Thoughts on itinerary with an injury. Bonus if you know Bergamo!

My family is from Bergamo and I love it. Hilly for me is not the problem it's the cobblestones in Europe.Get your eyes on as many youtube videos and then decide. I lniw you were kidding about tbe lake, but I was in Como in November and the weather was fabulous. Regards to hubby.

I don't know how bad the fracture was, or whether a hip replacement was required, but a complicated fracture will require way more healing time for any real comfort. Ask your surgeon.

Insurance will not cover you if any issues arise as a result of the same problem when travelling.

Never visited Turin. Bergamo was a more enjoyable visit than Milan.

I must say, I would be cancelling at this stage. AS you say, you are right on the limit and you don't know how recovery will proceed.
You have a wonderful trip planned and it would be a pity to be worrying about it in advance, or, indeed, while on it.
You may also find that your insurer has a view. Check the small print.
If it were me, I'd be rebooking for next spring, and then having a nice break somewhere not involving an international flight which can be arranged when you see how he is getting on.

My husband has been through multiple health issues over the years. Although never broken bones! We adjust. Of course we can cancel. It is always an option. Insurance was purchased a year ago within 7 days of our first deposit to cover any preexisting conditions. We would need medical clearance to travel for our travel insurance. Of course we won’t go if his team of doctors don’t recommend it. Although we had a doctor once recommend we not travel at all (Other doctors disagreed and said we should go within his capabilities.) and since that time we have taken multiple international trips. While I appreciate the suggestions of canceling and the medical advice I was seeking perspective for those who have traveled to these destinations. Lots of people have mobility issues and still travel. My 98 year old grandmother had a hip replacement several years ago and was up and pretty much back to normal in 8 -10 weeks. While I truly appreciate all the time given to the responses, if you haven’t been to Bergamo, Milan or Turin and can’t speak to these locations with the advice requested please scroll on. My husband and I are sitting in a hospital room trying to be positive and enjoying the idea of thinking outside the box should we need to edit our trip and he feels like going. Thank you all so much!

I don't think its the hills you need to worry about but the actual walking. There is so much to see in Turin that requires walking to see the fabulous piazzas. Milan you could take a taxi from the Duomo to the Castle but the walk is enjoyable. I think the beauty of itay if you are able is to walk and experience it. You mentioned recovered enough to fly.... that is just step 1. I would reschedule if possible so that. you both could fully enjoy it.

I see two possible approaches:
Option 1) Set a goal (e.g., 1 month before departure he will be able to walk x distance with minimal discomfort). If your husband is not able to meet the goal, reschedule at that point.
Option 2) Replan the trip for the spring now

If it were me, I’d reschedule for spring and start the replanning now but that is based on my experience with injury recovery. I had a less serious knee injury last spring that did not require surgery. It took two months before I got to the point where I didn’t have pain with every step. It took 4 months of physical therapy and daily PT exercises and walking before I was back to my 5 mile walks. My injury was in May and I had a trip scheduled at the end of October. My final deposit for that trip was due August 30th. I decided that I needed to be able to walk 2 miles without stopping and without pain by August 30th or I would cancel. I met that goal so I made the final deposit. In the next 60 days, I was able to get back to 5 miles. My knee still bothered me on that trip but I was able to manage the discomfort with OTC meds.

I hope your husband’s recovery goes smoothly.

We are 20 years older than your husband, have been to Italy 17 times, and have spent 4 nights in Torino and probably a week total in Milan with a day trip to Bergamo. Most of our trips have been for a month. But our real claim to relevance to your situation is how many times one of us has traveled in Italy with various degrees of pain and ability to walk. Most recently, last fall, I needed wheelchairs in the airports, a walking boot, and could not walk more than a few hundred yards.

Our theory, which would make no sense if a trip to Italy was supposed to be a vacation or was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, is that in pain or not, difficulties or not, sick or not, we'd rather be in Italy. Even if we can't do everything we want to, or go everywhere we want to. We just transfer our life from home to Italy and go on enjoying it.

I'm trying to think what we'd do if we only had 9 nights (is that right?). We do an anti-jetlag schedule before we leave, so jetlag is not a factor for us --- is it for you? My husband can sleep on the whole flight over and I can't even nap, so 9 nights in Italy for me would be right on the edge of what would make one uncomfortable sleepless night worth it to me. Yeah, I'd probably do it.

I imagine that your husband's hip and back would still be hurting and/or stiff, so a 10-hour plane ride could get pretty uncomfortable --- perhaps a night in Milan on arrival would be helpful even though it may seem like a waste of time. It's a pretty quick train ride to Torino, though. Just leave lots and lots of extra time if walking is still slow or painful --- I would assume the need for literally slow travel while you plan now and then be pleasantly surprised if his healing is quick.

The Torino city center is flat and, depending on where you stay, quite walkable --- we stayed near the Egyptian museum, which I highly recommend (both the neighborhood and the museum). You'd want to take a taxi to the car museum and other places.

I might be inclined to skip Bergamo, or just do it as a day trip from Milan like we did. There is plenty to do in Torino and Milan. It's not that Bergamo is hilly (you take a taxi or bus to the upper city), it just might be better not to lock yourself into staying there. Simplify this trip so you can be flexible. Find places in the cities that are relaxing --- we quite like the monumental cemetery in Milan, for example, and there is a part of Torino that is more medieval (the Quadrilatero, I think) or visit its Borgo Medievale.

