Help DH broke arm!

[ILOVEPOOH1]

My DH and I are leaving in 2 weeks for WDW anniversary trip! Mon he broke both bones in his forearm playing hockey. They operated Tues to put steel plates and screws in there. He came home today! His ortho won't give a definate answer on Disney! He can't go back to see him for suture removal until the day before we fly out. SHould we cancel our trip? Our airline says our tix are non-refundable and not covered under our travel ins. policy because its just a broken arm and he can fly. DH doesn't want to miss anything and loves thrill rides. He won't be in a cast, but arm will be wrapped and in a sling. His dr does want him to start using it to get mobility back.
SHould we still go? Can he ride everything? We are giving up USO and IOA because those coasters are too wild!

 

[Twigs]

First I just want to say I am so sorry to hear this! I don't know about yur trip, I guess it really is up to the Dr., he might have to really think about which rides he does go on. He wouldn't want to get bumped into. If he were iln a cast it would be a lot more protected.

 

[Live4FW]

This may seem a bit crazy. You may want to try to persuade the Dr. to put a regular cast on the arm during your trip and have it removed once you return. With the cast, there would be a much smaller risk of additional injury. However, with the comment about the Dr. wanting him to move it, this may not be an alternative. Good luck.

 

[PlutoPony]

Something like this is always my worst fear when planning a vacation. I really feel for you ...

Does your trip insurance cover you for the hotel if you have to cancel last minute? If not, what's the cancellation time frame in order to get a refund (are you off-site, or at WDW w/ room only, package, etc.). You might want to get an appointment to see the dr. just prior to your cancellation deadline (have him take a look at how things are healing) so you can make a more informed decision about whether to go.

Also, how much will your airline charge for making a change to the tickets? There's wide varience between airlines on this right now..

Good luck and really hope things work out!

 

[ILOVEPOOH1]

Thanks to everyone for their concern! I can't believe this is happening! Our airline charges $125pp for changes, US AIr and lets hope they don't go under later.
We are staying onsite. OUr insurance should cover us. I'm so disappointed. We've been planning for so long, and wnated to go to the F&W festival. I think we should go. If it were me I'd go. He 's just not sure.

 

[goofydad621]

First of all, I would go.
My last trip I broke my big toe lengthwise from tip to first joint 2 weeks before going. I used a cane and still had a great time. He may have to think certain rides thru before getting on them but a sling pulled tight against his chest will really help imobilze the arm on things like big thunder mountain and space mountain.

I would suggest a blaze orange bandana or something to put over arm/sling so people can see there is a injury there. Hopefully that will help to a point to keep from people bumping into him.

Good luck I hope you folks have a wonderful trip

Dave

 

[ktglads]

I broke my leg less than 2 weeks before my last trip and while it was a pain, I still was able to enjoy a lot. I also had surgury and am a proud owner of a rod and screws. I can now set off a metal detector with my leg!

There are certain rides that I would avoid, since I knew the vehicles and if I could get in/out of them, but with an arm injury, there is less of an issue there. The coasters would be tricky, but still doable.

Can you go someplace else like an alternate doctor to remove the sutures? I had my staples removed by another doctor. Maybe there is a partner that can get you in earlier.

Just be aware that people are in another world when on vacation and I will garuntee that at least one person will bump into his arm. Be careful and have fun. A broken limb is no reason to cancel a trip!

 

[campingcorgi]

My mom--age 73--broke her arm this summer and had screws and plates put in. They took the wrappings off when they took the stitches out at two weeks and gave her a brace. She wore that for another week and then was using her arm almost normally. I think your husband would be fine--use a brace or sling and be careful and have fun!

 

[disneyfan551]

I know where you are coming from! My dh broke his arm in a 4wheeling accident last Nov. before our trip! He did have a cast on, and rode all of the rides with no problem. He even went snorkeling on the cruise!

However, I just don't know how much it's going to hurt your dh, since he will only have a sling. I would also recommend speaking to the Dr. about it.

Good luck! Hope you don't have to cancel!

 

[ILOVEPOOH1]

Thanks so much to everyone. We decided to go!! I think he'll be fine. He's very healthy so, I'm hoping it heals quick! I like the idea of a bright bandana on the sling to alert people to the injury!!

Thanks again!

 

[CanadaPT]

With pins, plates and screws your husbands arm will be very stable -- much more than a cast would. You should be fine -- have fun!

 

[seashoreCM]

The important questions:

Can suture removal wait until you all get back home?

Can he go and just not do those rides that may require him to hold on with both hands?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[ILOVEPOOH1]

The Dr won't wait for suture removal, will he have problems once his stiches are out?

Anyone know about DQ with a broken arm?

 

[ktglads]

The stitches should give no real problems. Hopefully the doctor will give you some bandages, but if he doesn't, just go and buy some. I was given tons of the steri-strips when I had the staples removed in my leg. Those really worked the best. I'm not sure how you would describe them, but you could cut them to fit the wound so that you wouldn't end up with anything too large.