Ankle pain

[iggler]

Ok, my dd, who is 14 will be having surgery on her ankle AFTER our trip to WDW. We are going the last week in May, we decided to hold off surgery because her Dr said she would no way be able to walk at disney because she would be a non weight bearing cast for 6 weeks then in an airboot cast for 12 weeks. The surgerys are being scheduled out 6/8 weeks, therefore most likely would still be a regular cast for the trip. We decided to wait so we don't have these restrictions on her at the time of the trip, plus the week before WDW we will be at my Brothers in Ft. Myers and we want to go to the beach and stuff, and she would not be able to do a lot of the stuff we have planned. At this time she does get a lot of pain after a lot of walking, she was unable to play basketball this year in school, after the first practice she was in so much pain, and limping and had some swelling again. This when it was decided that surgery would be required to heal it. She rolled her ankle really bad last July and it just hasn't come back from that.

She says she wants to take her crutches so when she starts hurting, which I don't think will take too long, she has a hard time just walking around the mall to shop for school clothes. Do you think we should rent a wheel chair just in case? How much is it to rent one? I hate to pay out the money for one and possibly not use it??
Has anyone had any experience with this tpe of injury and then going to WDW?

Please advice me, I don't know what to do?????
Thanks

 

[jdb in AZ]

Disney guests walk 6-10 miles a day. If your DD can't handle the maul (spelling intentional) there's no way she can be comfortable walking around Disney. I would rent a wheelchair offsite so she can use it around the hotel and not just in the parks.

 

[Singledad]

do NOT hesitate, rent that chair! She will end up very wiped trying to use crutches to walk anywhere between 3 to 6 miles a DAY.

for a lot of the basic information about wheelchairs and WDW, check out this post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713.

I suggest renting a chair from an offsite company like walker or apple.. both of whom are listed on the posting above. This way you also limit the amount of time she is on her ankle even at your hotel, which could also add up.

 

[Singledad]

as for how much it costs I am seeing about 30 bucks for 1st day, 6 bucks a day as a ballpark figure.

Rent the chair, it won't go to waste!

 

[iggler]

Thank you for your quick replies, I will definately check them out!!!!

 

[momhmmx2]

I agree with renting the chair! I was NWB during one of my trips to Disney for because of ankle surgery and it was a blessing.

Something else to consider is a knee scooter. I used this at home and at Disney when I wanted more independence. Those crutches can be so painful! I rented one from an online company at www.goodbyecrutches.com They were fabulous, customer service was beyond excellent!

In my desperate search to find an alternative to crutches I came across this company online. I called them and low and behold they were located in my hometown!!! (I live in a small city in West Michigan) They personally delivered it to me that day! But they do deliver all over the US!

Just a thought

Sometimes Insurance companies will buy it for you, or you can submit the expense via Flex spending. I rented it and it was the best $100 I ever spent!

 

[Singledad]

In my desperate search to find an alternative to crutches I came across this company online. I called them and low and behold they were located in my hometown!!! (I live in a small city in West Michigan) They personally delivered it to me that day! But they do deliver all over the US!

oh my gosh, that hands free crutch looks AWESOME.

thanks for posting this, imma have to share this with some friends of mine!

 

[KPeveler]

I saw someone at DL the other day with this, and they seemed to be doing great with it!

 

[welovespacemoutain]

My DD (12) has had ankle issues for years and she can't walk for more than 1/2 a day at Disney or other places where she has to walk for very long. She had surgery a few years back and this is still an issue for her. She has tried to do without the wheelchair and all it does is delay the inevitable and cause her pain and swelling. As a compromise sometimes we try to start out in her walking boot to delay the wheelchair. Since your DD be getting a walking boot anyway, maybe the doctor can fit her for one early and she can try that option - it will give her some support and protection.

How are you getting to Disney? We went once (as a trip to celebrate her being able to walk on her own after a year of issues and surgery) and DD fractured both growth plates 2 months before the trip.... doctor wrote up a prescription and insurance covered a wheelchair that we rented at home and took with us - helpful in the airport and around the resort. We actually had it for about a month and it was wonderful for using at home as well. We could also get the correct pediatric size for her, leg supports, and added some padding to make it more comfortable. Might not fit if you are driving but that is an option too.

 

[peemagg]

oh my gosh, that hands free crutch looks AWESOME.

thanks for posting this, imma have to share this with some friends of mine!

The hands free crutch is awesome, but it takes a bit of getting used to. I used one for months after surgery. It allowed me to be more independent and be able to do a few things that I wouldn't have been able to do with crutches.

