Disney with broken collarbone - 5 weeks in

W

Wants2liveinDis

Earning My Ears

Joined

Apr 21, 2015

• Apr 24, 2015

• #1

After almost a year's worth of planning on my part and crazy excited countdown, my husband came off his mountain bike and broke his collar bone . When we are due to arrive, 4.5 weeks will have passed since the fracture. Currently he is 50/50 going to cancel the holiday. We are lucky enough to have been before and have done all the thrill rides but there is still loads we haven't done.... Has anyone got any experience of a Disney trip with a broken collar bone? TIA

 

Aladora

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 22, 2011

• Apr 24, 2015

• #2

I have no advice but wanted to say "ouch!" I hope if you do go that you have a good trip and that he heals up quickly.

 

S

StitchesGr8Fan

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jul 17, 2009

• Apr 24, 2015

• #3

My FIL is 6 weeks in to a broken collar bone. He is still having pain and has to protect his arm against being bumped. He was just saying how glad he was that our trip is in November and not this spring because he would have had to cancel.

 

Toffeewoffy

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 6, 2014

• Apr 24, 2015

• #4

I broke my collar bone back in 1990 when I was knocked off my motor bike (broke where the bra strap sits on the shoulder). Even though the pain was more or less gone after 3 weeks or so, moving the affected arm around a lot was, if not actually painful, certainly very uncomfortable. Walking around could jar my shoulder, and as I was a secretary I was actually off work for 6 weeks as I couldn't type. My employers were very good about it and not only paid me in full (to be claimed back from the driver later on) but told me they didn't want me coming back until I was fully healed and able to 'hit the ground running'.

Obviously everyone is different, but I really don't think I could have tolerated a theme park holiday even 2-3 months after the break - purely because your collar bone helps support your entire skeleton (shoulders, arms and even ribs), and it was very uncomfortable. The thing is, I could say hire a wheelchair to relieve the stresses of walking/jarring the healing bone, but being bumped over kerbs and rough surfaces will also jar.

Whatever you decide to you, all the best with the healing.

 

W

Wants2liveinDis

Earning My Ears

Joined

Apr 21, 2015

• Apr 24, 2015

• #5

Thank you for sharing your experiences x

 

Glittercat

Mermaid on Wheels! ^_~

Joined

Dec 5, 2010

• Apr 25, 2015

• #6

So sorry this happened to your husband! Is there any way to reschedule your vacation? *sending pixie dust just in case! *

 

W

Wants2liveinDis

Earning My Ears

Joined

Apr 21, 2015

• Apr 26, 2015

• #7

Thank you Glittercar. Needing LOTS of pixie dust!
Rescheduling would cost at least £800 due to flights, cancelling we would loose £1100 due to an annual insurance policy. He's super fit and eats really well, which I'm hoping will mean he makes a speedy recovery. He's really down atm with it all, I work from home and am not cut out for being a nurse! Should be flying in 23 days....

 

Toffeewoffy

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 6, 2014

• Apr 26, 2015

• #8

I'm sorry to hear that. I would suggest you just take it really slow, rest often and not try to do too much. I found that I could start off a shopping trip feeling fine, but after a certain time my shoulder would begin to ache, at which time I would lean right over and rest my forearm on the handle of the trolley and literally put my whole weight onto it. This pushed my collar bone up and relieved the 'drag' I felt.

As postponing and cancelling isn't going to be an option for you, it's going to be a real 'stop and smell the roses' type of trip. Make sure you pack plenty of painkillers - and don't be afraid to pack a sling so your husband can wear it when he's feeling a bit tired. It'll also be a visual aid for people to maybe steer clear of you (although I wouldn't count on it).

 

Mommee

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 8, 2010

• Apr 26, 2015

• #9

Not quite the same thing, but I went to Disney world 6 weeks after having a full reconstruction of my shoulder. I wore my sling the entire time I was in the parks. I don't do the "major" rides, anyway, due to my medical issues, so I cannot really comment on that, but I had no major trouble with the other rides. There were A few vehicles that were hard to get out of due to not being able to use that arm to lean on, and I was in more pain than I had been while at home, but I was very glad that we decided to go.
So I guess the question is whether your husband wou,d be happy with a trip that skips the thrill rides, or is the cost to reschedule worth it to him so he can do everything?

 

L

lost*in*cyberspace

DIS Veteran

Joined

Dec 30, 2005

• Apr 28, 2015

• #10

My husband badly broke his clavicle when we were on vacation last August. It still has not healed completely. After 4.5 weeks, your husband will not be healed and may still be in some pain. He will need to avoid any rides with a lot of jostling, any ride with bars which come down over the shoulders or seat belts across the shoulder, etc. He can still have fun, but he will not be able to ride a lot of attractions.

This is a great example of why you should always buy travel insurance, especially for an international trip.

Hope your husband heals quickly!