Am I kidding myself? Broken foot and WDW

[jm-mom]

I broke this same bone last summer and it takes a LONG time to heal. Someone told me this is the hardest bone in the human body to heal. Even with a bone growth stimulator, it still took a solid 12 weeks before I was able to hobble on it in just shoes. I would guess it was another 3 months before I could comfortably walk on it. This bone also refractures very easily so it's best not to push it.

If you're going to WDW on a second honeymoon then clearly your spouse loves you. If he's willing to act as caregiver, let him. If you aren't comfortable in a wheelchair, get a scooter. WDW is the ideal place to vacation with a scooter!

No matter your walking status, you will still have a great time and come away being more in love than ever and with happy memories of a wonderful trip. It may not be the trip you had originally envisioned, but if you are flexible, take things slowly and just enjoy being together, you'll have a blast.

FYI -- if you go with a wheelchair or scooter, rent one offsite so you have it available to you whenever you need it. The resorts are large and the distance from bus to park entrance is pretty long too.

 

[toodycat]

jm-momI broke this same bone last summer and it takes a LONG time to heal. Someone told me this is the hardest bone in the human body to heal. Even with a bone growth stimulator, it still took a solid 12 weeks before I was able to hobble on it in just shoes. I would guess it was another 3 months before I could comfortably walk on it. This bone also refractures very easily so it's best not to push it.


I had a feeling it would take a long time to heal. Every time the doctor tells me I will be able to do something in two weeks, it winds up taking four! It's been over six weeks and I am still in a soft cast and huge boot. That's after four weeks in a hard cast. Now, if I try to walk the stairs in my house---my house is nothing but stairs---I wind up in pain all night. What shoes were you able to wear once you could wear shoes? Sneakers? Did you re-fracture your foot at any point? What activities would should I avoid once I am up and around?

I know my DH is willing to be a caregiver. Honestly, it would be hard to find a man with a more nurturing and thoughtful disposition. But, since this is supposed to be a honeymoon for both of us, I don't want his vacation to be spent just taking care of me. He has just spent the last six weeks working full-time, making breakfast, packing lunches, driving DS to after school activities, cleaning the house, doing all the errands and grocery shopping, taking me to the doctor, bringing files back and forth to my office and trying to put the house and yard back together after we had a swimming pool installed. Lots of other women tell me how lucky I am because their husbands didn't cooperate when they were sick or injured, so they wound up doing all those chores with an injury, anyway! I am really blessed that this was not the case.

I feel like the poor guy deserves a rest. So,we wound up booking a trip to Cancun that will include everything. DH won't even have to find us a taxi at the airport; the hotel sends a limo. I will ask for a wheelchair in both airports. Once we get to the resort, neither of us will budge from our lounge chairs, except to turn the pages of our novels or order some snacks and drinks. Is it the Disney trip we had planned and looked forward to? No, but I think it is our best option at the moment.

As for WDW, I am racking my brain, trying to figure out when we will return. Obviously, it won't be this summer and once school begins, travel is a lot tougher because, as a teacher, I can only travel during school holidays which book up quickly and are very expensive. I am already thinking ahead to August '11!

 

[kirstenb1]

Toody Cat, Cancun sounds fabulous!! DH and I spent our 20th anniversary in Virginia Beach last year for a week, and had such a relaxing vacation!! I'm not usually a beach person, but it was very romantic and low-key. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing vacation!

 

[toodycat]

Thanks. I hope we have a good time. I've never been to Virginia Beach, but I've heard it's lovely and peaceful.

 

[sbelyo]

You've made the best choice I think. Speaking from experience, Disney is a ton of work on your legs and feet.

My wife had what turned out to be a blood clot removed from the bottom of her foot last Feb with a disney trip planned 45 days later. I told her not to go downstairs without shoes on during construction, but nobody listens to me until it's too late. Anyhow I ended up pushing her around in a wheelchair about 75% of the time because even a small incision didn't heal all the way after 6 weeks. So I can imagine how long a broken bone will take to heal.

 

[toodycat]

Thanks and sorry to hear about your wife's injury. I am disappointed although I am sure Cancun will be lovely. I am already trying to figure out when we can return to WDW! My injury was close to 7 weeks ago and I am still in a cast and boot. There is no way I will be walking theme parks in a month.

 

[toodycat]

So, my broken foot is starting to feel a bit better and then I noticed that there was a 40% off code for the end of August. Rooms are insanely inexpensive.We are planning to visit the in-laws in Hilton Head the last week in August/first week in September by flying to JAX, renting a car and driving to HH. A little voice in my head said, "You will be better by then. What about leaving a couple of days earlier, flying into MCO and going to WDW and THEN driving to Hilton Head?"

Do you think I'll be able to walk around by the end of August? I broke my foot the first week in May.

Thanks!

 

[DisneyNicole]

Oh no! You should just wear the boot, but don't walk too much, or you might break it again. I advise you to take a break every 30 minutes. And take like a 15 minute break. Don't stay in the sweltering heat too long, it will sweat and feel uncomfortable. Go late in the day and stay in the cool weather.




22 and feeling youthful!

Gavin-:
Me-:
Elli:

Married to my prince charming on 2/10/09

My little princess is 3! And as cute as ever!


So far, I went to Disney 12 times and going again!