I call it my "peg leg". Since it gave me the pirate look, I was teased (good naturedly) about all I needed was a eye patch and a parrot.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with renting the chair! I was NWB during one of my trips to Disney for because of ankle surgery and it was a blessing.

Something else to consider is a knee scooter. I used this at home and at Disney when I wanted more independence. Those crutches can be so painful! I rented one from an online company at www.goodbyecrutches.com They were fabulous, customer service was beyond excellent!

In my desperate search to find an alternative to crutches I came across this company online. I called them and low and behold they were located in my hometown!!! (I live in a small city in West Michigan) They personally delivered it to me that day! But they do deliver all over the US!

Just a thought

Sometimes Insurance companies will buy it for you, or you can submit the expense via Flex spending. I rented it and it was the best $100 I ever spent!

I’ve seen people using them at WDW, and earlier this week when I was in Washington, DC.
I have a friend who rented one when she had a foot injury and she thought it was great. She was able to stand next to it at times when her knee needed a change from being bent all the time.

My DD (12) has had ankle issues for years and she can't walk for more than 1/2 a day at Disney or other places where she has to walk for very long. She had surgery a few years back and this is still an issue for her. She has tried to do without the wheelchair and all it does is delay the inevitable and cause her pain and swelling. As a compromise sometimes we try to start out in her walking boot to delay the wheelchair. Since your DD be getting a walking boot anyway, maybe the doctor can fit her for one early and she can try that option - it will give her some support and protection.

How are you getting to Disney? We went once (as a trip to celebrate her being able to walk on her own after a year of issues and surgery) and DD fractured both growth plates 2 months before the trip.... doctor wrote up a prescription and insurance covered a wheelchair that we rented at home and took with us - helpful in the airport and around the resort. We actually had it for about a month and it was wonderful for using at home as well. We could also get the correct pediatric size for her, leg supports, and added some padding to make it more comfortable. Might not fit if you are driving but that is an option too.

Very good suggestion.
If you fly, you can bring a wheelchair along and check it at the gate. It will not count as a checked bag since it is medical equipment.
You can find more information about air travel with wheelchairs in post #15 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (it is near the top of this board and is also the link that was posted in a previous post - besides being linked in my signature).

 

[iggler]

I agree with renting the chair! I was NWB during one of my trips to Disney for because of ankle surgery and it was a blessing.

Something else to consider is a knee scooter. I used this at home and at Disney when I wanted more independence. Those crutches can be so painful! I rented one from an online company at www.goodbyecrutches.com They were fabulous, customer service was beyond excellent!

In my desperate search to find an alternative to crutches I came across this company online. I called them and low and behold they were located in my hometown!!! (I live in a small city in West Michigan) They personally delivered it to me that day! But they do deliver all over the US!

Just a thought

Sometimes Insurance companies will buy it for you, or you can submit the expense via Flex spending. I rented it and it was the best $100 I ever spent!

Small world, I live in North western Michigan. I really like some of these ideas here.
we will be driving down, and we will have room for chair in the back of our truck. I am thinking now that I just might bring one with us, I think a family member has one we can use. My DD also has a good ridgid ankle brace that Dr prescribed when Basket ball season started, and I just bought her some good running shoes for the cushioning support ( of course she will have to break them in first).

 

[jworkkul]

I don't know which hotel you are staying in (on or off property) but I do know that any resort on property has a limited number of wheelchairs that the guests can use for their entire stay for the asking and it doesn't cost anything. There have been many, many trips my daughter and I have taken and have requested a wheelchair upon arrival. Just ask at the front desk and they usually have one available.

 

[EskiLvr]

I would also ask your DD's doctor about recommendations for whether he would think that taping your DD's ankle before flying would be a good idea. Speaking as someone who flew with a broken ankle as a teenager - and then had to fly to WDW 3 days after spraining an ankle last year - securely taping my gimpy ankle really helped with the pressure changes. (And popping Advil 30 minutes before takeoff and then again after landing was also a big help.) Made the beginning of my trip much more enjoyable than it could have been. I use the self-adhering bandage tape that you find in sports stores - lets me target where I need the support more than my walking boot did...

Good luck!

 

[iggler]

We are driving, and we are staying at the CBR. As far as taping, I can get some tape at work, I work in Physical therapy ( I am not a PT) one of the PT's I work with is a sports certifed Physical Therapist, so I can ask her as well,\.
Thank you all<