just found out today that

[pyrateswife]

my son has Osgood-Schlatter disease... . It has been so painful for him to walk the past week and the dr. said this can last months and months. They are putting him in physical therapy, and giving him some meds to help... So my question is... we are going to DL next month and if he is not any better... ( meaning the pain when he walks) I think I might need to use a wheelchair. Do they rent these? Do you have to leave them out like u do strollers while ur in line? I am clueless to this issue, but I dont want him to be in pain while we are there. I know how hard it is to let alone walk around DL much less with a wheelchair.. any suggestions? Or even any advice would be wonderful .. thanks!

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Someone else will probably have better answer for you than me...but I'll give it a try.

I'm pretty sure I've seen rented wheelchairs and scooters. And I know for a lot of rides, you don't wait in the actual line. You basically go to the handicap accessible entrance. Not sure if all the rides have this but I know some of the fantasyland rides do as well as Space Mountain.

The disneyland website may be able to give you more info.

 

[audrabolster]

They do rent the wheelchairs. Most of the rides have a separate line that you can use where you can use the wheelchair right up until you practically get on the ride.

 

[pyrateswife]

can we stay together as a family (5 of us) in the handicap line or would it just have to be my son and me or hubby? Sorry again for the questions, but thanks for the responses!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Ok so I know some people would know better than me.

I would check The DisAbilities board.

I also know on MousePlanet there are some really knowledgeable posters. Especially when it comes to DLR. Maybe ask there too.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm fairly certain that they allow, hmm, 6 people in line, or 5 plus the affected person?

As for Osgood Schlatters, the good news is that from what I know of it, it's self-limiting over time. My brother was diagnosed with it as a pre-teen, after thinking he just had the worst case of shin splints ever (I had shin splints from high impact aerobics and running, and an "extremity" adjustment by a chiropractor fixed that problem), but nowadays he doesn't even remember the diagnosis, and says that it never happened. I think all symptoms were gone (without medication other than OTC pain relievers and without PT) by the time he started college. He's now a marathon runner, has even done the Marine Corps marathon with almost no trouble (other than now being 35, lol).

And to help with the pain, if you're willing to try something, try giving him homeopathic arnica, either the cream or the pellets. Arnica is one of the most effective pain relievers I have ever come across, even knocking out my lifelong leg aches that used to take something as strong as a can't-find-anymore-b/c-it-was-so-strong OTC drug called Percogesic.

 

[DangerMouse]

I'm fairly certain that they allow, hmm, 6 people in line, or 5 plus the affected person?

As for Osgood Schlatters, the good news is that from what I know of it, it's self-limiting over time. My brother was diagnosed with it as a pre-teen, after thinking he just had the worst case of shin splints ever (I had shin splints from high impact aerobics and running, and an "extremity" adjustment by a chiropractor fixed that problem), but nowadays he doesn't even remember the diagnosis, and says that it never happened. I think all symptoms were gone (without medication other than OTC pain relievers and without PT) by the time he started college. He's now a marathon runner, has even done the Marine Corps marathon with almost no trouble (other than now being 35, lol).

And to help with the pain, if you're willing to try something, try giving him homeopathic arnica, either the cream or the pellets. Arnica is one of the most effective pain relievers I have ever come across, even knocking out my lifelong leg aches that used to take something as strong as a can't-find-anymore-b/c-it-was-so-strong OTC drug called Percogesic.

Bumber, would homeopathic Arnica work for my dd(5)'s growing pains in her legs? I think I have some up with my other remedies.

To the OP: Yes, you can take a total of 6 people through the HA entrance on rides. You can get a GAC guide from either the wheelchair rental CM or City Hall that will tell you how to navigate the ques for handicapped entrance. For instance, on many rides, you enter through the exit que (i.e., Space Mountain, BTMRR, Pirates, Peter Pan).

 

[bumbershoot]

OFF TOPIC answer!

IMO, arnica is incredible. I'm pretty careful with my homeopathics, and rarely just randomly use a remedy, but arnica, I could write an ode to it.

The Boiron brand stuff is good enough, but last summer DH and I were moving from house to apartment. We were, especially Robert (DH), extremely sore. Our apartment is near downtown and we walked a few blocks to a farmer's market (downtown, odd!), and passed by a booth where their arnica cream caught our eye. We took a tiny sample of it and I smoothed it on DH's calves, and by the time we were at the next booth, his calf muscles had stopped screaming at him. We went right back and bought the bottle. In fact I just ordered a bottle to have sent to my stepdad who is having a hip replacement tomorrow, b/c he had a very hard recovery from the first side's replacement...I figure once it's OK to smooth anything on his skin near the incisions, he should smear that stuff, b/c arnica can stop pain AND it promotes healing. (in case anyone wonders, the company's name is Salmon Creek Botanicals, and they have a website)

So I would feel comfortable giving my own 5 year old arnica, either pellets or using the cream/gel, for growing pains, especially since I use one or the other on my 3 year old's growing pains, headaches (he inherited leg pain from me and head pain from DH, poor kid), and various bumps and bruises, and his pain stops VERY fast and he heals up quickly.

But homeopathy, while not dangerous, can be tricky in some ways (if you over use something you can make yourself "immune" to it...we did that with chamomile when DS was teething, when he ate a whole bottle of pellets...took a year for it to work on him again), and even though I use arnica on myself and my family without any worries, it always behooves people to look into it if they want to!


