Traveling with Back Pain: Our French Pharmacy Visit

When we planned our month-long stay in Nice, France, I pictured mornings with espresso, long walks along the Promenade des Anglais, and afternoons exploring charming cobblestone streets. What I didn’t picture was how thankful I’d be for all the extra time I spent preparing my husband’s medications before we left home.

If you’re traveling with back pain or other chronic conditions, it’s not just about packing the right clothes—it’s about packing the right medications and documents. We brought everything his doctor recommended, including a medical letter explaining his prescriptions, just in case we needed it at airport security or customs.

A few days into our trip, his chronic back pain flared up—worse than it had in months. Despite our careful planning and following all my own advice from Flying with Medication: The A Comprehensive Guide, we still found ourselves searching for extra help. That’s how we ended up having an unexpected (and surprisingly helpful) visit to a French pharmacy.

1. From Strolling to Struggling: When Back Pain Changes Plans

After a leisurely breakfast, my husband and I left our Airbnb in the Gambetta area of Nice. We took a stroll toward the Carre d’Or, a charming neighborhood full of cobblestone streets, unique shops, and inviting cafés.

But as we walked, I noticed my husband was beginning to struggle. His back pain—caused by stenosis and arthritis—had flared up badly.

At home in the U.S., we go to the gym daily but we use a car so his lifestyle is less active. Here in Nice, the extra walking and time on his feet had aggravated his condition. And although we had come prepared with medications, it was clear we needed to find additional relief.

2. Why We Always Travel with Medications, a Doctor’s Note and a List of Local Resources

Before we left for France, I’d done what I always recommend to my readers:

• We brought all necessary medications in our carry-on bag, including two Medrol (steroid) packs for his back pain.
• I had a doctor’s note explaining the prescription and why it was necessary, just in case we were questioned by TSA or customs.

These precautions gave us peace of mind, and they came in handy. In the first week of our trip, when his back pain flared up, he took one of the steroid packs. It worked well during the five-day course—but several days after finishing it, his pain returned. His doctor had warned him not to take the second pack too soon.

This is where being prepared and knowing how to navigate local healthcare abroad became critical.

2.1 A Doctor’s Letter Can Save You Time and Stress

We quickly looked up one of the pharmacies I had listed in my phone. We arrived, explained we didn’t speak much French and were directed to the head pharmacist. We were able to explain my husband’s medical issue–a bad back that had flared up because of so much walking.

The letter we showed the pharmacist explained that my husband suffered from stenosis and disc damage and that he was carrying a Medrol steroid pack for a flare up. If he needed additional help, it recommended that he be given an anti-inflammatory. The letter explained that it was a chronic pain that required non-steroidal management at this point.

If you don’t have a letter yet, I offer a Free Doctor’s Letter Template that you can bring to a pharmacist or doctor appointment.

3. Understanding Pharmacies in France: What Makes Them Different

Unlike in the US, when his pain returned, here in France I picked a pharmacy rather than a doctor. In the U.S., pharmacists typically dispense medications and leave the advising to doctors, whereas pharmacists in France are highly involved in patient care and can recommend treatments without a prescription.

3.1 Medications in France: Prescription vs. Over-the-Counter

In France, medications fall into two categories. Prescription medications include stronger painkillers, antibiotics, and specific treatments for chronic conditions. On the other hand, a wide range of medications for everyday health issues can be purchased over the counter without seeing a doctor.

3.2 Pharmacists Provide Personalized Advice

French pharmacists are trained to assess your symptoms and recommend appropriate non-prescription options. When we explained my husband’s situation to the pharmacist, she carefully asked about his symptoms, confirmed there was no recent injury, and then recommended a pain relief patch and stronger ibuprofen. I also showed her the letter from his doctor and it confirmed his stenosis.

3.3 The Pain Patch That Made a Difference

The patch she recommended wasn’t something we had seen before. It contained no medication. Instead, it was designed with mineral particles that reflect the body’s infrared energy back into the painful area. The goal was to increase blood circulation, improve oxygen consumption, and promote mobility.

