Broken Ankle help

[merry_nbright]

Well, after a week full of nightmares, I'm finally feeling slightly alive again. Long story short, last Monday I broke my ankle in three places at work. It was so bad that I had to have surgery on Friday and finally get a regular cast next Tuesday! Crazy, crazy. Anyways, now I've got a plate in my ankle and I'll probably be in a walking cast when I head down to Disney for Labor Day weekend. I've never broken anything before and have never had any mobility issues before and was wondering, has anyone been to WDW in a cast before? What's it like? What could you do and what couldn't you do? I'm blessed to be going with my
Mom this trip and she's more of a "go slowly" kind of a person. Thanks in advance guys! I've missed the DisBoards during my hiatus!

 

[mom2rtk]

Nobody with such a cute avatar deserves a broken ankle right before a trip to Disney!

I hope you enjoy the slower pace that comes with your recuperation. SOUnds like a great time to slow down and smell the Disney roses.

 

[BrianL]

You may consider a wheelchair or ECV rental for this trip. I know it's going to be a pain, but there is a lot of walking at Disney and that could be bad too. Fortunately you have a bit of time so you can see how you feel once the trip is closer. I wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[DisneyDork1969]

Well, after a week full of nightmares, I'm finally feeling slightly alive again. Long story short, last Monday I broke my ankle in three places at work. It was so bad that I had to have surgery on Friday and finally get a regular cast next Tuesday! Crazy, crazy. Anyways, now I've got a plate in my ankle and I'll probably be in a walking cast when I head down to Disney for Labor Day weekend. I've never broken anything before and have never had any mobility issues before and was wondering, has anyone been to WDW in a cast before? What's it like? What could you do and what couldn't you do? I'm blessed to be going with my
Mom this trip and she's more of a "go slowly" kind of a person. Thanks in advance guys! I've missed the DisBoards during my hiatus!

PLEASE rent an ECV...PLEASE!!!!...even thou you'll be in a walkin cast, DON'T OVER DO IT...I had the same problem 3 years ago right before a DL trip...I rented an ECV for 5 days...it was delivered to my hotel...I would use the ECV to get to the parks...once I was inside, I would ride to the area I wanted to be at...you park your ECV and then walk over to the attraction you wanna ride...don't walk too much because your walking cast will be off-balanced and this can throw your hip out of place or make it sore to walk...just take it slow...be careful of stairs and walking UP sloped pathways...you pretty much can do everything...just be aware of certain ride vehicles when you step into them that you don't get your cast stuck in place...I didn't have a walkin cast, but a walking boot...my foot got stuck on Space Mtn and the Bobsleds...but once you get the hang on entering vehicles you should be fine...as long as you don't over do it and you rest your foot often...

John

 

[Kindermouse]

While I havent been to WDW in a cast I have been to DLR in a cast- also a broken ankle but not nearly so bad as yours sounds...I simple fell wonky after having one of the heels of my high heel shoes go down a gopher hole when I was walking across the lawn 2 weeks before my trip. No surgery just a simple break that was set in the ER. I also brought my son a couple of years ago after he had had knee surgery. He was in a wheelchair.

I rented an ECV and went about my trip at my own pace. Actually it was the best trip I ever had. I had just crossed in to the stage where a couple of Motrin and occasional elevation was all I needed to be pain free so I was essentially pain free on the trip. Since your trip will be a month post surgery hopefully you will be in little to no pain by then. There was nothing that I couldn't do. You will be getting in and out of it so bring your crutches- you can put them between your feet on your ECV or find another way to store them on your ECV. they are pretty spacious so its not hard. The ECV is kind of hard to learn to drive since you are driving in a crowd and it doesn't stop on a dime even though people do. Overall I would say that it didnt have a negative impact with the ECV at all. It also just turned out to be one of those magical trips where everything went my way like divine intervention at every turn. Best. Trip. Ever!

