You are here: IC Network > ICN Patient Handbook - Self Help Tip of the Month - February 2002

IC & Driving: How To Survive A Long Commute

(By Jill Osborne, ICN Founder) Twice in the last month, I have talked with two men struggling with long drives to and from work. In each case, their IC symptoms were exacerbated by their commute I sympathize with their plight because I, too, spent many a day grimacing while driving to work, dreading every speed bump in the parking lot at my workplace. Not surprisingly, this is quite common among IC patients. The first epidemiological studies on IC reported that 50% of patients had pain and discomfort while driving. Why? It is most likely that the vibration of the car, much like the vibration of riding a train, would cause yet more irritation and trauma. Here are a few suggestions that may make that drive easier.

A. Suspension is everything - Small cars, sports cars and trucks are well known for having poor suspensions. If you are in a flare, it is not the time to be hitting every bump. Do an experiment. Try renting a larger, heavier car (such as a Ford Crown Victoria) that has a smooth suspension and ride. I know from my own experience that I can not drive our truck on the freeway anymore. I also have trouble driving our Dodge Dynasty. It has a smoother suspension but the angle of the seat seems more irritating. But, we recently bought a 1998 Crown Victoria and, for the first time, I can drive with relative ease and very little discomfort on the freeway. Our truck is great for taking ICN orders to the post office, but I much prefer the bigger car for longer rides.

B. Make the seat more comfortable - Some seat structures are just too uncomfortable, especially if you have vulvar or scrotal pain. A donut shaped pillow can put pressure on your urethra and stretch the perineum awkwardly. But, a coccyx cushion with a groove that runs from front to back, could be much more comfortable. Check out one sample of the coccyx cushion in the ICN Shop.

C. Be prepared for emergencies - Some patients allow themselves to become housebound because they worry that they will not be able to find a restroom or, worse, get stuck in a traffic jam. But, there is no reason why you cannot carry a porta potty and, in fact, there are some ingenious devices used in planes and cars that offer privacy and relief for a full, painful bladder. KantWate (http://www.kantwate.com) offers portable urinals for both men and women with custom fittings to avoid spillage. These products also have a chemical added which solidifies urine so that it can not leak out of the bag. It is neat, tidy and very useful in a crisis! (A beach towel or sheet placed over the lap can also offer privacy.) The TravelMate (http://www.travelmateinfo.com) allows women to urinate without having to lower their pants over their hips. This device is small and fits comfortable against the urethra with no leakage. (Really!) Best of all, it comes with car kit so that you can urinate even behind the wheel of your car. It can also be used by women so that they can urinate while standing up, to avoid particularly nasty facilities found in some gas stations. One TravelMate costs only $3.95 and is worth trying! It fits easily in a small purse or fanny pack and is very useful. Some patients just keep beach towels and plastic bags in their car. Put the towel in the bag, sit and go. Others make sure that they drive a four door car. They open the back door and the front door, to create a private area for voiding.

D. Be safe - Under no circumstance should an IC patient drive while taking strong pain medications. You risk not only your health, but those of other drivers by driving impaired. If pain is an issue, consider using a TENS unit in your car until you get home. In my early years, when driving was especially hard, I would GENTLY slap my thigh while driving. This acts similarly to a TENS unit and sometimes diverted my attention away from the pain. In other cases, a heating pad could be very helpful in taking the edge off. The new BodiHeat adhesive pads are perfect for driving because they deliver constant steady heat and can be worn in the car, at work and on planes.

E. Treat your body kindly - You would not run a marathon on a broken leg, so do not run a marathon on a painful bladder or pelvic floor. If you are in an active flare, rest frequently. Do NOT ignore the pain. There may be times when you should not get in the car, especially for longer car rides or vacations. Assess your pain that morning. If you are in a major flare, it may be best to pass on that car trip knowing that the vibration will probably make you much more uncomfortable by the end of the trip. Many patients report ruined vacations because they sat in the car far too long.

For some patients, a career as a bus driver may not be feasible if it flares their bladders every day. But, with some work, it may be possible to make those drives much more comfortable. I hope that these suggestions help! The more ideas and coping strategies the better!