doctor before soaking with Epsom salts.