Help! Got Bone Spurs and Plantar fasciitis & Can Hardly Walk and am going to Disney!

[allie_to_you]

I am sooooo upset and don't know what to do. We're going to Disney World in 11 days.... my feet started to really hurt me last week and as of this past Tuesday I could literally barely walk. By Thursday I was crawling through the house. Went to a podiatrist on Friday and they said I had bone spurs and plantar fasciitis... My husband said I can get a wheelchair or one of those cars that we've seen people driving around Disney but oh the humiliation! And I"m not crippled or anything so I kind of feel like a jerk getting a wheelchair or something.

I can sooooo relate since i have the same thing. Most days, wearing my Crocs, I feel okay, but I know from experience, going to Disney last year, that after just the first day of walking around, I was nearly in tears and it was so hard to wake up excited each morning cause I knew my feet were going to kill me. I wanted to rent an ECV so bad, but I felt foolish for doing it. My DH is in a wheelchair and cant' transfer because of Spina Bifida so I just felt embarrased and like a big baby, so I let my pride get to me and never did rent one. BIG MISTAKE! I hurt so much every day and truly didn't get as much enjoyment from the trip as I could have. This next trip, we are going for longer and I won't let myself make the mistake of not renting and ECV again. I want to enjoy my vacation this time.

Rent one of those little scooters. Who cares what people think? You'll probably never see them again anyway. Just don't let your pride ruin your vacation.

Great advice.

Others will have tons more information but for now. You will NOT need a GAC so you can skip that part.

Absolutely right. Some people get these and I guess it works great for them, but the one year we did get one for my DH, we never used it or needed it. At all the rides/attractions, they will ask you if you can transfer. If you can't, you'll have to skip it or wait for an accessible vehicle, but if you can transfer, which you should be able to go those short distances, then you should be able to enjoy everything, while not having to kill your feet by standing so long.

All attractions have some sort of accessible entrance where you either board with your chair or else leave it with the CMs and then get on the ride. Just let them know what you need, and everything should work out fine.

Happy Planning!

 

[robertcclark]

I have spina bifida so I know how it feels to be limited in my movements. You just have to listen to your body and act accordingly. Don't let pride get in the way. It's the World for goodness sake. It's the happiest place on earth.

 

[zumbergc]

Someone mentioned the corizone shots.

They give them for lots of joint issues, shoulders, hips, knees, feet.
Some people have great success, and feel no pain for a some time, weeks, a month or several months. Other have a rough time, and it hurts worse afer the shots and they seem to get no relief from them.

I had shots in my hip. It helped me a little, however walking around disney for an evening, kind of nixed every bit of help I was getting from the cort shot. The next day I was in the wheel chair, and had lots of pain which took weeks to subside.

That was the last trip that I attempted to go into the park w/out an ecv or scooter. Not worth it for the pain factor, and then the recover afterwards since you have a foot issue that needs to heal.

Have a good trip. At the least bring the numbers of some wheel chair, ecv rental places with you, if for some reason your thinking you won't need one.

 

[Purple Princess]

No, the soft casts I had to wear were not removable. You could but it would lose all the, for lack of a better word, firmness that kept it together. They dry fairly hard and removing them would cause them to not be functionable. I did not drive while in them, no. They flexed my feet to where they were in a position like the night splints - a slight pull up. Would have been hard to drive like that LOL.

I did have a horrible time with the shots and they did cause new problems for me, but that doesn't mean you would have the same happen to you. You may do very well and they help you tremendously.
I did get relief for one area but gained many new problems besides others the shots didn't help. Ugh!

If you can wait on having the the shots, can't change Disney plans, then that is what I'd do. There is no way I could go on a trip with the pain I was in at the time. We had to reschedule DD's Wish trip because of it! It all worked out when we did go in November. The best walking shoes for me are made by RYKA. They have the cush, arch support and stability I need. I do wear orthotics in my shoes and RYKA works wonderfully! If you must, use a scooter and don't feel guilty! Our feet do all the work and we must protect them if they are hurting. Pain is pain.

I hope you have a wonderful trip and please ket us know how it went when you get back.

Are the casts removable to shower? Can you drive with them? I am already terrified of the needles in my feet and after reading your post I am even more worried. I am not having it done before we go. Last year before I knew what I had we did Universal one day and I had to ice my heels,take advil and lost a whole day off my feet in pain. Now that I know I am trying to plan around it.