"When Can I Work, Drive, and Travel Again?" — Getting Back to Daily Life
Treatment is meant to get you back to the life you had. Take work, driving, and travel slowly, but don't give them up.
This column is general information. When you can return to these activities depends on your symptoms and on whether you had surgery. Check with your doctor.
"When can I drive again?" "Is it OK to travel?"
Once treatment settles down, I start getting more questions like these about everyday life. I take that as a good sign. Pain relief is part of treatment, but the goal is for you to go where you want to go and do what you want to do.
Getting your life back one step at a time, at your own pace.
Driving
Before you start driving again, ask yourself whether pain, numbness, or a drowsy medication could slow you down when you need to react quickly.
- Avoid driving when you have strong pain or your legs feel weak
- Be extra careful if you take a medication that makes you drowsy
- After surgery, a common rule of thumb is to wait a few weeks or so and see how you do
On long drives you stay in one position, which is hard on your lower back. Take frequent breaks.
Work
When you can go back depends a great deal on the kind of work you do.
| Type of work | How to approach your return |
|---|---|
| Mostly desk work | You can often return relatively early. Avoid sitting for long stretches and stand up from time to time |
| Work on your feet or physical labor | Go back in stages. Be especially careful with heavy lifting |
Easing back in, with shorter hours and lighter tasks at first, tends to last longer than going straight back at full speed.
Travel
You can still enjoy travel with a few precautions.
- On long trips, get up and walk around or move your legs often
- If the trip involves a lot of walking, build in extra rest stops
- Don't hesitate to use a cane or a walker
Some people hold back from going out because they worry about being a burden. But getting out, within limits that feel comfortable, is good for both body and mind.
Summary
- The goal of treatment is to get you back to the life you had
- When driving, watch out for pain, numbness, and drowsiness from medication
- Return to work in stages, depending on the kind of work
- With frequent breaks, you can still enjoy travel
You don't need to push yourself, and you don't need to stay home out of fear. Get back to your life a little at a time, at your own pace.