Chronic pain?

[locolala]

Hello!! I am obviously new to the boards and have been reading over the disABILITIES pages here for a couple of days. I suffer from pretty bad chronic pain due to a traumatic accident when I was 16 (I'm 23 now). I fractured T4 and T5 in my spine, and as a result I am pretty much constantly in pain, especially when I overdo it and walk too much. Stairs are also difficult for me. I have clearance to do roller coasters as long as it doesn't hurt (actually, my doc just got back from Disney and told me that other than Mission Space, I should be fine to ride most the rides, woohoo!). What do you think my best options are? I would prefer to not have a wheelchair or ECV, but if it comes down to it I will. My husband and I are going down in 3 weeks for our honeymoon, and I don't want to spend it in pain!

 

[KPeveler]

i would suggest an ECV, even if you dont like it... i remember when i started using a wheelchair there due to chronic pain, and suddenly i could do all kinds of things!!! (btw, i am 24, started using a chair at 22 in disney, so i understand the concerns about being young and using a chair... its not easy but it was a lifesaver for me!)

if you're not using a wheelchair/ecv, i would suggest lots of rests and breaks. stay on site if possible, to take breaks, or if you are suffering, go to the First Aid center to lay down.

also, talk to your dr about a "boost" in pain meds for those days - it really can help.

talk to your dr as well about ECV rental - your insurance may pay for one, and it can be a real life saver.

you can ask about a GAC for an alternate wait area if there is one with seats, to take a break, but for most chronic pain and stamina concerns, disney recommends a wheelchair. as they point out, it is MUCH further from one ride to the next than it is in the lines!

congrats and hope you have a great trip!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES

Please ask yourself 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 traveling 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!

!

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Hello. I have a problem with my lower spine and i'm currently waiting for a fusion operation, which will be after my next WDW trip. I've been several times before and i do have problems walking and sitting. I have to be very careful what i do, so pacing my self for each day is the most important thing i do. If i walk for 30 mins, then i must sit down and rest. This works well in the parks, because i can sit down at the different shows throughout the day. I have done rollercoasters, but only the smooth ride ones. If I know there's a turn coming or drop, i can brace myself. I think space mountain was the worse because it being in the dark, but can manage rocknrollercoaster. The worst show was Twister at UNIVERSAL,because the floor unexpectidly dropped and caused me alot of trouble. I do have rest back at hotel in the afternoons which can help.A bit of Florida heat does me good as well. If i start having pain i just stop and take a seat and watch the world go by.
Just take it easy and dont try and do everything.

 

[KPeveler]

ooh! also! Primeval Whirl is AK whips you from side to side - it REALLY hurt me (i have laxity of my spine, causing my vertebrae to sublux and slide). I would definitely avoid this! its also not a lot of fun in my opinion, and is not a big miss!

 

[bidnow5]

I have a very different issue but am in constant pain the worst ride for me is the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride. I had to go back to the hotel after riding it way to much bouncing around with nothing to keep you in your seat.
As far as ECV's go renting one will be the best decision you could make. I had to stop all the time before I started using them now I get to go from ride to ride with little discomfort.

 

[mechurchlady]

Kilamanjaro Safari and Dinosaur are up and down jarring rides and I did fine the first time on the safari but then I got the back and was in severe pain. Jarring is not good for me.

There are head on collissions like on the Rapid type of rides and Pirates where you are driven into walls or the back of another boat. That can hurt for some people but not me. I am good with prepping for those bumps.

There is gravitational forces sending you to one side like roller coasters.

Some people cannot handle one of the above types and some cannot do any of them. Thus I am not of much help, sorry.

 

[locolala]

Thank you for all the great information and ideas

I talked it over with DH and we're gonna rent a ECV or wheelchair if I need it. Kind of take it day by day since I have good days and I have bad days. Does anyone know how the beds are at the AKL Villas? If they're good beds, that will help a lot. As for rides, I'm probably gonna avoid Mission Space and The Primeval Whirl, but other than that I think I'll be good

 

[LittleSleepy]

Thank you for all the great information and ideas

I talked it over with DH and we're gonna rent a ECV or wheelchair if I need it. Kind of take it day by day since I have good days and I have bad days. Does anyone know how the beds are at the AKL Villas? If they're good beds, that will help a lot. As for rides, I'm probably gonna avoid Mission Space and The Primeval Whirl, but other than that I think I'll be good

I'm sorry I have no ride suggestions, but I agree renting an ECV would be a good idea. I also have lower back problem and just can't walk like I used to. It's hard to make the adjustment from being able to do whatever you want to having to use something to get around, especially when you're so young, but to have a great honeymoon/vacation, definitely get the EVC when you need it. It'll be a lifesaver in the end!

Enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[janiejake]

Thank you for all the great information and ideas

I talked it over with DH and we're gonna rent a ECV or wheelchair if I need it. Kind of take it day by day since I have good days and I have bad days. Does anyone know how the beds are at the AKL Villas? If they're good beds, that will help a lot. As for rides, I'm probably gonna avoid Mission Space and The Primeval Whirl, but other than that I think I'll be good

Good decision! Walking around DW is very jarring, and will take its toll on you. Shoot for the ECV instead of the wheelchair. You will most likely prefer to be in control, rather than being pushed around. Easier on you, and your dh. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[suebenjamin]

I have some health issues - chronic pain, back, TMJ - also and I can truly relate...when we went in May 2007, I rented a recliner for the room from CARE Medical ($150 for the week) because I sometimes have trouble sleeping in a bed, and or sitting in a regular chair. Debating whether to do so again on the upcoming trip because of cost, but I really found it helpful last time. As for rides, I must say that I am a chicken and err on the cautious side...I don't do the coasters and avoided Dinosaur and Mission Space, but handled Kilomanjaro Safari fine. (We're going to try "Mission Space Lite" this trip!) It helps that DS is not a big fan of crazy coasters either (rare for a 13-year-old boy!)

One of the reasons I scheduled our upcoming trip for 10 days this time is because DS and I missed out on most of the night experiences last trip (Illuminations, Fantasmic, etc) because I was just too tired by night. So we're going to stretch things out...take our time each day...take rest... and hopefully be able to catch more this trip! I don't know when we'll have the chance to return (Catholic High school tuition looms ahead??) so we decided to just enjoy this time now!

We had a wheelchair last time because my mom had just had a knee replacement three months prior to our trip. We referred to the chair as "The Magic FastPass" because it often did put us in a different (ie, faster) line, it seemed...although again, these were more for the regular rides and not the coasters, etc.

We also tried to prioritize ahead of time "must see's", "maybe's", and things to skip. Didn't always work but you'll never see it all...and remember, it's better to see SOME and enjoy it than see everything but feel miserable!

Have a wonderful honeymoon!

 

[SueM in MN]

We had a wheelchair last time because my mom had just had a knee replacement three months prior to our trip. We referred to the chair as "The Magic FastPass" because it often did put us in a different (ie, faster) line, it seemed...although again, these were more for the regular rides and not the coasters, etc.

It may seem that way for people who are unfamiliar with using a wheelchair, but in actual fact, it doesn't actually work that way.
Many times, it seems to you that you are getting on faster because you have moved, but if you could see what was happening in the 'regular' line, you would know that you didn't really move much (or any) faster.

Some examples from our last 2 trips (March 2009 and October 2008):

• At Small World, some of our party went on the handicapped accessible path (the line has a pull off point after the second turn). The rest of us stayed in the regular line. The part of the group that went down to the wheelchair boarding area got in just over 2 minutes before the rest of us. But, we have also had the situation of waiting in the wheelchair boarding area for 25 minutes when there were lots of people waiting there; that was when the regular line was a 5-10 minute wait.
• At Toy Story Mania, we had more people than can fit on the wheelchair accessible ride car (2 can fit in the first car and 4 in the back - maybe a few more if they are small children). The pull-off point for TSM occurs just after you get your 3D glasses; if you follow the main line, you come to stairs. The accessible line has a ramp. You can see the accessible boarding area from the regular line and go right past it as your ride is over. Those of us in the regular line finished our ride before the members of our party in the accessible area had boarded. From the time we got off, it was almost 20 minutes before they joined us after riding.
• At the Nemo ride at the Living Seas, we had to wait at the front of the boarding area for a wheelchair accessible ride car. I didn't start counting right away, but after quite a few people passed, I started counting and more than 50 passed us to board while we waited.
• At Buzz Lightyear, the pull off point is at the regular boarding point so when we are getting pulled off, the 'regular' line is boarding. While waiting to board at the exit, we frequently see the people getting off who were waiting just ahead of us in line before the line split.

AK and the Studio were built with all Mainstream Lines, which means they are wheelchair accessible and people with wheelchairs/ECVs wait in the same line with everyone else. The wait should be the same, but can sometimes be longer (like we have waited 40 minutes longer at times for the accessible Safari car). There is also the possibility that someone with a wheelchair or ECV may arrive and find there are no wheelchair seats left for a show, even though there are seats available for people without wheelchairs/ECVs. For many of the shows, CMs pull people with wheechairs and ECVs out of the general line and have them wait in a different spot so the number of wheelchair/ECVs for that show can be counted. It may seem that someone is getting on faster, but they will be in the same showing as they would have been without having a wheelchair.
Epcot and MK have had attractions changed to Mainstream Lines if possible during new construction or renovation.

People who have kept track have pretty consistently posted that they got in sooner about 20-25% of the time (but usually not significantly sooner - like our one Small World experience), about the same about 50-60% of the time and longer about 20-25% of the time (sometimes a lot longer like our Safari wait).

 

[ireland_nicole]

I agree with the info SueM posted; it's definitely consistent with out experience. Also, sometimes you miss the themed areas and preshows, which can be a downer. I want to go against the grain and suggest a w/c if you need it. Especially if your pain, like mine, is actually better when slightly leaning forward. That way, you can push the empty chair if you need it to lean on to make for more comfortable walking. Plus, in the summer, they take up less space than for an ECV. And finally, it's your honeymoon, so it gives you a chance to goof off together a bit and for him to "take care of" you; I know it sounds hokey, but I think it's kind of romantic. And yes, the beds at AKV are very nice (fwiw, way better than on our honeymoon in Paris. The most romantic city in the world, a beautiful little apartment in the center of town, and a mattress filled with- I kid you not- straw. We ended up taking turns on the couch it was so hard and uncomfortable. But at least we saw a lot- who wanted to sleep in?