Back and Hip Problem.

[MlWinans]

My Father and Mother are looking into going to WDW early December. My Father though for the last year has had bad back and hip pain form a disk problem in his lower back. The pain comes and goes. He is still able to walk but not very far or for very long.

My question was if anyone had any suggestions on certain methods he might be able to take advantage of to help him get around. My father is a little stubborn so i am not sure he would use a wheel chair, or atleast not for the entire day. But what other options will there be for him?

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Firstly, I would strongly recommend he looked into using a wheelchair or an ECV (electric scooter). It is perfectly easy to clock up 6 to 10 miles a day at Disney, which is a lot of walking for anyone! If he needs persuading, try picking a place in your local area that is about 2 or 3 miles away and ask him if he could walk there by himself. Then, ask him if he could walk back again. Chances are the answer would be no.

If he'd be happy driving one, an ECV might be better than a wheelchair, as it would mean he could be more independent. It's unlikely he'd be able to push his own wheelchair all the way around the parks, meaning he'd need help, at least some of the time. With an ECV he can take himself around as he sees fit.

If he does get wheels, it does not mean he has to use them every minute of every day. A lot of people use their chair / ECV to get between areas, then park it with the strollers and wander around, before getting back in to go to the next area.

Whether or not he decides to get wheels, there are some ways to cut down a little on the distance you need to cover. Transport systems like the train at MK and the boats across the lake at EPCOT can, if used cleverly, cut down on distances getting to and from places.

Also, a bit of careful planning can cut down on a lot of walking / rolling. Probably quite obvious, but they are both going to get a lot more worn out if they do Jungle Cruise in Adventureland, then go to Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear, before ducking over to Fantasyland for lunch at Pinocchio's Village Haus (with inexplicable German theming ), than if they do everything they want to in one land before going on to the next. This is particularly important at AK which is just HUGE!

More information on all sorts of useful stuff can be found in the disABILITIES FAQ, near the top of this board. I'm sure more people will come along and add their ideas to this too. If you have any more questions, whether vauge or specific, please post them up and we'll all do our best to answer them.

 

[MlWinans]

Do you know around what the price would be to rent an ECV for the day? And I know my Father will want to enjoy shows as well, but sometimes when he is sitting he will need to stand to allow his hip to stretch. Is it possible to ask for seat around the edges of the auditorium so that he would be able to do that? He will like the idea of being able to get off of the ECV at each destination but what about having to stand in long lines?

 

[DVC Grammy]

On the visit we took prior to my hip replacement, I had to use a wheelchair.
I found all the CMs wonderfully accommodating in allowing me to sit where I needed to; also, the different attractions usually have separate ways of entering for those in wheelchairs or ECVs, so there shouldn't be a problem with him having to stand for any length of time.

The one suggestion I would make is for him to use an ECV, not a wheelchair! I don't care if the person pushing is Arnold Schwarzzeneger (sp?) and if the person sitting is Kate Moss, unless someone's in training for bodybuilding, it's too much of a workout after 1 or 2 days!


Hope you all have a great trip.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

cost to rent the ECV at the park is $35 plus 5 deposit. it is more cost effective to rent from off site and have the ECV with you at the hotel as well as in the park it is a long walk even to the parking lot etc. and around the resorts, also the ones rented and delivered from off site are smaller and easier to handle and more comfortable to use.
He should stay on the ECV through the line until he reaches a certain point when the CS will direct him where to park the vehicle he can then walk to the ride vehicle and board it.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Go for a ECV. My Dad always gets one, And I always use mine. It is so worth it, Makes your trip happy ,pain free and less stressful. I use www.scootarama.com for my Dad. They are only $25.00 a day. they deliver and pick up free..
Deb

 

[bopper]

And just in case your Dad is reluctant to use an ECV (which he should get over a wheel chair since he will be in control):

Here are top 5 Reasons that people think they shouldn't get one when they should.

I can't drive one. Go to your local Costco/Walmart/Target or other large store. They probably have an electric cart type thing that you could use while shopping. Try it out. I bet you can drive it.

People might think I don't really need it because I can walk. Are these people going to share the pain with you at the end of the day? Do you care what they think? Save your walking energy between rides and use it for lines or getting on the rides. Enjoy your family and your vacation.

It will slow my family down. No, actually it will speed your family up. No more rests because mom is tired. No more going back to the hotel because mom/whoever is in pain. No more cranky mommy because she tried to walk miles and miles in Disney instead of renting an ECV. You are completely mobile on your own (nobody pushing you in a wheelchair). What's the slow down here?

It's expensive. Um, how much are you spending on this vacation? Don't you want to enjoy it? If money is that tight, take a day off of your trip and spend that money on the ECV so you can enjoy it!

I don't want my kids/family to think I am disabled. You are either temporarily or permanently disabled in some way if you are even asking about this issue...once again, why not make it a better vacation by saving yourself from pain? Nobody is saying you have to confine yourself to a wheelchair permanently or you should not stop trying to get better. If somebody told you to go walk 4 miles, you would think they are crazy. But you are paying for the privilige when you go to Disney to do just that...why not use an ECV to make your family's vacation better?