I wish your husband fast recovery, and a great trip (whenever you end up taking it)!

Nacys8- Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. This was incredibly helpful. This is a shorter trip for us. We are normally gone 2-3 weeks. I am putting a pin it until early September to see how he does. He has stepped down from the ICU and will be heading to rehab Monday. He is using the trip as inspiration but of course we are fully aware that it might be canceled.

I will say that some of these responses humored me. I never once asked if we should cancel. If anything I made it clear that i understood that we could be canceling the trip. That was never my question. The question was alternative destinations and if Bergamo is was a good choice. My husband is 51 not 75. We are active people and are responsible but also want to live life. If we can go we will go. But not if it isn’t suggested by his entire team. Our next chance to travel due to work will not be until fall of next year.

I appreciate those who responded to my questions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Rehab starts soon and we will see how he does!

I'm sorry that this happened to your husband. While he has relative youth of 51 on his side, I think it is unlikely he will be have the stamina and enough recovery to make this trip doable. I was an orthopedic and trauma nurse for many years so I know more than the average person replying to this post.

You don't need to share further details but unless things have changed significantly in how they do the surgeries and post operative restrictions , he will have weight bearing restrictions on the side where he fractured the acetabulum. 8- 12 weeks is the healing time for the bones, not the time for him to be back to what he was able to do before the collision.

I am sorry about your husband’s accident and I hope he gets better soon. Alternative suggestions would be Milan (Duca di York Hotel), Verona (Romeo and Giuglietta Hotel) and Lake Como (Alberto Milano). These hotels are in very centralized locations and you can minimize walking and have the convenience to get back to the hotel to rest. You can ride around Lake Como on the ferry and enjoy the views. Milan, Verona and the Lake Como waterfront in Varenna are flat unless you venture up the hill in Varenna.

I wish you both well but personally I would cancel and go in the spring. Right now you’re still in the beginning stages of recovery and engaging in magical thinking. I traveled last year with my husband who had torn both of his rotator cuffs and seriously damaged the c5 and c6 vertebrae in his neck several months before our trip. He had had several cortisone injections before the trip to try to ease the pain. It didn’t. My husband insisted that he wanted to go on the trip but honestly I wish I had canceled. I wanted to come home the day we arrived in Casablanca. He was in terrible pain during the trip but soldiered on somehow and it was a constant trial for me trying to find a way to ease his pain but I couldn’t. He didn’t want to spoil the trip for me but it was not enjoyable traveling this way. It’s really hard seeing someone you love suffering. I brought my husband home at the end of the trip in a wheelchair while lugging both of our wheeled carryons trying to navigate multiple airport terminals. I will never do that again.

When we had a medical problem pop up before a trip, I broke the bank and got my husband into business class, so he could lie flat most of the trip. We’re pretty frugal, but when there’s a problem, I throw money at it. This advice came from an old sage who used to hang out here.

thanks for the memories of old Ed, Elizabeth

“But October isn’t exactly a great time for a lake.”
You’d be surprised how nice the weather on the lakes can be in October and even November. October is warmer in Italy than people tend to think. That being said, first of all, sorry your husband has suffered this misfortune. He will heal. He’s young enough yet. Personally, as one who’s suffered from chronic aches and pains, and had 30 months of continuous pain because of lumbar spine nerve damage, I can say a without a doubt that you should cancel the trip or at least postpone until the spring. You say he’s still young enough that he will recover in time. 8-12 weeks is really pushing it. He will be just in the cusp of ending his recovery. Who knows hat can happen during that time? Perhaps it will take him longer. I’m in no way being a pessimist. Bergamo is VERY hilly, cobbled streets, packed with people, yes, even in the late shoulder season, which basically doesn’t exist anymore in many parts of Italy. Plus, it’s October. It might be wet. Would he be able to keep his balance well, knowing he’s just recovered from a bad incident? Trust me, those cobbled and slate covered streets can get very slippery in the rain. Or, you could change your plans and just go to Milan, Torino and one of the Lakes. Personally, people discount Milan way too much on this site, because they don’t find it attractive or very architecturally stimulating but Milan has a ton of architectural masterpieces and it has the beautiful Cimitero Monumentale which is better than any cemetery I’ve ever seen. Anyway, good luck in whatever you choose to do.

In all fairness, it's evident why so many folks commented on whether or not to proceed with your planned trip, OP.

The title and bulk of your post spoke to your husband's accident, medical treatment and projected recovery time.

It was your follow-up replies that eventually made clear your question and the feedback you sought.

Bergamo

I've experienced that lovely city during a 2-night stay.

Your husband will encounter:

• flat, hard surfaces in Città Bassa
• cobblestones, inclines and descents in Città Alta
• physical challenges with public transportation and spaces.

Frankly, it'll be the same for all of Italy. So, I can't offer alternatives that better accommodate your husband - and you, his caregiver.

I'm sorry your husband and you were dealt this blow so soon before your planned trip. Good luck with your decision.

Thank you for all of your replies. We have spoken with his physicians, occupational therapist, and physical therapist and have agreed to make a decision in September. It likely that we will cancel. At that time we will look at redesigning the trip or canceling it completely. I know many of you mentioned us postponing it until spring. Unfortunately due to work I cannot travel again until September 2027.

Thank you for all that replied in reference to the locations of our trip and those that offered alternative places to visit. This would have been my 6th trip to Italy. I am sure if we have to cancel we will be back.