Travelling Injured & Being Adaptable (& Turning Setbacks Into Wisdom)
Sep 10, 2025
Have you ever planned something, like a nice long holiday, and then at the very last minute, something goes wrong, and all your planning had to be changed? This happened to me in the last couple of days.
I’d planned a 4 week holiday to Thailand, to meet a friend, and hang out, and visit all the places that he loves, and go on lots of adventures together. As I left my house on the way to the airport, with my 2 suitcases (small), I twisted on stairs, and really hurt my knee. While t was painful, I didn’t hear any snap (never a good thing in a body!) and I didn’t want to miss my flight (yes, I’ve done that before), so I ignored the pain as best I could (also an indication that it wasn't an incredibly major injury), and kept going.
Wisdom #1: Don't twist suddenly on a staircase while carrying heavy & bulky items down stairs.
I called an Uber (for the first time, as I couldn’t get the app to work previously), and this time it finally worked. Unfortunately, he parked a bit away, and was expecting me to carry my bag and my suitcases to his car. As I struggled to hobble, I wasn’t sure how to do that. I limped along with my bag, a large family-sized packet of popcorn (for the plane trip) and one suitcase, struggling and tripping and wincing as I went, and the driver worked out I was injured, and he kindly got out of his car, and helped bring the other suitcase into the boot/trunk of his car.
At the airport, the Uber driver kindly unloaded both small suitcases for me, which I was grateful for, and I just did what I could. (I’d forgotten that one of the suitcases only had 2 small wonky wheels, and keeps falling over all the time. Luckily it wasn’t far to the checkout booth, and I was able to check in ok.)
Wisdom #2: Don't automatically expect help, but be grateful for it if/when given.
Then I went to check in one my suitcases (the one that was a bit wonky, and kept falling over and twisting pretty much no matter what you did).
Wisdom #3: Invest in great easy to maneuver suitcases to make your life easier.
As I limped over, the Singapore Airways staff helped me, as it was obvious I was struggling. I explained what had happened, and she asked if I needed assistance to get to the plane. She checked my seat allocation on the plane, and as I was in the middle of two people, she changed my seat, so I was sitting on an aisle seat (in the middle of the plane), and wouldn’t have to stand up if someone else wanted to get up. I originally thought no, I didn’t need help, but then thought that I probably should, as I wasn’t sure exactly what was injured, or how badly, and I didn’t want to aggravate it. My initial thought was probably a combination of my ego and my own sense of identity (I’m always healthy & don’t need help & don’t want show ‘weakness’). When I thought about it, I thought I should accept it, so I don't accidently hurt myself further - which I'm sure my knee greatly appreciated. (Have you ever travelled with injuries? This was my first time, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.)
Wisdom #4: Don't let your ego get in the way of accepting help.
In the airport before my first flight (I had stopover in Singapore), I sat down in a designated area for pick-up. They keep your boarding pass, and then 5-10 minutes before boarding, they pick you up in a wheelchair (from Brisbane International Airport, in Australia), and (along with my walkable suitcase), walk you to the top of the queue to get your bags, hats, laptop, etc. scanned. You’re patted done (rather than standing spread-eagled in the Xray screening machine), and then you get rolled right up to the front of the queue for boarding. On the way, I saw some cut up fruit, and asked if I had enough time to buy it, but was told no. Pretty soon, boarding started - and I was the first person on the plane!
Wisdom #5: Ideally had food with you, as you may not have a chance to buy food beforehand.
My seat-mate suggested I ask Singapore Airlines if they had a bandage I could use to strap my leg. Luckily they did, as well as some ice, so that helped as well, I’m sure.
Wisdom #6: Ask for help if required, & it would make your life better.
Once I arrived in Singapore airport (at midnight), I had the choice of seeing a doctor (which would be very expensive as it was after midnight, and Singapore is not cheap anyway). I did consider it, however, I know Thailand has a good medical system, for a reasonable price, and my knee was improving (with the help of the ice and bandage), so I decided to wait a bit before getting additional medical attention. It would also give the swelling time to decrease. (I was also told that the second plane may not allow me to board if I'm not medically cleared - I sought clarification from a few different people, and it was agreed I should be ok without it.)
Wisdom #7: Consider options, ask questions, and make informed decisions.
I was taken to Singapore airport’s ‘support’ lounge (which was quite a long way away from the plane, so I was grateful for the wheelchair, and the person pushing it). I was told to stay put until they came to get me 13 hours later, when my connecting flight came. The support lounge had a big TV playing, with a number of leather armchairs around for people to rest in. Luckily I hadn’t drunk much water, and had had sufficient food to tide me over to the next day. At around 10.45am the next morning, one of the ladies who worked there asked if I wanted to go to the bathroom, and/or be taken somewhere to eat. A lovely lady, who I discovered had been doing this job for 10 years, kindly took me around to the facilities and a food court in a wheelchair, so I managed to eat prior to getting on the plane – which was wonderful, as I couldn’t eat any of the food on the plane (due to food allergies).
Wisdom #8: If you are nice, respectful, and friendly, people are likely to look after you.
