Back pain and camping

[Crwban]

I love camping. It's been our family holiday for the last 8 years - ever summer in France. We've booked again but am dreading it. I have 2 bulging discs (had MRI) and it's agony at times. I'm dreading Thebes situation. We currently sleep on a skandika 10" SIM but would love to
Soften it up a bit. What could I do to help myself a bit?

I used a TENS machine and managed camping at 32 weeks!

That's good going. Done the heavily pregnant camping stint too and even though I had to puff my way to getting off my mat, disc pain is really limiting me. I never thought I'd say it, but it's so so painful

Managed a safari park - a goat tried to nibble the wire through the fence and the dc were convinced I was going to be electrocuted!

I have not tried it myself, but I have seen these recommended a lot recently. You can use the SIM you already have on the top.

Have you tried this https://www.alpkit.com/products/dozer - I have the predecessor and it's the only thing I can sleep on

I did my back in on the way one year. The mat was Okish but manoeuvring round in a sleeping back and trying to get up was horrific. You have my sympathy . I would suggest not going. How far will you be driving?

But if you do go I suggest getting pregabelin or similar to help with nerve pain and break the journey up as much as possible

I am a side sleeper so struggle. I use an airbed with a SIM on top mainly to keep the heat in.

Lots of useful suggestions here - thank you.

Going to be the last trip most probably do want to do my best for DC. That said, we're taking 2 weeks to drive from South Wales to Nice so it's a hell of a stretch. Trying to persuade DH to get the Bilbao ferry back to save my poor back. He's not being very helpful about it

That amount of driving with bulging discs is the insane. You will be crippled . We drove to dordogne and I spent most of the holiday lying on my front. I could barely stand

He doesn't get it. Because he occasionally gets sciatica, he's less sympathetic. I don't think he quite realised how painful it is for me plus I've had muscle wastage in my usually strong lower back so it's a double whammy.

Memory foam topper on the SIM? It does take up a fair bit of boot space but put it in first and it will squash down. Also will a regular camping chair be ok? I find them slouch-enducing and am thinking about switching to a reclining chair instead.

Proper camp cot and then a double memory foam mattress topper folded in half. It’s more comfortable than my bed.

I have a bad back but sleep lovely on this.

I find the hardest thing is getting up from being flat. My suggestion is to take a little stool that you can use to lean on to get up.

Some great suggestions here - thanks all

I just wouldn't contemplate that much driving with a bulging disc. You will be in agony. My DH did one long drive to the south of france with a bulging disc and the whole holiday was a write off, he was in so much pain.

My dh has had slipped discs and now has a couple of bulging discs. It's the reason we haven't ventured far on holiday for years! We did a 4 hour drive one year and he was pretty much crying in pain by the time we got back, it's just not worth it. I think the camping is the least of your worries, honestly.

Get the ferry! If you PM me I can give you a code for 10% off, but may well be worth it for you to join and get 30% off.

Prof I've PMd you.

Just reading up on this thread-did a glamping pod at the weekend & even it killed my back!

Camp bed & sim ready for next week's real festival camping. I have a blow up Pilates ball which is excellent for back support & will use it when sleeping too

Am going to invest in a good chair too, thinking the outwell Grand Canyon or kenai