Cellulitis in leg / Wheelchair?

[snorris49]

Hey everyone,

I am hoping you all might be able to give me some advice on what to do with a recent predicament. I somehow managed to get cellulitis in my right leg (around the calf). Nothing is draining from it, but it's rather large and red/inflammed. I went to the doctor last Saturday (so going on a week ago) and they put me on Keflex. So far, the inflammation has only gone down minimally and is still pretty sore. I can walk ok in general, but not for an extended amount of time, with some discomfort. It just is sore in general. Even sitting for a long time makes it start hurting. I have a feeling I will be getting more meds (4 more days left on meds) to help the inflammation and am hoping it doesn't involve anything else too crazy. The doc I saw seemed to think it wasn't that bad of a case. On a side note, I have Crohn's (immunosuppresents probably aided the cellulitis to form) and so it has made things more difficult in the healing process too.

In any event, we leave for WDW in 13 days...I'm starting to realize that if this is not improved greatly, it may make walking on this leg at WDW difficult (cement is not probably very good for it). Any good tips or advice on getting a wheelchair? Do I need a doctor's note? Can I rent them in the park and then return? How do you handle rides w/it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I imagine, if I were to use it, I'd be able to walk to and from on a ride and such, but not all around the park. I'm not at all sure where to even begin on this.

I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions or previous experience to help.

Thanks!

 

[clanmcculloch]

You're going with a large group for a wedding, right? Normally I'd suggest for an adult to rent an offsite ECV for mobility problems, but since you said it hurts to sit for too long as well, you might want to consider a manual wheelchair so you can alternate between sitting and walking while leaning on it. With an ECV you'd have to either have somebody else drive it for you when you walk or else park it and go back to get it. If somebody who doesn't need to ride doesn't mind riding for you when you need to walk then an ECV is still an option but be prepared for those "looks" from the ill-informed and judgy-mcjudersons who make assumptions about why you're swapping riders on the ECV.

Do you think you'll have any trouble getting around your resort or from your room to transportation or from transportation to the gate or back again? Renting a wheelchair in the parks does not cover this. If you want an ECV then there's no way you should count on renting in the park; they sell out VERY early in the day and they're also slower and bulkier than the offsite rentals.

No need for any kind of documentation of the need.

For rides, keep in mind that some of the queues are really long (as in 1/4 mile long). Having the chair in line can be very helpful. For shows, you're probably better off to tell the CM at the entrance that you can transfer and have somebody in your group go park the chair for you. There's very limitted seating for wheelchairs but since you can transfer you can just park the chair elsewhere and take any seat. Lots of people have reported being turned away from shows because the accessible seats are full but being able to transfer means you're not limitted to the accessible seats (plus it's nice to leave them for those who can't sit in the regular seats).

PLEASE double (or even triple) your probiotics and make sure to take them at least 2 hours away from your antibiotics. The last thing you need right now is a case of c-diff from the antibiotics.

 

[snorris49]

This past October was the wedding trip, now it is just me and my folks coming with me (for mine and my mom's birthday), so that won't be too bad.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm heading to the doctor today b/c my ankle swelled yesterday and it doesn't seem to be getting better. So not what I was expecting right before a trip

Good idea about the extra probiotics, I totally didn't think about it. I sure don't want C-Diff too...that would be just bad.

Thanks again

 

[snorris49]

Well, back from the doctor. Looks like the cellulitis itself is healed more or less, but I have the knotted bruise of all bruises in my leg. My doc can't figure out what I did to it to bruise it that badly. Either way it looks like it's going to take a while to heal (he said this knot was going to be around for a while). The good news is that I don't have to be on meds after I finish the next few days. But, I will still have to consider the wheelchair if the bruise isn't better by then and the pain is still there. No fun!

Unfortunately, I'll need to be more vigilant on future chances of getting cellulitis and evidently being more careful about running into things (I bruise very easily anyway).

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Remember; using a mobility aid like a wheelchair does not mean you have to "stay put". For all means; get up and walk behind it at the times you can, want to etc. With many conditions it's actually better to switch off the moments of rest and being active. If that is the case for you; do what fits you! Ignore the possible stares, don't worry about judgements; do what fits your body. It is very normal to use a mobility aid parttime if one does not need it fulltime but also can not get around without one fulltime.

Actually; try some things now before leaving. That way you'll know what works best for you before going. This helps you prevent you from going overboard if not needed. For instance while walking; many find it easier to walk using a walker, rolator or wheelchair as an extra bit of help than walking unassisted. For those people it can reduce pain and/or uses less energy resulting in being able to walk longer distances. For others walking while using such types of assistance can actually be more of a drain. By trying at home you'll easily find out what works and does not work for you without going overboard or loosing precious Disney-time figuring it out.

Also consider renting an ECV if that works better for you. It is easier to be independant while using one of those, when able to drive them (not everybody is). Selfpropelling a wheelchair is hard work if you're not used to it, esp. with a rental chair. If you are a person that highly regards independance an ECV could be a better fit. For this the same goes; no need to use it fulltime if you don't need to. If it works for you; feel free to leave it at strategical spots (obviously out of the way and only where allowed) and walk around in between usage. Or have others in your party drive it while you walk around for the time being.

And if you have the time; search on this disABILITIES board a bit. There is a pretty recent topic in where the OP describes their experience with a first time rental wheelchair usage. Has some very good info in there that you might never have considered until experiencing it or hearing about it yourself. For instance realising how much energy it takes up to get around The World, even when "just sitting around".

Have fun at The World and fingers crossed you'll soon recover!

 

[snorris49]

Remember; using a mobility aid like a wheelchair does not mean you have to "stay put". For all means; get up and walk behind it at the times you can, want to etc. With many conditions it's actually better to switch off the moments of rest and being active. If that is the case for you; do what fits you! Ignore the possible stares, don't worry about judgements; do what fits your body. It is very normal to use a mobility aid parttime if one does not need it fulltime but also can not get around without one fulltime.

Actually; try some things now before leaving. That way you'll know what works best for you before going. This helps you prevent you from going overboard if not needed. For instance while walking; many find it easier to walk using a walker, rolator or wheelchair as an extra bit of help than walking unassisted. For those people it can reduce pain and/or uses less energy resulting in being able to walk longer distances. For others walking while using such types of assistance can actually be more of a drain. By trying at home you'll easily find out what works and does not work for you without going overboard or loosing precious Disney-time figuring it out.

Also consider renting an ECV if that works better for you. It is easier to be independant while using one of those, when able to drive them (not everybody is). Selfpropelling a wheelchair is hard work if you're not used to it, esp. with a rental chair. If you are a person that highly regards independance an ECV could be a better fit. For this the same goes; no need to use it fulltime if you don't need to. If it works for you; feel free to leave it at strategical spots (obviously out of the way and only where allowed) and walk around in between usage. Or have others in your party drive it while you walk around for the time being.

And if you have the time; search on this disABILITIES board a bit. There is a pretty recent topic in where the OP describes their experience with a first time rental wheelchair usage. Has some very good info in there that you might never have considered until experiencing it or hearing about it yourself. For instance realising how much energy it takes up to get around The World, even when "just sitting around".

Have fun at The World and fingers crossed you'll soon recover!

Thank you so much for the advice! I will look for that topic you suggested. I really appreciate all the advice and tips. I'm taking it one day at a time--today it's not too bad, but I'm still noticing more discomfort when I walk too much. 11 days left, so here's hoping it is better by then. And if I need to use a wheelchair or ECV, I will not hesitate to do so. I would much rather be able to do some things and take it easy other times than not go at all!