On the way up the aisle of the second flight to my destination in Thailand, I used the seats to help me swing/walk/hobble up to my seats. By the end of the second flight, I was using the hand-seat rests a bit like a monkey bar, and with one hand on each of the chair rests, I was able to swing my right leg along. Toward the end I was skipping rows, and swinging along - just like a monkey bar at school! š
Wisdom #9: You can still make the most of situations if you have a positive attitude, and look for fun when the opportunity is there.
I finally managed to get to my friend’s house – and after a good night’s sleep, I was ready to get started on our first (gentle) adventure! My friend wanted to show me the lake at Chiang Mai University, which he walked around most mornings. So with a lot of care, a bit of handholding, and taking my time, I managed to get onto the back of the motorbike, so we could do a bit of (limited) sight-seeing..
Wisdom #10: You'll never know what you can do if you don't try.
And being the adaptable and creative person that I am - I took a broom with me on the bike, as my walking stick!! š¤£ And while this might sound a little weird to Westerners, this fit right into the Thai culture, and nobody gave me a second glance! (Well, to be fair, while using it as a walking stick, one Thai lady gave me a strange look, and when we went to supermarket, the cashier tried to take it off me and charge me for it! And no, I’m sure it wasn’t weird when I clung to it protectively, and refused to let it go! š¤£ And I only stepped on the broom section once, so I count that as a win!)
My friend took me to a medical clinic the day after I arrived (as I arrived late in the day, after virtually no sleep the night before in the lounge) – along with my trusty blue broom! (And yes, I was wearing blue, so as an accessory it fit right in!) š At the medical clinic, I was given some pajama pants to change into – that actually fit me! (Very unusual as I am short, my jeans rolled up fine, and I was at a clinic, not hospital.) The doctor prodded my knee a bit, then requested Xrays, which were done in-house. A few minutes later, and those were done. No issues with bones, which I had expected, but he said it showed a little swelling, and although it clearly wasn't major damage, he suggested an MRI at an outpatients’ hospital nearby, just to be safe.
Wisdom #11: Sometimes it can be helpful to rule out worst case scenarios.
We managed to find the hospital, and after my blood pressure, height, and weight were recorded, we were asked to wait. We looked up the recommended treatment for soft tissue damage of knees (which the doctor had confirmed wasn’t likely to be major – I didn’t hear any snapping, and I could still hobble, and it was getting better every day). The treatment is RICE – rest, ice, compression, and elevate. Based on this, and the cost of the MRI (definitely not cheap), I decided to wait to see if it got better using RICE before getting an MRI. The nurse I spoke with was understanding, and gave me her phone number to call if it didn’t get better soon.
Wisdom #12: Do your research, consider the options, & do what feels best for you.
Although I had travel insurance, it was a different provider to the one I usually use, and I couldn’t tell if the cost of the MRI would be covered or not. I also didn’t want to spend my holiday mucking around with medical stuff and insurance if possible. So a rest at the start of my holiday it is!! š
Final thoughts
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I feel so much gratitude to all the staff at the airports and airlines for helping me ensure I got to my destination in one place, without further damaging my knee.
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Check your suitcases BEFORE you pack – and consider buying good quality ones with great maneuverability, to make everyone’s life easier.
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Ask for help if you need it – is your ego or pride getting in the way of this?
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If you are unwell on an aeroplane, you can ask if they have things to help you eg. bandages, or ice.
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If travelling with a broomstick to help you walk, don’t get it tangled in your hair as you sit on the back of a motorbike! Or step on it! š
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Take your passport with you when you go to medical centres and hospitals.
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Please don’t rort the system – this will make it hard for the people who really need it.
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My friend, who arrived a few days after me, also went to a Thailand hospital, as he contracted an eye infection (and a cold) on the plane trip. He saw a specialized eye expert, as well as GP, and was loaded up with medications to help him heal. He was very happy with the service, and he was seen fairly fast. (They are more practical than in Australia, as when my friend didn’t have the current mobile phone number for our other friend, and they let it go.)
šāļø FAQ around travelling while injured
1. Does this apply to all airlines, and all airports?
I imagine each airline and airport will have their own policies in place, however my guess would be the major/best airlines and airports will have similar policies – although this is my only experience, so I can’t comment on any other airline or airport.
2. Why didn’t you ask for ice or bandages earlier on in the flight?
Because it didn’t occur to me! I’m very lucky and grateful that I haven’t often been injured, so I just didn’t think of it!
3. Were there any disadvantages?
Yes. I was reliant on other people, I couldn’t view the shops, and I wasn’t able to buy food before getting on the plane (and I can’t eat most food on the plane).
4. What if you forget to take your passport with you to the medical centre?
Luckily in Thailand, they accept a drivers’ license instead. (As an aside, last week I was staying in accommodation at the Gold Coast, Australia, and they would not let me stay there without a photocopy of my passport. Even viewing my passport wasn’t enough – they wanted a photocopy or I couldn’t stay there.)
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Disclaimer
This blog shares my personal experience of travelling while injured, and receiving medical care in Thailand. It is not medical or travel advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so please consult a qualified healthcare professional, and check with your airline before travelling.
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