Foot Surgery & Knee Scooter, or do I need an ECV?

[princessjv]

I am very dissappointed; I am having foot surgery and will not be able to walk on my foot until after we return from our WDW trip.

I am planning to get a knee scooter, but I am unsure if this will be hard to use for a whole day in WDW. Has anyone enjoyed WDW with a knee scooter?

If I end up needing to get an ECV, would I be able to leave my knee scooter somewhere while using the ECV? I would need the Knee scooter to get from my resort to the park no matter what.

 

[deb010305]

You may want to consider renting an ECV from an off site vendor. Then you would have it to get to the parks from your car or the busses and around your resort.

 

[EskiLvr]

I didn't use it at WDW (oh, I wish I could have), but I *did* survive taking both of my children through their school registrations - and that was about 4 hours of straight use between the two schools. I used my knee scooter for 4 weeks after an ankle double tendon tear/displacement repair two summers ago.

A couple of things to consider:

1) Has your ortho given you an idea of how far up your leg your splint/cast/boot will go? This can really affect just how comfortable it is to use the scooter. In 4 weeks, I went through 2 splints and a cast (1 week splint, 1 week new splint, 2 weeks cast) - and every time it changed, I had to figure out my "comfy spot" on the knee pad all over again. Nothing that can't be dealt with - but if you're going to have a cast digging into your lower knee all day, an ECV would be the way to go.

2) How long will you have been using your scooter? Silly thing to ask - but it does take a little while to get used to them. (And they *can* be fun - I could get pretty good speed going in the supermarket on those shiny waxed floors...)

3) How far out will you be from surgery? I actually *preferred* using my scooter to driving at about 3 to 4 weeks out, because it was keeping my surgery site more elevated.

4) Will you be able to walk (with a boot, for example) to transfer from an ECV to a ride? Or will you need to bring crutches or a very stable travel partner with you? One thing I *loved* about my scooter was that it was a very stable transfer assistance device if I had my hand on the brake. For using the restroom, it was almost invaluable (I wasn't allowed to have any foot contact with the floor).

If you *do* decide to go ECV, also consider any experience you've had with bumpy roads post surgery. I have a cheap throw pillow that I had to wedge under my splint and subsequent cast in order to tolerate driving (my surgery involved bone work - I could feel *everything*, and that wasn't enjoyable). If you're not enjoying encounters with potholes, it might be worth packing a towel to put under your foot on the ECV deck if necessary.

Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

 

[jenniy122]

If I had known about them before my 2011 trip, I definitely would've gone for a knee scooter. I had no driving experience, so wasn't comfortable with an ecv, so my mom had to push me in a wheelchair multiple days over a week long trip and that got exhausting for her, and I didn't like the feeling of not being in control. Even now, a month away from a driver's license and having driven many ecvs around shopping centers and grocery stores (I've had a number of minor operations this past year that take a week or two to recover from) I'd still prefer something else. If my insurance would cover a knee scooter I'd be all over it.

 

[bidnow5]

I use a knee scooter at home and wouldn't even consider using it in Disney I used it at a local shopping center and only lasted about 1/2 hour I take my own ECV if there is a long distance to go

 

[princessjv]

Thank you for the feedback. This will be my last week needing to not walk on my foot. Technically 3 days after we are there, I should be able to walk more limited on it. The surgery is in the ball of the foot, so heal pressure will be fine.

Does anyone know if I bring my knee scooter, and need to get an ECV while in the park... is there somewhere I can store the knee scooter for the day?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . .Does anyone know if I bring my knee scooter, and need to get an ECV while in the park... is there somewhere I can store the knee scooter for the day?

1) IMHO, don't even consider using a knee scooter in the parks for the 4-6 miles of use.
2) There are too many obstacles to negotiate/navigate in parks or at resorts
. . . tracks at MK
. . . hills/grades at Epcot
. . . cobblestones at AK
3) Plus, the pushing foot is going to get really tired, not even counting knee strains.
4) There is no place to store the knee scooter if you rent an ECV, unless fold-able into a locker.
. . . no storage spaces at parks
. . . park doesn't want the liability of loss or damage
5) I would rent a scooter from an outside firm and have it delivered to your resort.

