Daughter's ankle injury

[jebns]

Hi all,
My nine year old rolled her ankle on two-consecutive week at basketball. The second one was pretty severe. We did the x-rays etc, and they said there may be a growth plate fracture but they can't be sure--but since we waited two weeks before seeing an ortho, they have her in a lace up brace, hoping not to need a boot. Point being in all this--we leave for Disney on Sunday!!! I don't know what to do! She can walk but by the end of a school day she has a limp going and by bedtime she is really limping. I thought about getting a wheelchair for the trip, but I'm not sure if that is over-the-top as she looks like she walks fine until @10am. At the same time, whining and miserable, carried on my back for most of the trip isn't holding much appeal either.
Any suggestions???
Thank you!

 

[Karin1984]

It's not over the top. If she can only walk till 10 a.m. it's a necessity. A day at Disney is longer and more intense than a school day and cannot be compared.

For both her and your own sake: get the wheelchair. There is no reason not tot do it.

Also, ask the doctor for advice.

 

[Accident]

I agree with PP. you want the doctors input and absolutely get a wheelchair and rent it third party. Most don't realize you'll do 1-4 miles in the resort per day plus the 5-15 in the park. you have the time to quickly get it arranged and there when you arrive.

 

[Dug720]

As an 11 year old, I had a bike wreck a week before a Disney World trip and pulled a muscle in my hip. It was a church trip, and my pediatrician was on the trip with us, so she kept making sure I walked on it periodically and even suggested we consider renting a chair for me when I needed a break. Being stubborn, I refused to let my dad get one - and I really wish I had. Granted it probably healed without as much stiffness because I used the hip constantly, I definitely slowed us down from midday on. And this is when there were only two parks!

Get the chair.

 

[Nancyg56]

I do not think it is over the top at all, and given the injury is on her growth plate, I would insist.

 

[gap2368]

I would post this over at the disability boards.

but like the PP said get a wheel chair

most people at Disney are too into there own trips to notice your DD, no ofince to you.

if someone dose say something that is there problem not yours, you are using a wheel chair as it was intended to be used for, to help someone with a moblem problem get around.

I wound rent off site, waiting for the buss or monorail or boat or tram at the end of the night then walking to where ever you need to go will not be fun.

I would try to get a wheel chair that fits her. and she will need someone to push her, as she will not be able to push her self. if she has a wheel chair that fits her ( at lest is not like the extra large one Disney has) she maybe able to push her shelf a little in stores, and here and there. ( But I do mane very little)

pick up a guide map for people with disability as 95% of the lines you can take the wheel chair in there are about 3-5 at the MK you will need a return time for and 1 at EPCOT you will. beside that you will be like any other guest.

since she can walk some this will make getting on off rides much easer, but I would have her limit her walking as much as she can ( if you ar are rope drop to close type of family)

let her know that if she is in pain this dose not mean you stop your day that you will see what she needs dose she need to rest for a bit ( at the park or at the hotel) some Ice some OTC

first aid has coat to lie down if she need to just rest for a bit they also have OTC that she can get ( her parents need to go to) and they have Ice ( I would bring a few gallon zip lock bags at you can get ice at any QS and just put in in the zip lock bag and use that)

I hop this helped

 

[chiisai]

She could do a lot more damage to her ankle walking the amount one does at Disney on a (possible) growth plate fracture. For her future health, get a wheelchair. She might actually enjoy the trip if she isn't in pain from walking, too.

 

[Dug720]

If she absolutely objects to the chair, what about one of those things you rest the knee of the injured foot on and scoot around? Would she like that more?

 

[gap2368]

If she absolutely objects to the chair, what about one of those things you rest the knee of the injured foot on and scoot around? Would she like that more?

they are not that conftable I think after an hour or two she will be ready to quiet ( imagine kneeling all day long, I know I am catholic so I kneel at mass/church but after about 10-15 minutes I am done for) I have seen theta Disney with grown men using then comping about how they are done and will just wait for there party where they are ( I was in SM gift shop)

 

[Dug720]

they are not that conftable I think after an hour or two she will be ready to quiet ( imagine kneeling all day long, I know I am catholic so I kneel at mass/church but after about 10-15 minutes I am done for) I have seen theta Disney with grown men using then comping about how they are done and will just wait for there party where they are ( I was in SM gift shop)

Ok, it was just a thought for something less intrusive/obvious than a wheelchair.

 

[gap2368]

Ok, it was just a thought for something less intrusive/obvious than a wheelchair.

no I would have thought the same thing until I saw this man and when humm he probably is right and thought about being at church and went yep

but really it is up to the OP I just wanted to let them know what I saw heard.

