I’ve flown a few places across the country in my wheelchair. I’ve been lucky my wheelchair has been safe when travelling. Here’s some tips on travel from myself and Access for Disabled Americans. photo credit
1. Fly First Class if you can afford it. Ya right.

2. Book the flight online to have all your tickets and information prepared.

3. Book a non-stop flight if possible.

4. Travel with an attendant if you can. Some airlines are good about helping you into an aisle chair, and some are horrible. Those aisle chairs are small and awkward. I’m 6′3″ and 220lbs. I can’t transfer to one independently. Without the help of my dad, I’d probably be still sitting on a few flights. Be clear with them early that you need assistance if you do. Even then, be prepared for them to not help. That’s my experience. They are often clueless.

5. Travel with gel-cell batteries if you have a power chair. Some airlines will refuse wet-cell batteries.

6. Sit on your wheelchair cushion. I ended up with a pressure sore on a long flight when I was unable to do decent pressure releases. Sitting on your cushion will help.

7. Get tagged at the gate. Tell them that you’d like to be tagged at the gate when you check in.

8. Take all removable parts off your wheelchair. Travel with a manual chair if possible. I saw one poor guy have his electric chair destroyed. Remove anything you can from the electric chair if you must use it.

9. Make sure your wheelchair is loaded on the plane. Obvious but crucial.

10. Report damages immediately.

Bonus tip: Have a fun trip. Good Communication with the airline attendants and other personnel will get you to your destination, and keep your wheelchair safe.

About a year after my spinal cord injury, my legs started to become very jumpy and spastic. It got to the point where I couldn’t pull my knees apart because the muscles were firing non-stop. I decided to get a pain pump, or an intrathecal pump made by Medtronic to help control spasticity and pain.

I was evaluated at the pain clinic in Seattle, and the test procedure worked. The rigid muscles in my legs relaxed. The pump was placed on my right side in the lower abdomen. I’m currently on my fourth medtronic pump. The battery in it eventually wears out and needs to be replaced. The pump is the size of a hockey puck, and can be used to control both pain and spasticity.

I have baclofen (Lioresal) in my spasticity pump for the muscles, and in the past year mixed Dilaudid with the baclofen to control neurogenic pain I was having. It did the trick, and helped relieve some of the pain. I know others will have morphine placed in the pump.

One thing that is alarming about the procedure of placing an intrathecal pump is the cost. About five years ago, I had one replaced by a neurosurgeon for around $15,000. I thought the hospital bill was wrong on my last bill when I saw it was over $30,000. A radiologist placed that medtronic pump. Medical costs are out of control.

If the quality of your life is being effected by pain or spasticity, look into the Medtronic intrathecal pump, and ITB therapy for relief.