OCTOBER 30TH IS THE MAGIC WORD

 

[SueM in MN]

Well, it will be more than 3 months.
Hard to say how far you will be healed at that point, but it might be doable as long as you don't push, take it easy and consider renting an ECV or wheelchair if you need to. You might want to check with your doctor (even though I thought you posted that they thought it would be healed by then).

i'd also be very careful with stepping into and out of rides. If you don't have a wheelchair or ECV, you should consider a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) that would allow you to avoid stairs and board where the moving walkway can be slowed or stopped if needed.
(More information about Guest Assistance Cards in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread).

 

[toodycat]

It would be 16 weeks at that point. This would be the whole family, not just DH and myself. We would only be staying 3 days. It would probably be one day of Epcot, one day of MK and one water park, if I don't need the boot to walk at that point. We were thinking of staying at the YC club level for the convenience of the lounge and the proximity to Epcot and the boats to DSH.

I am just wondering if the swelling would have gone down enough for me to wear a regular sneaker. I can't see walking all over the theme parks in flip-flops without suffering.

 

[Talking Hands]

I would advise you to get an ECV. It will give you some independence and you won't be in pain. I do not advise just walking with the boot. I was fully out of the boot before I was comfortable walking on my own. Got teased into walking at a conference for the banquet evening. Finally got me out of the chair. Thanks Mark.

 

[toodycat]

Well, I don't know if I will still be in the boot by the end of August. I don't think you usually stay in it after four months. My plan is to take it easy, rest frequently and get a wheelchair if it becomes too much. But, I am hoping that a summer of rest and foot exercises will make it possible for me to move on my own steam.

 

[Southerndisney]

We are about the same age. I broke a metatarsal bone the middle of March and I have been wearing tennis shoes since the middle of May, but my foot still hurts if I walk very much. I still cannot walk barefoot without pain. My doctor told me that my foot would have healed quicker if I was 21, of course he is in his early 30's.

My husband and I were going to take a quick trip to Disney the first week of August, but now I thinking of postponing the trip. I feel your pain.

 

[toodycat]

I'm very encouraged that you are wearing tennis shoes. Several people told me they could only wear flip-flops for quite a while. (My toes are so swollen that they look like baby carrots...pedicured baby carrots thanks to the inventive thinking of my manicurist who managed to paint my toes with the cast and boot in the way.) I am going to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully, he will see some improvement. In the meantime, I had to contact the GF IPO to make our ADRS, so I asked them about a wheelchair. They said I could get one via the concierge office if I needed one and that no reservation was necessary. Now, I feel like I have a safety net. I hope to be able to walk without any assistance by the end of August, taking care to wear comfortable shoes, take frequent breaks and ice my foot after the parks, but if that doesn't work out, I will ask for a wheelchair.

Does your doctor think you will be able to handle WDW by the first week in August?

 

[toodycat]

O Happy Day! As of yesterday, the doctor said I can wear sneakers for a few hours a day and, by the end of the week, I can give up the boot! I still have to be careful and I'm not done seeing my doctor yet, but this is an unexpected improvement.

 

[Bete]

O Happy Day! As of yesterday, the doctor said I can wear sneakers for a few hours a day and, by the end of the week, I can give up the boot! I still have to be careful and I'm not done seeing my doctor yet, but this is an unexpected improvement.

I'm glad for you.

 

[eelore]

I have a ankle injury that is ongoing but I recommend either getting a wheelchair or scooter! I usually rent a scooter from a disney approved company that arrives at my resort the day I arrive and then they pick it back up the day I leave. The resorts only have a limited amount of wheelchairs and Ive always found them to be checked out everytime Ive asked for one. Now i just go ahead and rent a scooter because its convenient and gives me more independence. And I know that since I set it up before I leave home its dependable to be there when I need it. Walking is out of the question for me because you end up walking miles everyday in the parks! Also, If I fly I arrange a wheelchair escort from the gate to Disneys Magical express. The Orlando airport is HUGE!!!
I hope your foot is better before your trip! If not you can rent a chair from the parks if the resort is out but there is a considerable amount of walking just to get into the parks to get one. usually the park scooters rent out fast first thing in the morning but the chairs are usually available a little while longer. The great thing about Disney though is the accessability! Some attractions have handicap entrances. if youre in a chair stop by guest services in the parks and ask for a disability guide. It will show you which ones have special entrances I LOVE Disney and go every year but this is the first trip Im staying at Animal Kingdom lodge! I cant wait!!

Have a wonderful trip andas long as you plan you shouldnt have any problems!

if you swell during the day just stop by first aid and theyll give you an ice pack and a place to prop up your foot and rest in the cool air conditioning! Ive done that several times. The resorts can give you bags to put ice in to if you need it after a day in the parks!

 

[bopper]

I think you are going to have to get the ECV...also read this extensive trip report about someone with a broken ankle who used an ECV.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=465756&highlight=broken

 

[toodycat]

Thanks Bopper. I read that trip report, but it sounds like the writer's situation was much more serious than my own. I only broke my foot and had no surgery. At this point, I am able to wear sneakers and walk short distances. I am trying to exercise my foot in the pool to strengthen it a bit. I hope I won't need an ECV by the end of August, but who knows?

Enjoy the holiday!