We also purchased 400 mg ibuprofen gel capsules which he took the first two days. Between the patch and the ibuprofen, he was able to get some relief, and he walked very comfortably for the balance of the trip.

4. How I Researched Local Doctors Before We Left

4.1 Finding English-Speaking Doctors Through the Embassy

Before we left for Nice, I knew there was a chance my husband’s back pain could require more than what we brought with us. If he had needed something stronger than what the French pharmacist could provide, we’d need to see a local doctor for a prescription.

To be prepared, before we left I went to the U.S. Embassy’s website in France and selected South of France (the Marseille area), Under Menu I selected U.S. Citizen Services. From there, under Medical Assistance, I found a list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals in Nice. I saved the contact information to my phone, so I’d have it handy if we needed to make an appointment or visit an urgent care clinic.

Having this information ready gave me peace of mind. I wasn’t scrambling in a moment of stress, and I knew exactly where to turn if over-the-counter options weren’t enough.

KEEN TIP: The process of going to the US Embassy site for your destination country (if you are a US citizen) and following the Menu to the various sections is basically the same for any country you visit. Obviously if you are not a US citizen, go to your embassy site at your location.

5. Key Takeaways from Traveling with Back Pain in France

Traveling with chronic pain takes thinking several steps ahead. What if you need a prescription refill? What if customs questions your medications? What if a flare-up happens sooner—or worse—than expected?

These are all situations I planned for before we left for France and you can, too. Even with careful preparation, there are always surprises when you’re traveling with chronic health conditions. The good news? A little extra effort before your trip can mean a lot less stress once you arrive.

Here’s exactly what worked for us—and what I recommend to every traveler managing chronic pain or any ongoing health condition.

5.1 Pack All Medications in Your Carry-On

This is rule number one. Always keep your medications in your carry-on bag, not your checked luggage. Checked bags can get delayed or lost, and the last thing you want is to be without your essential medications when you land.

We brought everything my husband needed for back pain, including two Medrol packs, muscle relaxers, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Having these medications within arm’s reach made a huge difference—especially when his pain flared up during the first week of our stay.

KEEN TIP: Pack enough for your entire trip plus an extra 7-10 days, just in case of delays.

5.2 Bring a Doctor’s Letter

Customs and airport security can question medications, especially if you’re carrying controlled substances or injectable medications. A doctor’s letter explains why you’re traveling with these items and makes the process much easier.

5.3 Research English-Speaking Doctors Ahead of Time

Make a list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals. There is also an app you can download on your mobile called DOCLIB.

5.4 Understand How the Local Pharmacy System Works

Because I had read up on how French pharmacies work, I knew we could go there first before pursuing a doctor’s visit. The pharmacist’s recommendation of a pain patch with infrared technology and stronger ibuprofen was exactly what my husband needed at the time—and saved us from having to navigate a full medical appointment in a foreign country.

5.5 Keep a Copy of Your Prescriptions on Your Phone

Even if you have the original medication packaging and a doctor’s letter, having a digital copy of your prescriptions is a smart backup. If you need to explain your condition or edications to a healthcare professional, having quick access to the details can save time.

I took photos of my husband’s prescriptions before we left and stored them on my phone, along with our travel documents. This also helped me feel prepared in case we lost his medications or needed to replace anything.

5.6 Don’t Wait Until You Need Help—Plan Before You Go

The biggest lesson from our trip? Don’t wait for something to go wrong before you figure out what to do. Planning ahead gave us options and reduced the stress of managing my husband’s chronic pain in a foreign country.

6. Wrap Up

Traveling with chronic back pain—or any health condition—doesn’t have to limit your plans. A little preparation goes a long way. Knowing what to bring, where to go, and who to call gave us the freedom to enjoy our time in France, even when things didn’t go exactly as planned. If you take the time to prepare, you’ll feel confident handling whatever comes up along the way—and you’ll be able to focus on enjoying the trip in front of you.