How to handle this...

[karasmom]

my husband had a work related "accident" that caused him to tear a tendon in each hand (military competition). It took a rather complicated surgery that involved putting pins in his bones to completely immobilize his hand while casted after the surgeon took one tendon and sewed it onto the one that tore (everyone has an extra,useless tendon in their arm - who knew lol) After two weeks in a soft cast he was hard casted for 6 weeks. He just got this off and started physical therapy. He will have surgery on the other hand (same process) at the end of July. This still had him in the hard cast during our upcoming visit.

Here is the issue - when outside for too long his arm swells up significantly and causes pain. This is due to the hardware (he had been fine since the hardware was removed last week). It helps to have his arm "up" but you can't walk around too much like that.
We can't reschedule as my husband will prepare to go out of the country for a year shortly after our return home.
We won't be missing anything if we don't get to do xyz attraction as we are fortunate enough to be able to go to Disney frequently. However it would be nice if he wouldn't have to sit in the room for 75% of the time.
I am thinking that with the DAS he could sit inside somewhere while we wait for our return time and I walk the girls around and do things like the carousel...
I knows most waiting lines are air conditioned but not all.
Would this make sense? Would he even qualify?
If he has to spend most of the time in the room then so be it and that's just how it will be but I figured I would try to find out if this is a possibility.

Thank you all for your help

 

[gap2368]

my husband had a work related "accident" that caused him to tear a tendon in each hand (military competition). It took a rather complicated surgery that involved putting pins in his bones to completely immobilize his hand while casted after the surgeon took one tendon and sewed it onto the one that tore (everyone has an extra,useless tendon in their arm - who knew lol) After two weeks in a soft cast he was hard casted for 6 weeks. He just got this off and started physical therapy. He will have surgery on the other hand (same process) at the end of July. This still had him in the hard cast during our upcoming visit.

Here is the issue - when outside for too long his arm swells up significantly and causes pain. This is due to the hardware (he had been fine since the hardware was removed last week). It helps to have his arm "up" but you can't walk around too much like that.
We can't reschedule as my husband will prepare to go out of the country for a year shortly after our return home.
We won't be missing anything if we don't get to do xyz attraction as we are fortunate enough to be able to go to Disney frequently. However it would be nice if he wouldn't have to sit in the room for 75% of the time.
I am thinking that with the DAS he could sit inside somewhere while we wait for our return time and I walk the girls around and do things like the carousel...
I knows most waiting lines are air conditioned but not all.
Would this make sense? Would he even qualify?
If he has to spend most of the time in the room then so be it and that's just how it will be but I figured I would try to find out if this is a possibility.

Thank you all for your help

my computer will not let me bold any thing but I would not think a DAS would work for you if your husband needs a place to sit. This is taken from Disney website about the DAS
"A Guest whose disability is based on the necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter does not need a DAS. Depending on the attraction,"

There really are not many places to sit inside, and if you do find a place most of the time you have to sit on the ground and then you are just holding your arm up.

something that may help would a wheel chair help since you said he need to sit a wheel chair would have arm rest for him you would have it with you when you needed it.

if you do get a wheel chair ( or maybe an ECV) you do not need to have it with you all the time you can park it and walk or even push a wheel chair and it sound like you have kids with you are they old enough that they could push there dad some or maybe when dad dose not need it they could sit for a while.

some things to stay cool

cooling towels ( I think O2Cool)
wide brim hat ( or an umbrella but be mindful of people around you if you have a wheel chair this can help a lot in a line)
fain with mister
and cooling clothing like omni freeze

I would plane on not getting a DAS card and try and do FP for lines that would be hard for your husband to do like the ones that are out side I would also do rope drop when it is less crowded and cooler book FP starting at 11ish then maybe take an after noon break and head back to the park around 5 or 6 and stay late.

here is a list of some rides that are indoors

MK

PIRATES
small world
Peter pan
under the sea ( maybe the coolest place in all the parks)
space moutain

the there are a lot that have great shade and can really help

EPCOT
soaring
TT
come to think about it just about all the rides but space ship earth but that line moves early fast and I do not know about the new Frozen ride

HS

toy story
RR has some out door line and some indoor
GMR same some out door some indoor


AK

Dianasor is indoor

( not sure about others I do not go here that much

 

[OurBigTrip]

Other than the CMs at Guest Services, no one can tell you for certain if your husband would qualify for a DAS. But my guess would be that no, he won't qualify.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Does he have any kind of brace that keeps his arm in that upright position? That might be a problem on some rides.