 

[GroovyWheeler]

Go for an ECV. I have back problems (scoliosis) as well as arthritis. I've also had a total hip replacement surgery in my right hip. When my family and I go to Disney in January, I'm going to take my walker and rent an ECV there. This is because my mom is facing back issues herself, and didn't want the hassle of transporting my own wheelchair. Even though it's a fairly lightweight wheelchair.
The hassle part of it, is assembling and disassembling it at the planeside.

Samantha

 

[disneyholic family]

My Father and Mother are looking into going to WDW early December. My Father though for the last year has had bad back and hip pain form a disk problem in his lower back. The pain comes and goes. He is still able to walk but not very far or for very long.

My question was if anyone had any suggestions on certain methods he might be able to take advantage of to help him get around. My father is a little stubborn so i am not sure he would use a wheel chair, or atleast not for the entire day. But what other options will there be for him?

he could use the electric ECV ....you don't feel like you're 'old' in one of those....(and he can be a speed racer in them.....some of the people driving them scare me to death)...

 

[SueM in MN]

Do you know around what the price would be to rent an ECV for the day? And I know my Father will want to enjoy shows as well, but sometimes when he is sitting he will need to stand to allow his hip to stretch. Is it possible to ask for seat around the edges of the auditorium so that he would be able to do that? He will like the idea of being able to get off of the ECV at each destination but what about having to stand in long lines?

In most of the shows, the wheelchair and ECV seating is in the back, so he will be parking with no one around him anyway.

What many people do is ride the ECV to the general area and then walk in the line. If he is concerned about the lenth of the line or the amount of time in a line, he should take the ECV into the line. Many of the queues are quite a distance from the place where you enter the line until you actually get to the boarding area and there is no way around that. If he wants to walk in some lines, I'd suggest asking the CM at the entrance how long the walk will be and also if the posted wait is accurate.

There is information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread (including links) about places DIS posters recommend for renting ECVs.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A couple of other things to consider.

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available wil increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their syste,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[mechurchlady]

For me I am active for awhile then in time the walking and excercise starts to take a toll and I eventually cannot even get to my car.

September, 2006 I went to San Diego Wild Animal Park with my mother. Normally I would use an ECV but I had to push her in a wheelchair. By end of the day I barely got the wheelchair in my car and spent the night in pain. By the end of the vacation I barely got home after a 90 mile drive and spent a week in pain. Of course, having a sliver in my foot until the following Thanksgiving did not help.

Last month it was a trip to Long Beach that I have not recovered from and it took me a week to get back to doing chores.

Parks are deceptive and you feel good until a couple hours and then you cannot walk and the back pain kicks in. For your parents they can use it to get from one area to another then walk around for a while. If they do not believe you then tell them to walk a mile or two and to do things like getting into and out of rides.

 

[yasmina]

OK, I'm going to be the odd one out here. I'm typing this laying in bed from back surgery 2 weeks ago, so I know the kind of pain your father is going through.

We went to DW in late July. When I posted here asking about options b//c of my back pain, everyone suggested the EVC. Now, I'm not saying that it's not the best option for your dad. I purchased a spectator seat from Dick's for $20. Best decision of my life. Walking wasn't so much my problem as waiting in lines. This spectator seat is basically a 3-legged cane that opens into a small seat about 6"x4". This may not be the right choice depending on the size of your father, but I'm not a skinny-minnie. I got many compliments and queries about where I got it while we were there, including cm's! I was not hassled in any way in any security or entrance lines.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do!

 

[kimsuenew]

And just in case your Dad is reluctant to use an ECV (which he should get over a wheel chair since he will be in control):

Here are top 5 Reasons that people think they shouldn't get one when they should.

I can't drive one. Go to your local Costco/Walmart/Target or other large store. They probably have an electric cart type thing that you could use while shopping. Try it out. I bet you can drive it.

People might think I don't really need it because I can walk. Are these people going to share the pain with you at the end of the day? Do you care what they think? Save your walking energy between rides and use it for lines or getting on the rides. Enjoy your family and your vacation.

It will slow my family down. No, actually it will speed your family up. No more rests because mom is tired. No more going back to the hotel because mom/whoever is in pain. No more cranky mommy because she tried to walk miles and miles in Disney instead of renting an ECV. You are completely mobile on your own (nobody pushing you in a wheelchair). What's the slow down here?

It's expensive. Um, how much are you spending on this vacation? Don't you want to enjoy it? If money is that tight, take a day off of your trip and spend that money on the ECV so you can enjoy it!

I don't want my kids/family to think I am disabled. You are either temporarily or permanently disabled in some way if you are even asking about this issue...once again, why not make it a better vacation by saving yourself from pain? Nobody is saying you have to confine yourself to a wheelchair permanently or you should not stop trying to get better. If somebody told you to go walk 4 miles, you would think they are crazy. But you are paying for the privilige when you go to Disney to do just that...why not use an ECV to make your family's vacation better?

Stated perfectly!