ACL Surgery

[THEJOEL]

RETURN REPORT POST #20
Hurt my knee playing softball last week. Currently waiting on my results from my MRI but my doctor seems to think I tore my ACL. I am currently at home on short term disability.
If I have surgery to get it repaired I will not be 100% by the time our trip comes along. Anyone ever tour the park with a new ACL?
UPDATE AND EDIT:

Well it's official, I have a torn ACL. My surgery is scheduled for OCT 13. I will have a cadaver achilles tendon grafted in to replaced my ACL.
According to my doctor I will be able to tour WDW with little restriction besides taking frequent breaks and don't squat or kneel if at all possible. Of course this is a tentative on how my rehab and surgery goes. I will bring my crutches just as a back up if I have too because this trip is really for my kiddo not me. this is our second trip so we are familier with what's involved, I am a 35 y/o and in pretty good shape so I hope my recovery is quick.
Update 11-21-11 8 days out.
I had my follow up last Friday and my doctor shot down my hopes of going back to work on 12-12(I have a physically demanding job.). So I asked about WDW and what my restrictions were. He said no kneeling, squatting,any type of sudden cuts and wear a padded knee brace for extra protection. Straight ahead was good but be prepared for the knee to swell. So my plan is to take breaks, stretch before we go, ice it down and per my doc take my NSAI and percosets. So basically I am good I just need to know my limits, listen to my body and be prepared to do some people watching. I plan on avoiding SM and ToT but I really want to ride RNRC, TT and EE. Hopefully they won't be too rough.
1 week update post#7.
Week 2 update post #12.
Week 3 update post #13
Here is the kicker though:
Everyone, including one of my doctors, said this. Get a wheelchair to tour the park and you'll get to skip to the front of the lines. I just laugh knowing bettter.
I will be 6 weeks out from surgery so I think I will be ok, plus this is just extra motivation to work in rehab just a little harder!
I am wigging out a little......Just hoping for as smooth procedure plus I am not looking forward to being dependant on everyone else while I am out of commission. Just a man thing I guess.

 

[retired and happy]

You don't say how long after surgery you will go. You also do not say whether you have been before and might be familiar with the distances walking would be required every day. It sounds to me like a wheelchair or ECV migh be a good choice just in case. I'd get a doctor's opinion and not try to be a man beast.

 

[THEJOEL]

You don't say how long after surgery you will go. You also do not say whether you have been before and might be familiar with the distances walking would be required every day. It sounds to me like a wheelchair or ECV migh be a good choice just in case. I'd get a doctor's opinion and not try to be a man beast.

I am currently 2 months out and this is our second trip. If I have surgery, at best, it will be 8 weeks before we go. I am in pretty good shape, 35 y/o and relatively athletic. I am rushing the surgery so I can get my butt back to work because I am only a few days off and I am losing my mind.
Yea doc's opinion will be my deciding factor just curious if anyone has been to WDW so soon after surgery.

 

[THEJOEL]

Well it's official, I have a torn ACL. My surgery is scheduled for OCT 13.

 

[SueM in MN]

It's interesting what doctors think!
One of my DD's doctors had never been there, but still were quite sure she would get to the front of all lines. I set them straight.

Anyway, you will find lots of helpful information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, which is located near the top of this board or you can follow the link in my signature.
Post 2 of that thread has information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs.
Several posts on page 2 of the thread have information about each park, including information about which attractions may be difficult to board,in terms of needing to step down to get in.

 

[aubriee]

It's interesting what doctors think!
One of my DD's doctors had never been there, but still were quite sure she would get to the front of all lines. I set them straight.

I think alot of doctors think that. I have a coworker who made her first trip to WDW two years ago with her sister, niece, the niece's husband, and their six kids. She said that every year, her sister mentions to their pediatrician that they are going to WDW and he always volunteers to write them a note that one of their kids is handicapped and needs a front of the line pass. None of the kids are. The doctor just says that with that many kids there is no reason to have to stand in those long lines and he'd like to help them out. He always asks, "So which kid is going to be handicapped this year?". What gets me is my coworker swears the GAC they get always gets them to the front of the line faster and that her niece feels absolutely no guilt for lying to get it. She also swears they've never had any trouble using it for their full party. When I told her the CMs wouldn't even look at a doctor's note, she argued that apparently they do as her niece's family had done this for the last several years. As a nurse I find it just as disgusting that a doctor is willing to sign a note saying that a kid is handicapped when he knows it is a lie.

