Attractions to Avoid w/Neck Injuries

[T-i-double-g-err]

We're leaving tomorrow for FL and plan to hit the parks on Tues. after a family visit in Tampa tomorrow through Mon. Last Saturday I ended up in the ER with what the doctors diagnosed as either a pinched nerve or a herniated disk in my neck. The doctors won't know which until they analyze the MRI data taken yesterday. In either case, the doctors have given me a green light to go ahead with the trip as long as I am careful and take my prescribed meds as needed.

Besides the obvious attractions with neck injury warnings, do any of you have any thoughts on which attractions to avoid? Since two of my kids are under 40", many of the attractions in question would be off limits anyway.

TIA!

 

[SueM in MN]

Two that do not have a warning that some people with neck injuries report cause them pain are Spaceship Earth and Haunted Mansion. There is nothing jarring in them (they are pretty slow moving rides), but both have a part where your ride car is traveling backwards down a slope. Some people find that painful because of how the high back of the ride car hits their neck (plus their weight is on it). You can prepare for it by putting something behind your neck (like maybe a sweater or sweatshirt) to make it softer.

 

[rnrjoe4116]

Definately as SueM in MN said avoid Spaceship Earth, I went with my friends family last year and his mom had a recent injurie to her neck, it wasn't severe but Spaceship Earth kinda agrivated(sp?) her neck for awhile after.

 

[DebbieTN]

Definitly don't ride Dinosaur, Kilamanjaro Safari,Test Track, Mission:Space, The Backlot Tour or any of the rollercoaster rides. Even the rides in Fantasyland are a little jerky. You might want to stick to mostly shows like Philarmagic(great show), Hall of Presidents, Muppet 3-D, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, Lights Motor Action, Who wants To Be A Millionaire, Fantasmic, Illuminations, The movies in World Showcase, The American Adventure, Universe of Energy, Honey,I Shrunk The Audience, The Lion King Show, It's Tough To Be A Bug and rides like Jungle Cruise, It's A Small World(but watch-they always bump the boats at the end), TTA, The Train, Pirates of the Carribean(although it has a small slide down at the beginning), Carousel Of Progress(if it's open), Living With The Land, Journey Into Imagination, and The Living Seas. There's probably some more I haven't thought of, also.

 

[bjkj]

Space Mountain hurt my DH neck a bit.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Primeval Whirl (AK) is pretty rough on the neck, too.

 

[julielovestigger]

Do not ride Space Mtn. I hurt my neck on it. The problem with this ride is that it is in the dark and you cannot tell where the next sharp turn will be. Therefore you cannot prepare yourself for it.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Thank you to everyone who responded! We had a great trip!

I have to say the worst part of the trip on my neck was the drive down and the drive home. I pretty much played it very conservative in the parks. I wore a neck brace the entire time we were in the parks. I was also on my muscle relaxant and pain killer for the entire trip.

With the my oldest at 8.5, we had no problem spending the bulk of our time in Fantasy Land in MK. We did some mild rides in Adventure Land - Magic Carpet and POC - without any problems. My mom tooks the girls on Splash Mtn while I sat that one out. She had to buy the picture to prove to the folks back home that she actually rode it.

At MGM, we did the shows for the most part. I sat out with DS when everyone else Star Tours (height requirement again). We then did a three way split at MGM after lunch where I took DS, DW took DD6 and DM took DD8.5. DS and I wandered around meeting characters while DW and DM took DDs on other rides and shows.

DM and I did Epcot with DDs while DW took DS to AK on our last day. I appreciated the warning on SpaceShip Earth and was prepared with the neck brace and a rolled up coat just in case. We also rode Soarin' and the boat ride in the Land. After that, we focused on World Showcase. We spent the most time in MX and JP as DD8.5 had done units on these countries at her school. The only rides we hit were the boat ride in MX and the one in Norway. I was well prepared for the one in Norway as we had done that one before.

As to my condition, it appears that I have a pair of herniated disks. I'm still working with the doctors on a treatment plan, preferably avoiding surgery if at all possible. Between catching up at work and appointments with doctors and physical therapists, this is the first chance I've had to get back to the DIS boards.

Thanks again for all the replies!

 

[ameraumi]

THanks so much for posting this! DH had surgery Dec 05 and had to have a vertebrae in his neck fused. I have been trying to figure out what rides for him to avoid, and I think I have a good list!

 

[brivers222]

Isn't spaceship earth that slow moving sphere ride taking you back in time? I would think that ride would be fine especially since it moves like 2mph or something...

Rides to avoid from previous experience:

Mission Space
Tower or Terror
Aerosmith RnRc
Star Tours
Body Wars
Body Wars
Space Mountain (in the dark, so unless you memorize the turns, you could aggrivate your back)
Test Track
Kilaminjaro Safari (bumpy)
Primeval whirl


Those are the big ones that come to mind. But I don't know exactly how painful your back really is. I seperated my shoulder in a hockey game and went to Cedar Point a week later. I went on almost all the rides not even thinking about it (boy did I hurt after that day). If you are in pain at the slightest movement several other rides not in my list may cause you discomfort. It all boils down to how much pain you can and would be willing to put up with.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Isn't spaceship earth that slow moving sphere ride taking you back in time? I would think that ride would be fine especially since it moves like 2mph or something...

The part folks were concerned about is the tail end where you are traveling with the car backwards in a downard direction towards the end of the ride. Your head can fall if you are not expecting it and compensating for it. I used a sweatshirt behind my neck/head just in case.