Traveling with titanium in my neck.

garvey · 10-14-2005, 03:38 PM

I've got some titanium fixtures holding my neckbones together. For the first time post SCI I intend to get on an airliner and visit some family members I haven't seen in a long time.
Question - anyone have experience with this? Do you need a doctor's note to get through security w/o getting detained?
Thanks

jimnms · 10-14-2005, 03:42 PM

The metal detecting wand will not pick it up. First time I flew I asked the security guard to hold the wand to my neck to see if it would pick up the hardware and it didn't.

Aly · 10-14-2005, 03:43 PM

They will never know you have it if you use a chair. They can't put you through the medel detector, they just pat you down. Or at lest that was what they did with me when we went to Statia (Dutch Islands)

Mrapunzel · 10-14-2005, 04:47 PM

I have a titanium rod in my leg from my knee to ankle..... it really depends on the sensitivity their system, the terror alert level when you're travelling, etc.

Sometimes I make it through with no bells and whistles going off...

Other times they've pulled me aside (and my kids too when they've travelled with me) and done the wand-and-pat routine, double checked luggage... always SUCH fun, lemme tell ya.

LAX, San Diego, and Chicago I set off... Spokane, Kansas City, and most east-coast destinations I haven't had many problems with.

supposedly doctor's notes are easier and there's an actual card you can apply for in some cases. I've heard that they really don't pay much attention to the card and usually check you anyway, so I didn't bother.

It slows you down by a few minutes, but they don't consider you a "serious threat" once they've patted, etc.... not really that big of a deal, just allow a little extra time "just in case".

Hope you have an awesome trip and that you enjoy your visits - bet they'll all be thrilled to see ya

KTM236 · 10-14-2005, 05:50 PM

Garvey,

When you travel by airline you just have to get used to getting patted down. I fly on business trips at least once a month and its always the same...go to the head of the line and wait for someone to search you. They pat you down, sometimes make you take your shoes off (they will do it if you can't)...it's not that bad. They are usually pretty nice about it and they keep a close eye on your stuff as it goes through x-ray. Don't worry and have fun on your trip!

ktm

garvey · 10-15-2005, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the feedback!
JetBlue finally got back to me and their policy is that you should alert security personnel to the situation - a document is nice but not necessary.
I'm sure I'll enjoy the trip even if my family does drive me to the brink of insanity. A big bunch of Irish lunatics!

10-14-2005, 03:38 PM	#1
garvey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,197	Traveling with titanium in my neck. I've got some titanium fixtures holding my neckbones together. For the first time post SCI I intend to get on an airliner and visit some family members I haven't seen in a long time. Question - anyone have experience with this? Do you need a doctor's note to get through security w/o getting detained? Thanks

10-14-2005, 03:42 PM	#2
jimnms Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,673	The metal detecting wand will not pick it up. First time I flew I asked the security guard to hold the wand to my neck to see if it would pick up the hardware and it didn't. __________________ Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.

10-14-2005, 03:43 PM	#3
Aly Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Radford, Va Posts: 2,112	They will never know you have it if you use a chair. They can't put you through the medel detector, they just pat you down. Or at lest that was what they did with me when we went to Statia (Dutch Islands) __________________ www.cawvsports.org The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. ~ Don Juan Matus We are Virginia Tech… We must laugh again… No one deserves a tragedy… We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid…We are better than we think and not quit what we want to be…We are the Hokies…We will prevail, we will prevail, we will prevail. We ARE Virginia Tech! ~ Nikki Giovanni

10-14-2005, 04:47 PM	#4
Mrapunzel Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 78	I have a titanium rod in my leg from my knee to ankle..... it really depends on the sensitivity their system, the terror alert level when you're travelling, etc. Sometimes I make it through with no bells and whistles going off... Other times they've pulled me aside (and my kids too when they've travelled with me) and done the wand-and-pat routine, double checked luggage... always SUCH fun, lemme tell ya. LAX, San Diego, and Chicago I set off... Spokane, Kansas City, and most east-coast destinations I haven't had many problems with. supposedly doctor's notes are easier and there's an actual card you can apply for in some cases. I've heard that they really don't pay much attention to the card and usually check you anyway, so I didn't bother. It slows you down by a few minutes, but they don't consider you a "serious threat" once they've patted, etc.... not really that big of a deal, just allow a little extra time "just in case". Hope you have an awesome trip and that you enjoy your visits - bet they'll all be thrilled to see ya __________________ Mrapunzel Fear Less... Hope More... Whine Less... Breathe More... Talk Less... Say More... Hate Less... Love More... And All Good Things Are Yours. Last edited by Mrapunzel; 10-14-2005 at 04:49 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-14-2005, 05:50 PM	#5
KTM236 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Harrah, Oklahoma Posts: 125	Garvey, When you travel by airline you just have to get used to getting patted down. I fly on business trips at least once a month and its always the same...go to the head of the line and wait for someone to search you. They pat you down, sometimes make you take your shoes off (they will do it if you can't)...it's not that bad. They are usually pretty nice about it and they keep a close eye on your stuff as it goes through x-ray. Don't worry and have fun on your trip! ktm

10-15-2005, 05:11 PM	#6
garvey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,197	Thanks for the feedback! JetBlue finally got back to me and their policy is that you should alert security personnel to the situation - a document is nice but not necessary. I'm sure I'll enjoy the trip even if my family does drive me to the brink of insanity. A big bunch of Irish lunatics!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What to Do About Neck Pain: Special Report	Max	Pain	0	09-08-2004 05:45 PM
sling for bladder	ibi	Care	8	05-04-2004 01:48 PM
Reference on carbon cages for spine surgery	Wise Young	Care	1	09-27-2003 11:37 PM
Wrestling: Kurt Angle's Recent Neck Surgery	Wise Young	Spinal Cord Injury News	1	05-03-2003 10:14 AM
Save Your Own Neck :)	Max	Life	1	10-10-2001 03:21 PM