 

[THEJOEL]

I am currently 1 week post-op as of today. The surgery went well. There was very little bruising and the pain wasn't too bad. I am actually already down to 1 pain pill per day already.I have already had 1 physical therapy appointment and my second session along with my post-op follow up is tomorrow.
My leg feels stronger every day and my doctor thinks I will not have a problem making our trip to WDW. I am determined to prove him right!

 

[physicalt104]

Congratulations on being post-op! As a PT and mother of 2 boys who have gone to WDW and DLP with a variety of orthopedic needs, I would strongly suggest to PACE yourself, and get a wheelchair. I doubt your orthopod (or maybe even PT) knows how large the Parks are, and how much crutch walking that would involve. As with most knee surgeries, swelling is your enemy. There is no way you will be 100% in 2 month's time, so save your strength for where it counts: transfers in and out of rides, short walks to and from the transportation systems, dinners. etc. Absolutely have ice or Artic Ease with you to control fluids!!!!!! Elevate as much as possible! Prolonged standing is THE WORST thing for your knee (next to forced flexion or extension).

I hope that helps- you can go and have a terrific time if you are kind to yourself

 

[daly7o9]

I tore my ACL running (stepped in a hole) about four years ago. I was about 2 months post op and I rented a WC for touring the parks. The only problem that I remember was getting down into one of the water mouses (mice ?). When we were in the lines for the attractions occasionally a CM would grab us out of line and take us through a side entrance but that was the exception, not the norm.

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

Just as a heads up, I had ACL surgery several years ago and at 6 months post op I STILL had an issue with Space Mountain. I found that with SM I was bracing myself a lot because it wasn't a very smooth coaster and it HURT riding on it. I was really surprised because I running again back at home and walked all the parks, but something about bracing and that side to side jostling of SM was really uncomfortable for my knee. You might want to consider passing on SM.

 

[THEJOEL]

Just as a heads up, I had ACL surgery several years ago and at 6 months post op I STILL had an issue with Space Mountain. I found that with SM I was bracing myself a lot because it wasn't a very smooth coaster and it HURT riding on it. I was really surprised because I running again back at home and walked all the parks, but something about bracing and that side to side jostling of SM was really uncomfortable for my knee. You might want to consider passing on SM.

Yea thanks for the heads up but I had already decided to skip Space Mountain. Mainly because you have to get down into and raise your self out of the ride. Plus I rode it twice last time.
I am planning on trying the Rock n Rollercoaster since I didn't get to ride it last time.
I will be wearing a knee brace for touring the parks just for a little added protection.

 

[THEJOEL]

2 weeks post-op:
Got released to drive today since the surgery was on my right leg. Flex is at 110, which is an 18 degree improvement from Tuesday.
Having a little bit of pain on the back of my knee similar to a muscle strain. I aggravated the surgery site Tuesday when I went to pick something off the floor.
Managed to get full rotations on the bike with little discomfort and got an ultrasound massage today. All in all I seem to be on track.

 

[THEJOEL]

3 Weeks post-op:
PT got more intense today. Started off riding the bike for 10 minutes, full body squats on discs (HARD!), more heel slides and stretches.
Knee is still slightly swollen and fells like it did when I first injured it. Just sore and stiff but I am able to walk without crutches but my limp is very pronounced.
Just 27 days left!! I think I will be ready!!

 

[THEJOEL]

I had my follow up last Friday and my doctor shot down my hopes of going back to work on 12-12(I have a physically demanding job.). So I asked about WDW and what my restrictions were. He said no kneeling, squatting,any type of sudden cuts and wear a padded knee brace for extra protection. Straight ahead was good but be prepared for the knee to swell. So my plan is to take breaks, stretch before we go, ice it down and per my doc take my NSAI and percosets. So basically I am good I just need to know my limits, listen to my body and be prepared to some people watching. I plan on avoiding SM and ToT but I really want to ride RNRC, TT and EE. Hopefully they won't be too rough.

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

Do you have a place to store/freeze your ice packs? And don't forget to pack some instant ice packs to use while you're in the parks! They are absolute lifesavers.

I hope you have a wonderful, pain free trip!! Give us an update when you get back.