 

[stitchlovestink]

1) IMHO, don't even consider using a knee scooter in the parks for the 4-6 miles of use.
2) There are too many obstacles to negotiate/navigate in parks or at resorts
. . . tracks at MK
. . . hills/grades at Epcot
. . . cobblestones at AK
3) Plus, the pushing foot is going to get really tired, not even counting knee strains.
4) There is no place to store the knee scooter if you rent an ECV, unless fold-able into a locker.
. . . no storage spaces at parks
. . . park doesn't want the liability of loss or damage
5) I would rent a scooter from an outside firm and have it delivered to your resort.

I disagree with #4. The rental area where you pick up park rented ECVs allow guests to leave personal items such as personal wheelchairs while renting an ECV.
So I do not believe that statement to be accurate.

 

[Gamegrl1]

If my insurance would cover a knee scooter I'd be all over it.

I hope you read this, Jenniy! I think I will PM you just in case! My insurance doesn't cover them either (grrrrr) but I bought one on my own last week. After recovering fine from a foot surgery nearly two years ago, something else happened to another part of the same foot and I've been limping all year (grrrrr again!)!!! So although I'm not sure what my future holds...surgery? I bought one from Amazon for $200 (free shipping with Amazon Prime). Just tried it out briefly and I can say two things:

1. It's very maneuverable and seems like it would be terrific for short distances (ie. around the house, or maybe even a store). Way better than crutches for if you want to carry something (you can get a basket to put on the front) or use it one-handed for a short distance to get a plate of food from the kitchen to your table or living room. Otherwise you absolutely need two hands.

2. I doubt highly that it's the kind of thing I'd want to use for any distance (ie. miles around a park). I tried it about 10 minutes yesterday and I tell ya - it uses muscles that are so different from regular walking. And I'm only 40 but am a healthy weight and exercise regularly (well, as much as my limited mobility will allow - swimming, yoga and weights). And I reeeeeally want to go to MNSSHP but I have a sinking feeling that it would be a stupid idea to go with a knee scooter. It can't handle bumps well and although it's very easy to use and sturdy, I feel like it's the kind of thing that one would have to work up to using for very long distances...and how are you supposed to do that when you're injured? I strongly recommend just biting the bullet and getting an ECV. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Gamegrl1]

The surgery is in the ball of the foot, so heel pressure will be fine.

Ok...I mean this in the absolute nicest way possible, but you're totally kidding yourself. I've been through foot surgery and I can tell ya - you're not going to want to walk that much on it, not even with your heel! You won't want to have your foot not be elevated for weeks afterward because all the blood rushes down to it and the pain and pressure is like "AAAAACK!" Plus heels are harder and bonier and it will get tired. Plus walking funny like that will potentially jack up other body parts - before my foot surgery I was favoring that foot and the walking funny caused pain in my knee and hip for a while.

Just don't do it - talk to your doctor for your specific case, but it sounds like an ECV is what you want.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Ok...I mean this in the absolute nicest way possible, but you're totally kidding yourself. I've been through foot surgery and I can tell ya - you're not going to want to walk that much on it, not even with your heel! You won't want to have your foot not be elevated for weeks afterward because all the blood rushes down to it and the pain and pressure is like "AAAAACK!" Plus heels are harder and bonier and it will get tired. Plus walking funny like that will potentially jack up other body parts - before my foot surgery I was favoring that foot and the walking funny caused pain in my knee and hip for a while. Just don't do it - talk to your doctor for your specific case, but it sounds like an ECV is what you want.

Totally agree. Ive had issues with the ball of my foot and even walking on my heel sent pain up to the front of my foot. Flexing your foot to walk on your heel requires engaging most of the rest of your foot.