Bad back & thrill rides...:(

[chrissyc72]

Anyone here do disney with a bad back? I have a herniated disk & arthritis. Lower back pain but not debilitating. I really don't want to cancel trip but don't want to make the back worse. Any tips or ideas?

 

[prudence64]

Anyone here do disney with a bad back? I have a herniated disk & arthritis. Lower back pain but not debilitating. I really don't want to cancel trip but don't want to make the back worse. Any tips or ideas?

Lots to do that aren't thrill rides. Avoid the mountains and I hear dinosaur would be bad.

 

[benji2012]

I've given up several of the roller coasters (BTMR and Everest) since I reinjured my lower back a few years ago; it's just not worth the risk for me.

I could ride Tower of Terror over and over again though with no pain.

Listen to your body, and don't take unnecessary risks.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

I have 2 bone spurs on my vertebrae and a slipped disc. I can no longer ride Space Mountain or BTMRR- the back pain just isn't worth it. I didn't have any extra back pain after Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror or Rock'n roller coaster. My back did bother me a little bit after riding Kali River Rapids.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Space Mountain really did a number on my neck. I have frequent neck pain and arthritis in my left shoulder. I came off Space feeling really awful and let DH and the boys ride again without me. Interestingly enough, Space at Disneyland doesn't bother me. The only ride I avoid there is the Matterhorn. Way too bumpy and jerky!

 

[kermiebudge]

I would avoid Space Mountain the most... Not being able to anticipate which way your body will move (because it's so dark) combined with the jerkiness of the mousetrap-type turns may = PAIN.

 

[MadameMim]

My back was out of whack on our last trip and the worst ride for me was BTMR. I was riding with my youngest child and trying to hold on to him, so that might have contributed to the problem since I couldn't really brace myself in any way.

RnRC was also troublesome. Not so much the back, I don't think, but it hurt my neck - maybe because I was already stiff from the back issue. I never had a problem with this ride on prior trips (when my back wasn't hurting).

eta: I avoided Space Mountain entirely, so I don't know how that would have been. I was okay on Dinosaur and EE and Kali.

 

[Tomh]

Anyone here do disney with a bad back? I have a herniated disk & arthritis. Lower back pain but not debilitating. I really don't want to cancel trip but don't want to make the back worse. Any tips or ideas?

I also have a herniated disk in my lower back, did a pretty good job on it, even showed up clearly in the x-rays, no MRI needed to see it lol.

I chose not to have the operation done, and have done Disney World 5 times since hurting my back. The ONLY time my back has really bothered me at Disney was on the Safari in AK one time. It only happened the one year. It was the first time there after I hurt it, and for some reason, that year the safari just killed me. I was bracing myself against the seat in front of me, trying to keep my back from moving too much. It wasn't working terribly well lol.

Thankfully, the pain gradually went away over the course of an hour or two after the ride, and all was well.

I have done Big Thunder quite a few times. Sometimes it bothers me just a bit, usually it doesn't. Splash Mountain doesn't cause me any pain. Start Tours hasn't bothered me any.

I have stayed away from some rides. Dinosaur, Space Mountain. I've heard both are pretty rough. Triceratops Spin, I'm pretty sure the spinning would bother my back. It seems to me side to side motion is the biggest problem, followed by anything that causes compression in the back.

I haven't tried Rock N Roller Coaster, or Everest yet, though I am considering both this summer. I think they will be ok as they are relatively smooth rides.

The vast majority of the rest of the rides should be fine, none of them really bother me at all. By all means though, let your back tell you. Pay attention, and you will learn what kinds of motion bother it, then you can judge exactly what rides might be a problem for you.