Crutches and the airlines and other ?

[Dis-knee]

I will be flying to WDW with youngest daughter 5-12-07 through5-19-07. I just had my 10th knee surgery last week and have never had to fly so soon after surgery. How do the airlines handle the crutches during security check? We are flying Southwest and really enjoy each experience with them. Also, I am a knee surgery veteran and could give lessons on the use of crutches, but this time I will be spending much more time on them than usual. The weather will probably be pretty warm and I am wondering if my under arm area will get really chafed. I don't hang on the crutches and support my weight on my hands. Any suggestions on some slight padding that won't rub and chafe my upper arm and torso area would be appreciated. I have found that the rubber is very irritating with short sleves and warm weather. I usually have the surgeries in late fall and winter and the long sleeves are a real help! This is a new one for me......short sleeves and hot weather. Next surgery is in about six monthes and I can handle that. This is a special trip for the two of us....end of the semester treat for her and for me.....any trip to Disney is a treat!!!! Just never often enough for me!!!!

Any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated!!!!!

 

[PigletsBestFriend]

When I went to WDW on crutches a couple of months ago, security did a wand/pat-down thing.

 

[cymomtx]

I wonder if mole skin would help? You might check with a running/athletic store.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What about Body Glide?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I recently had hip surgery and have had to have three airplane flights in the last month. For each one I contacted the airline in advance about requiring a wheelchair.

When I curb-checked my luggage I got a wheelchair and was in the chair through security. Then was taken to the boarding gate. Before boarding started I was then rolled down to the plane's door.

Likewise, at the other end of the trip there was a wheelchair waiting for me at the plane door, taken to baggage claim where my bags were retreived for me, and then taken to where I was to meet the person picing me up (or hotel shuttle in one instance).

Of course the people pushing the chairs earned good tips.

Also, unless you are really used to crutches you should give serious consideration to renting an ECV from an off-site company or your entire trip. You can get one with a crutch holder installed if you cannot walk unassisted.

 

[HarbinsMom]

Lynn, I so feel your pain. I'm 6 weeks into my second knee surgery since January. I thought the MD was going to let me start walking again on Friday, but no. I will gradually start to add weight on Thursday and our trip is 18 days away. When we flew to OR in March, I wore my ACL brace under my jeans and they basically strip-searched me. So, I thought I got smart on the way home and wore it on the outside of my jeans...it did no good. They basically did the same thing, the wanding, the touchy-feely stuff and swabbing the brace, it was a hastle. I must use an ECV or wheelchair on our trip, doctor's orders, so I'm looking into that right now. Hope your trip goes smoothly.

 

[SueM in MN]

What about Body Glide?

I wonder if that might make things too slippery?

Moleskin might work because it does have a little padding.

I agree with the suggestion of renting an ECV. Even if you are used to using crutches, a trip to WDW probably involves a lot more walking than you would notmally do. You can rent an ECV with crutch holders so you can bring the crutches with you to help with getting on rides.

 

[pezheadmeg]

I spent the better part of a summer on crutches due to ankle surgery.

I was lucky and the hospital sent me home with crutch tops that were more of canvas and less rubber. When there was a possibility that I was going to be on them for weeks again last summer (yes I did the happy dance when the bone scan came back clean, no infection meant no surgery ) I investigated my options. There are companys out there that make fabric covers which are a lot more comfortable than the rubber ones. Lemonaide crutches has about 30 different patterns. If you're going to be stuck on them, you might as well have cute crutches.

I flew on the good old crutches about a month after surgery on Southwest, and being 21 and in decently good shape I didn't want to deal with the hassle of the wheelchair. I was able to weight support myself through the metal detector, then took off my air cast and ran that through the x-ray machine along with the crutches.

I would rent an off-site ECV, though I fully know what it's like to want to be independent and use the crutches for everything. I actually had several arguements with my mother when I wanted to hobble around stores rather than use their EVCs.