8 weeks after surgery what rides are safe

[countryblonde314]

I have bad knees so walking isn't possible for me but this time I will be having knee surgery 8 weeks before we leave for Disney World. I go to Disney at least 3 times a year as an Annual Passholder and every time I am in a wheelchair so I know which rides can be done by transferring and walking a distances (whether walking on regular sidewalk or moving walk way). But this is my first time were I won't be able to do moving sidewalks or really much transferring without my crutches because of the little weight I can actually put on my leg. I was wondering if anyone had this experience before. If any rides require a moving walk way to get on the ride, which rides you can slow down or stop the moving walk way? This is my first time experience Disney right after surgery so I need advice if y'all have any.

 

[Accident]

Do you have any guidelines from your doctor on what to watch out for? that will help narrow down rides to describe better to you so you know if you should avoid them. There is also the generic insurance signs before each line to tell you what to expect from a ride.

As far as getting on and off, disney will take good care of you and has a way to safely get you on no matter what method it is to get onto the ride. They stop the rides regularrly for those that need assistance. The CM will inform you if you need to transfer from a chair/ecv and what to expect before you even get in line and start to wait if you ask.

 

[countryblonde314]

Once I go to pre-op he will go over those guidelines but pretty much I know that weight baring and distance will be the biggest thing, also I know rides like Space Mountain and Test Track the stepping down will be hard. I'm pretty familiar with the rides that bump and have little leg room. I know that rides like Peter Pan they can't stop the moving walkway or slow it down. Are there any other rides that can't stop or slow the walk way down?

 

[asta]

I'm a broken record on this warning but watch the step down into the cars at Test Track. I went 7 months after a total knee replacement and that is the ride that gave me the most trouble and I rode just about every ride at WDW. The step down is very deep and there is less to hold onto than many of the other rides. I worked on my arm strength before surgery so I was able to use my arms to make transfers easier.

 

[countryblonde314]

I'm a broken record on this warning but watch the step down into the cars at Test Track. I went 7 months after a total knee replacement and that is the ride that gave me the most trouble and I rode just about every ride at WDW. The step down is very deep and there is less to hold onto than many of the other rides. I worked on my arm strength before surgery so I was able to use my arms to make transfers easier.

That's my biggest fear. I love that ride just fear I have to skip that and Rock'n'roller coaster because of the big step down.

 

[asta]

That's my biggest fear. I love that ride just fear I have to skip that and Rock'n'roller coaster because of the big step down.

I don't know if you have to skip them altogether. Maybe you can somehow maneuver your legs so that you can minimize how much you have to bend your leg. I stepped in first with my good leg and that step down was so steep that it made me bend the trailing new knee too much. I am not sure how to do it but don't do what I did. As far as RNR, I did not have that much trouble. There is something to hold onto where you can lower into the seat without deep bending your knee. I worried a lot before going about having the time to get in and out of the ride vehicles but that was never a problem.

 

[Gracie09]

Peter Pan and the wed people mover cannot be stopped or slowed down. Everything else can

 

[perkinsrose]

DH was in very similar situation a few years ago. He was in wheelchair 95% of trip but occasionally needed to get up with crutches without putting weight on that leg. We/He did not attempt RollerCoaster, Everest, Space Mountain, or Big Thunder. I feel like we might have even done Kahli River Rapids but I'm not sure if my memory is blurring trips! That would be a huge step down. I faintly remember handing crutches to a CM there.

We did not have a problem with the moving walkway on Peter Pan but you will know best when you are there what you can handle and what dr. has said. DH had a brace on his knee so some of his issue for rides was being able to /not being able to comfortable bend and fit in seat. In the wheelchair, my biggest challenge was dealing with unaware guests that bumped his body and extended leg.

Disney staff was quite helpful in telling us what to do if anything different than regular standby line. Only a few times did I need to ask such as, should I keep crutches, where shall I park wheelchair, etc. Our trip, considering, was quite good.

 

[SueM in MN]

Posts 18-21 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread have a lot of information that should be helpful.
Post 28 of that same thread has information about attractions with stairs and moving walkways.

You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

 

[countryblonde314]

Now if I need to keep my knee straight my grandpa made a board cover with felt to put under the cushion to keep my leg straight on. Will that be a problem to get in the park with? Thank y'all for the help. I hate to skip my favorite rides but feel like after this information I can make a better call.

 

[asta]

Now if I need to keep my knee straight my grandpa made a board cover with felt to put under the cushion to keep my leg straight on. Will that be a problem to get in the park with? Thank y'all for the help. I hate to skip my favorite rides but feel like after this information I can make a better call.

I don't know if you said what surgery you were having but if it is a total knee replacement I don't think your doctor will want you to hold the leg straight that much of the time. Being able to bend it is very important and that is what PT will work with you for the first two months. My doctor did want me to use an immobilizer at first and they provided a leg wrap held together by Velcro. I slept in it and used it occasionally during the day. The immobilizer would be much easier to use than the board.

 

[perkinsrose]

Of course you will talk to your dr. and maybe therapist (DH started therapy at some point after surgeries) to see what your plan should be. DH was most comfortable and was supposed to keep leg extended when sitting and could only bend at a certain percentage/angle and was not to put weight on it until so many weeks after surgery. (Different surgeries will sometimes prescribe that you put for example 50% weight on it by so many weeks after, etc. How you discern what is 50% weight I'm not sure!!! Again a question for the dr.!)

For DH, we rented a wheelchair from an outside agency, was delivered to hotel & it was waiting when we arrived. (we used airport provided arrangements there) When I ordered the wheelchair, I requested the leg attachments so that DH could extend his leg, rest & lift to prevent blood pooling due to another issue as well as decrease need for bend. This leg attachment did not automatically come with chair I ordered but I believe they asked if I needed it-small extra charge I think. Of course if you are bringing your own chair -not an issue. I think I also used a folded towel or two to make seat and leg rest more comfortable.

PS: I purchased a "crutches bag" that attached to wheelchair with velcro. I bought it online from a medical supply company. I believe it was less than$25 and well-worth it for the time that we needed it. I looked at a few different styles and the one I used worked well. They slid in and then crutches were easy to keep with us for the few times DH needed them vs. him having to hold onto them or tuck them into the wheelchair seat. I finally ended up selling it on eBay recently--hoping never have another need for it again...
I hope the trip is everything you want it to be and truly wish you a speedy recovery!

Sidenote: We needed to make a side trip for a blood draw to a lab while in Disney. Not fun to take away from vacation time but it worked out okay and just happy we were able to go on with our trip as planned. If anyone needs info on that would be glad to share.

 

[countryblonde314]

It's not knee replacement. It's a tear and lateral release which he said would be a minimum of 8 weeks recovery with how bad mine is. I know after my other knee surgeries that I wasn't suppose to bend my knee and even with the brace to help keep it straight it was very heavy. I normally just wear a regular brace while in Disney for when I have to get out of the wheelchair to help support my knee. The only problem I seem to have is that all of the braces besides my normal support brace seem to weigh so much when having to keep the leg down, this is why I was wondering if Disney would allow me to use the board with my wheelchair. I actually have my own wheelchair that I take with me when going to Disney so renting one with the leg raise won't be necessary.

 

[minnie mum]

I'm sure Disney would allow you to use the board. They see home made alterations to personal wheelchairs and ecvs all the time. But I would reconsider renting a properly equipped chair with an extended leg rest. That board is going to tip every time you shift your weight, and will be uncomfortable to sit on day in and day out.

Also, you will need to realize that if you are in an immobilizer there will be quite a few rides that you won't be able to ride. A lot of rides require the knee to bend in order to fit into the seat.