Everest with back problems?

[Tink9721]

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some opinions for my mom. After several trips watching me ride Everest by myself, she really wants to try it, but she has some lower back problems. Drops don't bother her; she only has trouble with really jerky rides. She's done TOT and BTMRR without problems. Splash Mountain is her favorite ride and doesn't bother her at all. I've seen people say that the safari should be avoided if you have back problems because it can be so rough/jerky, but she has no problem with that either. The only ride that ever bothered her was Dinosaur.

She definitely has to avoid Space Mountain and RNR, but Everest seems pretty smooth to me. She used to love roller coasters and I know she would love Everest, but I definitely don't want her to get hurt. So does anyone have any experience riding Everest with back problems?

Thanks!

 

[Klayfish]

The only one who could really answer that would be a doctor and/or your mother. Everyone is different and "back problems" can be very different. The doctor may even say it's fine, but it may still cause her aggravation. Generally speaking, Everest isn't super jerky, but there are parts where you move around some, especially when going backwards. However, if she can't do RnR, I'd be concerned about Everest. I think RnR, despite the inversions, is a super smooth coaster. Using my own personal "rating", I'd say Everest is far less jerky than BTMRR, maybe a bit less than SM, far less than Dinosaur, but not as smooth as RnR, 7DMT or Splash.

 

[BrianL]

Well, I have a herniated disc in my lower back, so I am careful when I ride (I shouldn't ride any roller coasters, but I do). I find Expedition Everest to be pretty smooth in general, but it does make you feel some g-force on the backwards part. Still, I find I can ride it much more than RnRC or even Space Mountain (which I don't think it all that bad). One note: Warn her about the sudden stop at the end. EE hits those brakes hard as it pulls into the unload area. That's the jerkiest part of it! It's fine if you brace for it though.

 

[Tink9721]

Well, I have a herniated disc in my lower back, so I am careful when I ride (I shouldn't ride any roller coasters, but I do). I find Expedition Everest to be pretty smooth in general, but it does make you feel some g-force on the backwards part. Still, I find I can ride it much more than RnRC or even Space Mountain (which I don't think it all that bad). One note: Warn her about the sudden stop at the end. EE hits those brakes hard as it pulls into the unload area. That's the jerkiest part of it! It's fine if you brace for it though.

That's exactly what she has - a herniated disc in her lower back. She's definitely not trying Space Mountain or RnR - those bother me a little bit and I don't have any back problems. I've always thought Everest was pretty smooth.

Thanks for the tip about the brakes at the end. I forgot about that. We may not even risk it, but it helps to get some other opinions so we're not just relying on my own perception of the ride

 

[BrianL]

That's exactly what she has - a herniated disc in her lower back. She's definitely not trying Space Mountain or RnR - those bother me a little bit and I don't have any back problems. I've always thought Everest was pretty smooth.

Thanks for the tip about the brakes at the end. I forgot about that. We may not even risk it, but it helps to get some other opinions so we're not just relying on my own perception of the ride

Well, I've had this thing for over 15 years, and it hasn't stopped me. It's never gotten any worse and I've never had the surgery for it. Disney rides have never really bothered it, at least not permanently. Ibuprofen helps a lot. I am careful on RnRC and Mission: SPACE Orange. I will only ride those once per trip.

 

[DebbieB]

If she does ride it, I would make sure the restraint is on tight so she doesn't move as much.

 

[Tink9721]

Well, I've had this thing for over 15 years, and it hasn't stopped me. It's never gotten any worse and I've never had the surgery for it. Disney rides have never really bothered it, at least not permanently. Ibuprofen helps a lot. I am careful on RnRC and Mission: SPACE Orange. I will only ride those once per trip.

Hers is from over 20 years ago, and she never had surgery either. Thanks for your help, it's definitely helpful hearing from someone with a similar problem!

 

[disneyvoice]

I think EE is very smooth but if she isn't comfortable riding RnR she should probably skip it. I think RnR is extremely smooth compared to many of the WDW rides. I think the "smoothness" of EE and RnR are very similar.

 

[BrianL]

For what it's worth, I find RnRC much rougher, especially on the launch. It tends to bother my neck and head more than my back though. It is a bit faster than EE as well.

 

[Tink9721]

I think EE is very smooth but if she isn't comfortable riding RnR she should probably skip it. I think RnR is extremely smooth compared to many of the WDW rides. I think the "smoothness" of EE and RnR are very similar.

For what it's worth, I find RnRC much rougher, especially on the launch. It tends to bother my neck and head more than my back though. It is a bit faster than EE as well.

This is why I asked; it seems to be pretty subjective and I didn't want to just rely on my own opinion/experience. The biggest reason my mom isn't comfortable riding RnR is because I've told her she shouldn't. I find it much rougher than Everest.

 

[loves to dive]

My son has permanent nerve damage in his spine and he rides EE, sometimes it hurts sometimes not. He had to remember to brace at take off and at the end and he is o.k. then. He can't ride Space Mountain, RRC, or Dinosaur but does ride BTMR and ToT. He will ride SDMT but again, has to brace. It's the jerks for him as well.

 

[BrianL]

This is why I asked; it seems to be pretty subjective and I didn't want to just rely on my own opinion/experience. The biggest reason my mom isn't comfortable riding RnR is because I've told her she shouldn't. I find it much rougher than Everest.

Well, I've never had one go on any ride cause me any discomfort. Granted, to prepare for a Disney trip I double down on the PT I do to keep that disc in check. A strong core will help immensely, so I don't know what your Mother's situation there is. I find the rides with more G-forces bother me more, like Mission: SPACE. I mean, I wouldn't call it pain, but it's like a feeling that my back is saying that I shouldn't do that again. I used to always do Green, but now that they are different and Green is lame, I have to take a spin (ha!) on Orange. EE does have a little bit of that feeling of compression on the backward part, but it's not that bothersome and is over very quickly. Again, it's the stop that'll get ya!