Family Disney World trip in a few weeks before major hip surgery. Crutches, scooter, any advice

[awfpack]

Hi all. This is very new to me. I am a 55 year old male. Very fit. I race in 100 mile bike races and I have competed in half Ironmans. I have cycled over 3000 miles this year. I am starting my 33rd year teaching high school math and coaching basketball. My family of 4 (wife and 2 daughters 15,11) have a trip to Disney planed Sept. 22-26. We are staying at AoA. It is the only time we can really go before basketball season and my daughters other sports. In the past month or so I have had pain in my hip and I have seen a Dr. and had MRI and they say I need major hip surgery.(Not replacement but they will repair my labrum and fix my FAI) in early October. The more I walk the more pain I have. The more I sit the more pain I have. I do have to take brakes. Some days are worse than others. I plan on taking my crutches and using just one most of the time to support my hurt leg. I am also looking at getting a scooter.
Can any give me advice about using my crutches (both vs 1) and also getting a scooter. I'm really unsure how to go about this. Can you take crutches on the plane?
Thanks

 

[mamabunny]

Get a scooter. Please, do yourself a HUGE favor, and rent a scooter.

Call today, don’t hesitate. Rent from an outside vendor; it will be MUCH cheaper than using Disney’s ECV rentals, plus you can use it at the Resort hotel and Disney Springs.

Here’s why you need to rent a scooter: The *average* Guest walks between 3 & 10 miles *per day*, every day of their visit. Now, be honest: Can *you* use your crutches for - at the low end - 3 miles per day? Even someone as fit as you are will have a period of adjustment while your body gets used to using crutches. It’s literally a whole new set of body mechanics, and it will affect not only your underarms, but also your forearms, wrists, and even your “good” leg.

And that’s just crutching around your local Target. So, skip the inevitable pivot, and let’s go straight to the ECV.

What model you rent is mostly dependent on your size; height and weight are important. When renting your scooter, be honest; it’s important.

Last thing I will say here is that until your surgery - and even after your surgery - you will have a series of tools to use to help your body. A tool *can* be a screwdriver or hammer, or it also be eyeglasses to help you see better, or hearing aids to hear better. It can also be an ECV that will allow you to have the best possible time with your family, without doing more damage to your body. Just tell the kids this is something you have to do; it will be a non-issue for them well before the end of the first day. And remember: 1 seat, 1 butt - don’t try to carry any of the kiddos with you; Disney has that rule in place for a reason.

I’m currently on the road, headed Home to Disney World. LMK if you have any questions about first-time scootering!

 

[Simba's Mom]

And lots of people are reluctant partially because they're thinking "what will people I see be saying behind my back (or to my face". I know that I was one of those people who feared that-and so the first time I had to rent a scooter, I drove off thinking "OK, bring on the comments" with my ears at the ready. But you know what? There were no comments forthcoming (and my hearing is fine!) And everyone was so nice and helpful-starting with the # of people who either showed me where the automatic door opener button was or held the door open for me (and I even had people who did both-one showed me where the automatic door opener was, while another ran over and held the door open for me). At the end of the first day, I felt so sorry I'd feared the comments and/or dirty looks, none of which came.

 

[bianca]

And lots of people are reluctant partially because they're thinking "what will people I see be saying behind my back (or to my face". I know that I was one of those people who feared that-and so the first time I had to rent a scooter, I drove off thinking "OK, bring on the comments" with my ears at the ready. But you know what? There were no comments forthcoming (and my hearing is fine!) And everyone was so nice and helpful-starting with the # of people who either showed me where the automatic door opener button was or held the door open for me (and I even had people who did both-one showed me where the automatic door opener was, while another ran over and held the door open for me). At the end of the first day, I felt so sorry I'd feared the comments and/or dirty looks, none of which came.

Thanks for your story! I hope I have as good of an experience. I’ve rented a scooter for the first time for our upcoming December trip. For the last 18 years I’ve been trying to “tough it out” after 2 knee surgeries and a hip replacement. Now that I’m looking at a second hip replacement, the time has come to embrace the scooter. My kids are very happy I’m doing this and like my first hip replacement, I’ll probably wish I’d done it sooner!

As for the OP, I think crutches would be very difficult to use. If you practice with a cane and learn how to do it properly, I find it works almost as well. In addition, you can buy folding canes that can easily be stored on rides.