 

[THEJOEL]

Do you have a place to store/freeze your ice packs? And don't forget to pack some instant ice packs to use while you're in the parks! They are absolute lifesavers.

I hope you have a wonderful, pain free trip!! Give us an update when you get back.

Thank you will do!

 

[Bunless]

DH was about four weeks out from ACL surgery when we went to Disneyland a few years ago for Christmas. I know that there are differences between DL and WDW, so some of what we went through might not apply.

He was just barely at 90 degrees at the time of the trip. The only ride he found difficult was Winnie the Pooh. Because of the special load vehicle on Space Mountain, it wasn't a problem (I can't imagine even trying Space at WDW). He didn't have a problem with anything being too 'rough', and we rode ALL the E ticket rides, even Indiana Jones (similar to Dinosaur).

DH did a couple of massages while we were there for the week, as well as a lot of icing. We both think that the massages helped with the swelling a lot, and Disney spas do higher good masseuses.

He decided not to go with a scooter or wheelchair, actually did crutches the entire week.
In lines, cast members would almost always pull us aside so that he didn't go through the entire line. On a couple of occasions when we went through the regular line we were told 'next time, don't do that, do this instead'.

<a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j152/bunlessinseattle/?action=view&current=DSCN0193.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j152/bunlessinseattle/DSCN0193.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[JennyDrake]

My husband who is physically fit and not overweight went to WDW 5 months after ACL surgery. He had to leave the parks at lunch two days to go back and rest it. He did not have any trouble with bending it or doing any attractions, but all of the walking and on pavement took its toll--we were surprised.

 

[SueM in MN]

DH was about four weeks out from ACL surgery when we went to Disneyland a few years ago for Christmas. I know that there are differences between DL and WDW, so some of what we went through might not apply.

He was just barely at 90 degrees at the time of the trip. The only ride he found difficult was Winnie the Pooh. Because of the special load vehicle on Space Mountain, it wasn't a problem (I can't imagine even trying Space at WDW).

You are correct that it is different at WDW. There is no special ride vehicle for SM at WDW.

He didn't have a problem with anything being too 'rough', and we rode ALL the E ticket rides, even Indiana Jones (similar to Dinosaur).

DH did a couple of massages while we were there for the week, as well as a lot of icing. We both think that the massages helped with the swelling a lot, and Disney spas do higher good masseuses.

He decided not to go with a scooter or wheelchair, actually did crutches the entire week.
In lines, cast members would almost always pull us aside so that he didn't go through the entire line. On a couple of occasions when we went through the regular line we were told 'next time, don't do that, do this instead'.

<a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j152/bunlessinseattle/?action=view&current=DSCN0193.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j152/bunlessinseattle/DSCN0193.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

That is different at WDW than at DL.
DL is an older park and many of the lines were not able to be made accessible.
AK and the Studio at WDW were built with Mainstream lines, which means the regular line is accessible and guests with wheelchairs, ECVs, mobility devices wait in the regular line.
Epcot has mostly Mainstream lines because they were added as attractions were added or renovated.
MK at WDW also had Mainstream lines added when possible, but because it is an older park, not all attractions were able to be made mainstream.
Also at WDW, if there is an different entrance, it often does not shorten the distance walked.

For the OP, there is more information about boarding the attractions at WDW in posts 18-22 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (located near the top of this board).

 

[THEJOEL]

Well I am back.
My touring actually went very well. I got up a few minutes early hopped in a HOT shower and stretched before we went to the parks. I wore a hinged neoprene brace, on our midday nap/break time I iced my knee, stretched again before we went back out and iced up again before I went to bed. I did take alleve at breakfast every day and 1 percoset at dinner a couple of nights just to stay ahead of the pain curve and reduce inflammation.
EPCOT was the most difficult park to tour it seemed to involve the most walking and I experienced fairly significant swelling after touring it on Saturday. I think it was mainly because we stayed there from 10 am until 7 pm w/o a break. I avoided SM, ToT but rode RNRC and pretty much everything else with out an issue (My new fav ride BTW.).
All in all I think it was quite therapeutic it improved my gate, I felt stronger and my PT even remarked on Tuesday that I was walking much better when I got back.
I didn't use a crutch, wheelchair, ECV or even get a GAC. I survived by being smart, taking breaks, utilizing a touring plan, using FP and still had fun. Not bad for a guy who was just 7 weeks post-op from a complete ACL replacement and meniscus repair.