 

[Klayfish]

Not all that big of a deal. Get a wheelchair, or frankly even a large umbrella stroller will work fine for a 9 year old and will probably be less cumbersome. Then take it day by day. If she wants to walk, fantastic. If she is sore, use the stroller.

 

[lovethattink]

She'll be much better off in a wheelchair. My oldest broke his foot in 4 places before a Disney vacation. We rented a wheelchair for the week.

Almost all the queues are wheelchair accessible. But be sure to grab a disability map at each park. It shows the exceptions. For Jungle Cruise there are 2 disability lines. One to stay in the wheelchair the other to load yourself in. Either way, the boat is secured with a rope so it doesn't rock.

I don't think anyone will look twice at her in a wheelchair. My youngest used a medical stroller (convaid cruiser) from 2011 til 2015 and he rarely got a second glance.

 

[tsme]

I had to rent a wheel chair for our DD the last day in Disney. She didn't want me to get one. She was embarrassed. But after about 20 min, she was glad I did.
Before you go, try taking her some place that she has to walk a lot, like the mall. When she starts to limp, remind her that the mall (or wherever) is a fraction of the walking Disney is. Or if you don't have time, be the mean mom (I know I hate being the mean mom too), & give her the facts, explain she will ride in the wheel chair & there's no argument. She might be upset at first with you, but once you're in the parks, she'll be happy. Good luck!

 

[tobikaye]

Even with the wheelchair, she does not need to stay in the chair all day. She can get out and actually walk or push for periods of time. In fact, she probably should just so she does not stiffen up since she is not used to being in one all day.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hi all,
My nine year old rolled her ankle on two-consecutive week at basketball. The second one was pretty severe. We did the x-rays etc, and they said there may be a growth plate fracture but they can't be sure--but since we waited two weeks before seeing an ortho, they have her in a lace up brace, hoping not to need a boot. Point being in all this--we leave for Disney on Sunday!!! I don't know what to do! She can walk but by the end of a school day she has a limp going and by bedtime she is really limping. I thought about getting a wheelchair for the trip, but I'm not sure if that is over-the-top as she looks like she walks fine until @10am. At the same time, whining and miserable, carried on my back for most of the trip isn't holding much appeal either.
Any suggestions???
Thank you!

for a 9 year old I would look at offsite stroller rentals as some have a special needs child's chair which would probably work better than an adult size wheelchair. having at resort helps with getting to and from any form of transportation to your room. park rental would have to be left before gate so no help with getting to transportation after a day in the park

 

[Amw1064]

My daughter hurt her knee during dance back in November and had a knee brace on. We went over to the parks a few times during that time frame and while she could hobble around at school, we got her a wheelchair for the days we went to the parks. We usually just parked it outside the ride and never took advantage of any handicap "extras". We just waited in the regular lines but made her ride in the wheel chair when walking around. It was also great for when she had to ice her knee. Just sat in the wheel chair and propped her leg up.

 

[piglet1979]

My 9 year old hurt her ankle last year in gymnastics. She was just running to catch up to her group and stepped funny. She refused to walk on it that night or the next morning. I took her in and they gave her an air cast. After a week it was still hurting. We then went to the Ortho and had another set of x-rays. Still showed no break but as a precaution put her in a cast. After 2 weeks we had another set of x-rays done and still no break was showing. He put her in a boot and we set an appointment to come back in 6 months to make sure the growth plate was growing fine. For 6 months she complained that it hurt when she did a lot of walking. She tends to be over dramatic a lot so I let it go. At her 6 month appointment the x-rays showed a break. With it still hurting at times we had to do PT for several weeks. It may take several weeks for a break to show.

I would get her the wheel chair. I think it would be better to have it if she needs it and it sounds like she would. We went to Disney right before my daughters 6 month appointment. Still thinking she did not break it we had her push through and gave her advil most of the trip.

 

[dreiwhit]

I don't have much to add, but I would also recommend a wheel chair.

I had a bad sprain last year about 5 weeks before our Disney trip. With our trip coming up, I made sure to have it checked out by my orthopedic surgeon and had x-rays taken just to be on the safe side. I also let him know our plans to go to WDW. I was in a walking boot for two weeks and taking anti-inflamatories. I did have plans in the back of my mind to rent a wheel chair if necessary if my ankle acted up while we were in one of the parks. Fortunately, I didn't have any problems with my ankle while we were at WDW.

Going to Disney is not like any other activity. When we go, we walk 4-5 miles per day and do a lot of standing in line. I would hate to do any of that with an ankle injury that hasn't healed.

 

[jebns]

Honestly, that's my fear--I don't want someone to think I'm trying to get away with something when they see her in a wheelchair and hop on up to get in line... I can't even imagine the sight of her in a stroller! She'd be FURIOUS!!! Thanks all!