So that's an answer and an addendum to my above mention of arnica, lol.

 

[Cora]

My son has OS (2 yrs now) and we've been to WDW when he was first diagnosed. He did need a wheelchair for when it flared up.
Make sure you ice. Biofreeze is a cold application gel that works like ice. You can buy it in individual packages. Ask PT for info on it or they may have it there.

His stretches are going to be the most important.

You may also want to ask about crutches. Initially it could help.

Also, a knee brace makes a world of difference. The brace that my son's dr ordered has a gel pad around the knee cap. This way if he bangs into anything or falls on it, it cuts down on the pain. The brace we have is made by Healy (I think).

Good luck. It does take some monitoring and care, but it will get better.

 

[Evi]

I had OS while growing up though rare in females it happens alot when your very active. I'd recomen the knee brace as #1 in your list of things to do it was by far the most helpfull for me in controling pain and when I didn't wear it I'd fall constantly.

I dont know if a weel chair is really your best bet its best that he uses the knee thats why they offer physical therapy but thats really something for you to decide but one crutch or a cool looking cain could go along way in helping him support his body weight.

Eventually its true the pain will supside but please if the bone regrows with anything that may require surgery encourage him to do it. I hesitated and now as an adult I sometimes experience knee pain and have massive scar tissue in my knee.

Best of luck and have a great trip

 

[Hound 109]

my son has Osgood-Schlatter disease... . It has been so painful for him to walk the past week and the dr. said this can last months and months. They are putting him in physical therapy, and giving him some meds to help... So my question is... we are going to DL next month and if he is not any better... ( meaning the pain when he walks) I think I might need to use a wheelchair. Do they rent these? Do you have to leave them out like u do strollers while ur in line? I am clueless to this issue, but I dont want him to be in pain while we are there. I know how hard it is to let alone walk around DL much less with a wheelchair.. any suggestions? Or even any advice would be wonderful .. thanks!

I hope you have a magical vacation, pyrateswife.

(Didn't you post once before about Vow renewals? Did you decide what (where) you were going to do this? Pirate's Lair, perhaps?)

Have fun.

 

[pyrateswife]

I hope you have a magical vacation, pyrateswife.

(Didn't you post once before about Vow renewals? Did you decide what (where) you were going to do this? Pirate's Lair, perhaps?)

Have fun.

yes I did and I did decide on Pirates Lair.. It just sounds perfect! Yesterday I was kinda wondering if we should even go at all with my son hurting like he is, but after reading all of your guys posts, I think we will go ahead and try to make the most of it!

Thank you all... Lisa

 

[Cora]

Yesterday I was kinda wondering if we should even go at all with my son hurting like he is, but after reading all of your guys posts, I think we will go ahead and try to make the most of it!

Thank you all... Lisa

Lisa,
Absolutely go. We've been to WDW, Universal and Washington DC with my son invarious forms of orthopedic misery. We've had the boot and crutches, slipper and crutches, etc., etc. Do not worry. He will be fine and so will you. Just go and have a great time...in a month's time you will know how to manage this better.
Cora

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would think of the experience in a different way, Just maybe your son being at DLR will ease the pain a bit and take his mind away from how he is feeling. DLR works wonders. Take him to Alladdin I am sure he will enjoy it.

Have a fun time,

Jack

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I would think of the experience in a different way, Just maybe your son being at DLR will ease the pain a bit and take his mind away from how he is feeling.

I agree. He'll have other, more important things to think about (like what ride he wants to go on next) than his physical condition. He'll be technically suffering either way, but would he rather deal with his condition at home or at DLR?

 

[pyrateswife]

very true.. He will probably have a blast! I think I will get him a knee brace to wear.. that gel one sound like a good one.. right now we are tapeing it.. (dr. swears it works, lol she swears its what they did back in the day..) hey I will try anything to make him stop hurting.. he said heat makes it feel a little better.. he did ask me last night if this will affect him playing baseball.. I just told him we would have to wait and see... poor guy .. he LOVES baseball... I just hope he can get around fine without a wheelchair.. just the thought of trying to get through the crowds... yuck.... BUT I would do anything for my baby.. lol

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

In Oct. we took my brother to DL who is in a wheel chair (he has his own, but we have rented one for him in years past there). On the "pass" they gave us it said it was good for up to 5 people (including the person in the chair).

Depending on the ride, you usually go through the exit. Some have a separate line (like Small World), or through the fast pass line. Others they have built large enough for a wheel chair and they want you to take the chair through the line. Buzz is an example of this. Although it depends on the CM working the ride. Most let us use the Fast Pass line. Which was very helpful, due to medications my brother can not sit in the direct sun for very long. He is also mentally disabed and does not do well in long lines. We only had one pretty rude CM give us a hard time about Buzz (which was my brother's favorite). She was the only one trying to force us to go through the line. She was fine with us skipping the ride since we could not do that.

Most of the CM's we found to be very helpful and kind. It's certainly no type of pass that means you'll get on the ride without a wait. Sometimes the wait is longer then stand by! Hope this helps!

 

[Cora]

Pyrateswife,
One thing about the wheelchair situation. We found that our son really needed it at the end of the day. During the day he would only use it sporadically going from ride to ride. Generally, he would walk the queue to the ride and not need the disabled line.
Cora