Husband just broke ankle........now what?? HELP

[mjvans]

My husband, Jay, broke, his ankle yesterday following a drill at a training house (He is a firefighter) He dislocated his ankle and broke his fibula. This required surgery, with a plate and screws now in place to keep the ankle in tact. The ankle is now splinted but he will be put in a hard cast monday and should be in it for at least 8 weeks. We are scheduled to be in wdw 3/21-3/31. I am a totally overwhelmed and wonder if we should cancel or continue with our plans. Do you think he will still have a magical time with a cast and/ or on crutches? I will do whatever he wants, and right now he is really wanting to go. However, I want to be realistic and know what I am getting myself into before we get there....Best case scenario....he may be in a boot by then.......worst case scenario, the hard cast and crutches..... Obviously, I know that he won't enjoy himself on crutches,.. that is just not realistic but what choices do we have and what avenues should we begin to explore...anyone ever done disney on one foot? Thanks in advance!! Michelle

 

[dizneemom]

I would consider renting an electric scooter for him to use. That definitely would be better than canceling your trip. --Just a thought

 

[momhmmx2]

I'm here right now recovering from a broken ankle, and having a GREAT time! I rented a scooter from an outside company (Walkers). Check out the FAQ page for other companies as well. They rent for about $30/day and you can get an attachment for your crutches!
Depending on which resort you are staying at you might want to ask for a ground floor room and one near a bus stop. Also request a shower chair! Be sure to tell them it is for MEDICAL REASONS. Disney is more than accomodating to all disabled individuals. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'd be happy to answer them for you

 

[peemagg]

An ECV is the way to go!

He will be more comfortable than with the crutches and he can still do most everything he wants to do. ECV's are easy to use, but he will have to be aware of everyone and everything around him so that there is no accidents. People tend to not see those of us on wheels.

Get the ECV and go have a good time!

You also might want to ask your doc to write a script for a scooter to rent at home and then take it to a medical supply store in the area and rent one from them and it may be covered by your health insurance this way. You can travel (fly) with the scooter for no extra cost and he can use it all the way to the gate. Orlando International is a large airport and would be difficult to do on crutches. With the scooter he could even be able to help with the luggage because he could carry one on the deck of the scooter (small one), and if you have wheeled luggage he could even maybe pull one of them behind him. That is what I do when we travel. This way I am able to contribute instead of being another issue to deal with.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just for clarification,
you don't need a doctor's prescription to rent an ECV either from home or from one of the local WDW off site vendors.
You also don't need a prescription to bring an ECV on the plane or get it on without cost.
The advantage to having a prescription ID that your health insurance may possibly pay for the ECV rental cost. This will depend on your insurance policy.
Some people have found they could rent an ECV from home less expensively. But, do check with the company that it's OK to do that. You don't want to bring it all the way to WDW, have a problem and realize that you have broken your rental agreement.

 

[PatsMom]

A few years ago I fell in mid-December and broke both the tibia and fibula. After alot of surgery, I was in a hard cast until mid-February, then in a boot with "slight weight bearing" instructions for another month. If you are lucky, your husband will be in a boot by the time you go - I was allowed to remove the boot for showering which made things seem much easier after months of the hard cast.

I didn't go to Disney while I was healing but one thing I can think of that no one has mentioned is renting a scooter that has some type of leg rest to elevate the injured leg. I did find even at the end of the healing process that if I did not keep the leg elevated most of the time the swelling was pretty bad.

I would go to Disney - by then he shouldn't be in great pain and should be able to have a great time. As long as he can bend the leg and walk short distances, he should be able to do most attractions. Good luck!

 

[mjvans]

A few years ago I fell in mid-December and broke both the tibia and fibula. After alot of surgery, I was in a hard cast until mid-February, then in a boot with "slight weight bearing" instructions for another month. If you are lucky, your husband will be in a boot by the time you go - I was allowed to remove the boot for showering which made things seem much easier after months of the hard cast.

I didn't go to Disney while I was healing but one thing I can think of that no one has mentioned is renting a scooter that has some type of leg rest to elevate the injured leg. I did find even at the end of the healing process that if I did not keep the leg elevated most of the time the swelling was pretty bad.

I would go to Disney - by then he shouldn't be in great pain and should be able to have a great time. As long as he can bend the leg and walk short distances, he should be able to do most attractions. Good luck!

We are leaning towards going at this point! Something to look forward to at the end of his ordeal, right???

 

[peemagg]

I didn't go to Disney while I was healing but one thing I can think of that no one has mentioned is renting a scooter that has some type of leg rest to elevate the injured leg. I did find even at the end of the healing process that if I did not keep the leg elevated most of the time the swelling was pretty bad.

As far as I know there are no ECV's out there that has any type of equipment to allow you to elevate the leg. I would take a large backpack or something to rest his foot on if needed. They just aren't made for that type of thing.

 

[SueM in MN]

As far as I know there are no ECV's out there that has any type of equipment to allow you to elevate the leg. I would take a large backpack or something to rest his foot on if needed. They just aren't made for that type of thing.

That is correct. You can rent a manual wheelchair with an elevating footrest from an off-site rental place, but peemagg is correct that no ECVs have that sort of ability.

ECVs have flat floors/foot places, with no way built into the scooter to elevate the leg.

 

[curemyreed]

OP, looks like lots of posters think this trip will be manageable! I wanted to add that you might want to read the sticky explaining the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) if you do go while husband is still in a "differently-abled" condition. Additionally, you can go to Guest Services upon entering your first park and discuss husband's limitations. The person you speak with will be able to help you determine what assistance/accommodation DH may require and issue the appropriate GAC.

I'd hate to think of DH parking ECV outside an attraction then hobbling more than he has to on crutches to board the ride or (WORSE!) skipping an attraction when a GAC could help him.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney's general response for mobility issues is to rent an ECV or a wheelchair. There's little, if anything, that a GAC could 'do' that the the wheels couldn't.

Sure, there are some attractions where he would have to transfer from the ECV to a Disney-provided wheelchair - Tower of Terror (Disney claims the queue isn't ECV-accessible), Pirates of the Caribbean (ECV won't fit through the turnstiles, plus the ride exits in an entirely different building than where it boards), Ellen's Energy Adventure (just plain not allowed, for safety), to name a few. But in ANY situation where the ECV can't go into the building, Disney WILL provide a wheelchair for the queue.

Also, it's entirely possible - and a LOT cheaper - that the OP's husband will be fine navigating himself in a wheelchair. Yes, it's not easy - but I can do it, and I assure you, I'm in nowhere near the overall physical condition he is!!!!

 

[momhmmx2]

As far as elevating goes..There unfortunately is no attachment..

I don't know how large your dh is but I have managed to (WHEN PARKED) put my leg up on the handle bars. This has definitely helped with the swelling. I would also recommend (if his Dr. doesn't think of it) a compression stocking. This has really helped keep the swelling down! not to mention the bag of frozen peas in the freezer for when I return to the room