The wheelchair on the other hand was not the best experience. OK my son in a wheelchair is not the happiest person-not even at the happiest place on Earth- so that may be part of my displeasure with the experience. When you're cranky everything seems a little worse. But many people seemed to not see the wheelchair next them and the tripped over the foot rests-which sucks when it jostles a limb that is sensitive. going up and down inclines gets harder as the day goes on. Forget about being able to see fireworks at the hub. When you're down low you cant see anything but the backs of peoples heads. Also keeping your crutches with you is a horrble pain and there is no where to put them without them sticking out 3 feet to the side or behind you and then people run into them. you also have to be careful to watch your fingers since it is highly possible you could get pushed/jostled but someone and if you fingers are on the wheels they will get crushed-my son broke a middle finger and his nail died and fell off when someone pushed his wheelchair slightly so they could walk past us where we were talking to a CM and his finger got crushed. Also I mainly pushed the wheelchair-no way could my son have wheeled himself all day. It might be a difficult for you mom to push you depending on her age/ability level.

I vote ECV all the way.

 

[osopecoso]

Went in a short walking cast about a year ago. Was not bad (tore a ligament and tendon in ankle from a cycling accident which required surgery). Went to Disney about a month after surgery. Make sure they get you a good pneumatic cast. I hate wheelchairs and ECV's. See what the doctor says about you walking.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Oh so sorry to hear about ur injury! Wishing you a speedy UNeventful, full recovery!
I hope ur trip is wonderful despite the medical situation!

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

My experience doesn't exactly apply, but here's it is. I had ankle surgery and a walking cast. Never went to Disney with it. But I will say this: they are 'walking casts' for walking around your house and to the car without crutches. I envisioned 'exercise-walking' with it. Uhhh, not so much.

I would never consider walking around a park with one. After my surgery, it seemed like my ankle was swollen for a year, which seems directly related to 'time-on-feet'. Mine was an old-school fiberglass cast and not a pneumatic one, so that might make a difference.

I'd say ECV/wheelchair or one of those kneeling scooter things. I don't know what you call them, but you kneel on the injured leg in a kind of sling/seat and push with your good foot.

 

[merry_nbright]

Thanks for the help and well wishes, guys! I think it's definitely going to be time to rent an ECV. Even if I don't use it the whole time, my mother who's got horrible arthritis, can gain from it, too!

 

[jo-jo]

Thanks for the help and well wishes, guys! I think it's definitely going to be time to rent an ECV. Even if I don't use it the whole time, my mother who's got horrible arthritis, can gain from it, too!

Well, for sure you need at least the scooter. No way your mom can push you. I've broken my ankle twice. Never while planning a trip, but I remember needing to elevate my leg a lot. You are 5 weeks away, a lot of healing can happen in that time. You won't be super, but doable with taking it easy.

Have a good trip.

 

[ucfknight]

Just to make sure you are aware, depending on size of cast you might not be able to do FOP due to the leg restraints. As a matter of fact, one of the times we rode FOP we had to move to another theater because a lady with a rather small looking cast was on the ride before ours and her cast somehow got wedged in the leg restraint and they couldn't get her out. If you have a larger walking cast the restraint might not be able to close at all.

 

[gap2368]

Well, after a week full of nightmares, I'm finally feeling slightly alive again. Long story short, last Monday I broke my ankle in three places at work. It was so bad that I had to have surgery on Friday and finally get a regular cast next Tuesday! Crazy, crazy. Anyways, now I've got a plate in my ankle and I'll probably be in a walking cast when I head down to Disney for Labor Day weekend. I've never broken anything before and have never had any mobility issues before and was wondering, has anyone been to WDW in a cast before? What's it like? What could you do and what couldn't you do? I'm blessed to be going with my
Mom this trip and she's more of a "go slowly" kind of a person. Thanks in advance guys! I've missed the DisBoards during my hiatus!

Would rent an ECV and try to stay off you foot as much as you can ( I have a friend with a broken foot and her foot will not heal and it is most likely due to the fact that she walks a lot on her foot )

you can ride most things as long as you can get on them ( my friend even with a big and I do mean big walking boot was fine on FOP)

bing a bag incase it rain ( or when it rains) to cover your cast in so it dose not get wet.

get a folding cain to help with balance when walking ( if you feel you need it) my friend walked fine in hers at home but at Disney she needed it to get in and out of rides and stability


there is a first aid at all theme parks they have some OTC pain meds and beds where you can line down and put your foot up for a bit, do not be scared to go in and use it.

post this on the Disability part of this bard

I hope you feel better son and have a great trip.