 

[karasmom]

Does he have any kind of brace that keeps his arm in that upright position? That might be a problem on some rides.

He will have a cast. Cast will be below elbow so he can maneuver well although he has limited movement in his fingers. He has done fine with his other hand... It's just when he is in the heat it swells like crazy...

 

[gap2368]

He will have a cast. Cast will be below elbow so he can maneuver well although he has limited movement in his fingers. He has done fine with his other hand... It's just when he is in the heat it swells like crazy...

when are you going. As there is a lot of time out side like getting to the parks walking around the parks
will he have a hard cast or a soft one when you are going to be at disney. also talk with his Dr about things he can do so his arm/ hand dose not swell so much they may have some ideas for you.

Also if he needs a place to rest first aid is great.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Also, have you told his doctor of your plans? He may not want your DH in that situation, or he may have some advice to alleviate the swelling.

 

[Bete]

The brace referred to is help the position of the arm. You stated if it's up it feels better. I remember seeing a brace that is around the hip that allows the arm to be up more.

Also, there may be meds to help the pain or inflammation. Talk with the Doctor.

If you are willing to push him in a wheelchair then he could rest his arm on the arm rest.

You can try for a DAS, but I'm not confident you will get one in this case. I think you better have another plan if you plan to do the trip. I'm like the other poster. Has he been cleared by his doctor for this trip? It's not worth a lifetime of suffering for one trip if something goes wrong.

 

[karasmom]

Doctor ok'd it since it is toward the end of his hard cast (he wouldn't want him to go with the cast off - too dangerous as he will just get his movement back).

We are going the first week in September (3rd through the 9th). So it won't been too busy anyways - hopefully.

Over his dead body would I get him in a wheelchair... So that wouldn't happen... We will just swing it... We are staying at the Contemporary so it'll be easy enough if he has to leave and go back. We usually close the park (after an afternoon break) so maybe he will just have to sit out the morning park time.

For all I know he may not have such bad swelling in the other hand - we will have to see what this surgery brings. I just wanted to see a DAS would be an option and if it would even help.
I appreciate your input
By no means was I trying to get something we don't "deserve" /shouldn't have or weasel my way into something that doesn't belong to our family. I am just trying to make the best out of this situation.

 

[disney world dreamer]

first i'd have him wear a sling because it will keep his arm up without him having to try.

also most attractions do have air conditioned lines so i don't think its going to be a huge problem.

i do believe that he could qualify for DAS.
a PP inferred that he may not qualify because its a mobility issue but its really not at all.
his problem has to do with spending long periods of time in the heat so i think it would fall under the same thing as if someone needed to wait in a air conditioned area due to a condition that causes them to overheat.

 

[gap2368]

first i'd have him wear a sling because it will keep his arm up without him having to try.

also most attractions do have air conditioned lines so i don't think its going to be a huge problem.

i do believe that he could qualify for DAS.
a PP inferred that he may not qualify because its a mobility issue but its really not at all.
his problem has to do with spending long periods of time in the heat so i think it would fall under the same thing as if someone needed to wait in a air conditioned area due to a condition that causes them to overheat.

I have been in GR a number of times when someone ask for a DAS card for heat problems and they CM answer is most lines are inside and AC

I have a few problems and a few of them I get a DAS card for the first time I got a DAS card I said I have problems with the heat the CM told me most lines are in side. I have to be carefull now that I do not say this and I talk about my other problems because if I do the CM will cut me off and say that most lines are inside.

 

[tobikaye]

OP: Just know that in Florida, unless you are coming from a similar temperature/humidity level, he could swell no matter if he is inside or out. My aunt's feet start swelling within an hour of arriving in Florida, no matter if she drives or flies. I even get a bit of swelling in my fingers and knuckles.