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

I broke my ankle in the growth plate when I was 11. I was jumping on the trampoline and came down on it sideways and it just snapped. It was the most painful experience.. I still cringe thinking about it. I didn't have surgery (though sometimes I wonder if I needed it) and it still gives me problems 12 years later.

Honestly I would use the ECV as much as possible. Even if your ankle feels okay you don't want to overdo it! It's going to take time to heal completely and you want to make sure you don't do something to interrupt that process and potentially cause chronic pain in the future. I went to Disney in an "Air Cast" about 2 months after I broke my ankle.. I was a stubborn 11 year old that refused to use a wheelchair. My ankle didn't hurt me at the time, but I did a lot of walking on it before I was supposed to and now I have chronic pain. The air cast was inflatable on the inside and very hard plastic on the outside.. did a great job at protecting my ankle at Disney.

Of course, I'm not a doctor Just sharing my experience with my ankle and what I wish I would've done.

Get well very soon!!!

 

[jo-jo]

I broke my ankle in the growth plate when I was 11. I was jumping on the trampoline and came down on it sideways and it just snapped. It was the most painful experience.. I still cringe thinking about it. I didn't have surgery (though sometimes I wonder if I needed it) and it still gives me problems 12 years later.

Honestly I would use the ECV as much as possible. Even if your ankle feels okay you don't want to overdo it! It's going to take time to heal completely and you want to make sure you don't do something to interrupt that process and potentially cause chronic pain in the future. I went to Disney in an "Air Cast" about 2 months after I broke my ankle.. I was a stubborn 11 year old that refused to use a wheelchair. My ankle didn't hurt me at the time, but I did a lot of walking on it before I was supposed to and now I have chronic pain. The air cast was inflatable on the inside and very hard plastic on the outside.. did a great job at protecting my ankle at Disney.

Of course, I'm not a doctor Just sharing my experience with my ankle and what I wish I would've done.

Get well very soon!!!

Yes, by all means if Doc says you can no but no more than 2-3 hr on that leg, listen.

The first time I broke my ankle (in my 30's) I was told stay off of it or I would need surgery. I never needed surgery, but when from a hard cast (and using walker) to an air cast, to I don't know what it was called but I looked like hmmmmm my first response was Peggy Fleming. It was like a super high top ice skate without a blade, than a cane. 8 months before all that was gone.

Second time (in my 40's)the break was different, same ankle by the the way, only had walking cast and cane for maybe 3 months.

But it is now 16 yrs since the second break and my ankle doesn't bother me at all.

 

[MrsDuck]

Rent the ECV!!

I was in a walking boot for like 4 Disney trips... walking on a broken ankle is totally not feasible! You will be exhausted! I was able to ride most everything, I think, as I could transfer and walk in the boot short distances. You really should be pretty uninhibited!

I will warn you (because I was surprised having never been in a wheelchair at WDW): sometimes the wheelchair line for attractions can be quite long of a wait but rest assured that it is the best course of action.

You will have a great trip! Don't worry too much and just take it easy!

 

[The Hunchback]

I would reserve the ECV from an outside vendor soon. Labor Day may be a very busy time for them.

 

[JennyDrake]

From the "been there, done that" file.

RENT AN ECV from an off site vendor. Trust me. Do this. I had great experiences with Walker Mobility.

Prepare for more swelling due to the heat and exertion. Bring a few gallon Ziploc bags and ask for (free) ice at the vendors. Elevate and ice even if you aren't needing it at home--if you are in a cast, ice your toes! Ahhhhhhh......feels good!

Keep up with your anti inflammatory meds.

Rope drop and midday break are your new best friends!

 

[Petey134]

I visited last October while in a boot and I suggest you get a wheelchair or scooter. I was very much of the attitude that I would be fine thinking the boot was fairly comfortable. I will say after a full day in the parks your back and hips will hurt from walking on uneven footing all day. The boot also just becomes very hot and uncomfortable. I was still able to ride everything no issues and of course still had fun! Good luck!