Knee Issues and Cane

[Poppinsme]

Going to WDW on Nov/Dec 2007 and cant wait. Heres the problem. I have a really bad right knee. Now I'm no wimp and work 12 hour night shifts on my feet. But I also know that there will be a lot of walking at WDW and I'm also 50 years old. Should I bring my cane? Do they allow a cane to come with you on your plane? Would a cane be a problem on the rides? Should I just take it easy and not push to see everything? My DH and I are going to be at WDW for almost 9 days. I would rather have my cane then start limping around and be miserable. I guess I don't know what to do. And please don't take this as a complaint, I try very hard not to complain about knee.
Thank you.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Bring your cane! Bring your cane! Bring your cane!
Yes, the airlines allow you to bring it onboard the plane with you, AND it does not count toward your carry-on allowance.
Security (generally) requires that you run the cane through the xray machine, but they will offer you a(n actual) hand if you need support getting through the scanner. Some airports have "safe" canes you can use for those few feet instead. It sounds like you won't actually have trouble walking unsupported for that short distance, but...
On many rides, your cane will not be a problem. On the wilder rides - e.g. Space Mountain, Tower of Terror - a Cast Member will take it from you and you can get it back when you exit the ride. I've even leaned a crutch against a pole right by where I boarded Big Thunder Mountain, and it was still there when I got back. On Soarin', you can just lay the cane down on the floor at your feet and pick it up again when you "land". It will not get in anyone's way - nobody enters or exits the room during the ride.

 

[Poppinsme]

Thank you so much kaytieeldr! This makes me feel so much better.
Great.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Bring it

Usually when you have it, you will not need it

But if you do, I think you might be more comfortable knowing you have it and can use it. I think you will be surprised to see how many people have canes/wheelchairs, etc....

bring it, go, have fun and don't give it a second thought

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Have you considered renting an ECV or wheelchair for the trip? Only you can know if using one would be right for you, but there is a lot of walking at WDW and it might just give you that extra bit of help when you need it. If you do get one, you don't have to stay in it constantly, you can just park up and walk as much as you feel up to. Just an idea.

Have a great trip !

 

[Selket]

I'm only reading this cause I'm having knee problems myself (no trip to WDW though until later this year - I hope I have the issue resolved by then!). (I seem to have a piece of bone or something broken off and getting in the joint causing a lot of swelling at times and locking up) It has been rather fatiguing to have such a sore knee so I can't imagine trying to limp around WDW like this.

(And I don't know the cause of your sore knee but my MIL had knee replacement surgery and is like a new woman with her ability to walk and freedom from pain - and she was in her 80's)

I just wanted to add that you might benefit from renting a wheelchair or ECV since your stay is such a long one. The lines are mostly mainstreamed so you'd stay with your party and tour as usual. Or you could ride it to the rides and park (I think wheelchair and stroller parking might be together?) and wait in the que as usual. There is a lot of info in the FAQ on the sticky at the top of this board for more info.

Here's some pixie dust for our knees!

 

[Earstou]

No problem with canes on the plane! Just stow it in the overhead bin during the flight (for safety reasons)!

 

[kmjmom]

I agree that you may want to rent a wheelchair. I spent last Monday at MK and was very happy to have the chair. I am in a walking boot for a foot and ankle injury and knew that I could never make my way down Main street never mind through the park. It was a great day with wheels! I was able to go on the rides I wanted. My only complaint would be the rude people at Cosmic Rays. Each time I would wheel toward a vacant table, some rude person would look at me and run to get there first. It was incredible. It happened three times before my husband, who was carrying the tray of food, and I went to an outside table. I thought I might be able to help out by getting us a table while he waited in line for the food. Every other part of the day was Magical! I definitely didn't attempt any rides that would jar my leg too much. Have fun!!

 

[yorkshiregirl]

I would also suggest hiring an ECV. DH found last trip that he could stay at the parks much longer and didn't loose his independance using one. We have booked one again for this July.
He also brings his cane with him on planes and rides. He has a Velcro attachment for the ECV so the cane stays in place.

 

[Poppinsme]

Thank you so much for all the replies. I will definitely take my cane and if it gets hard to walk will consider the ECV. Just having a hard time excepting this. Thanks again all.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If you decide not to book one before you go, make sure you write down the numbers from the FAQ to take with you, just in case you need them. Better to have them and not use them, than not have them and really need them. Also, if you rent off property, you can ask them to attach a cane holder to the ECV, to keep it out of the way.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thank you so much for all the replies. I will definitely take my cane and if it gets hard to walk will consider the ECV. Just having a hard time excepting this. Thanks again all.

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[Creola]

Just having a hard time excepting this. Thanks again all.

If anyone knows how you're feeling, it's me! I've had two bad knees for the last few years. I'm scheduled for knee replacement surgery on 5/16 and have reservations at WDW in early December with the whole family. I'm hoping the replaced knee will be just wonderful by then....but who knows?

I also asked for help from this board and got a lot! The one thing that was stressed to me was basically to accept that I might need to rent an ECV...and that I would be happy I did. I don't even use a cane (at least not yet), so this is a huge leap for me to make. But, you know what? I'm going to rent the EVC and I'm going to enjoy my Disney vacation!

I hope you'll take the time, after your visit to WDW, to let me know how things went. Here's hoping you have the best time of your life!

Please stay in touch.....
Creola/Carole

 

[katrini111]

Just another little tip that might help. My husband purchased one of those folding canes before we went on our trip. He went on everything, just folded it up and kept it with him the whole time, so he had it when he got off. Now he is 6'1" and 230 lbs. and never had a problem with it. I also recommend the scooter.

 

[shovan]

Hi Poppinsme!

Sorry to hear your having knee problems. I understand your not wanting to need the cane or getting a scooter. I have some back & feet problems that give me more trouble while doing WDW. Even though we have several scooters here (my DH old ones) I couldn't bring myself to take one with us on the last trip. I'm supposed to be the healthy one. Anyway, I just wanted to say I feel for what your going through. Good Luck on the trip!

p.s. I haven't seen you on our local thread in a while, come drop in & chat with the Nola folks!

 

[dbarker]

DH has bad knees. He took his walking stick w/ him last time. Since it is a walking stick and not a cane, security gave him a hard time about it at first, until he explained that he had bad knees. Then everything was fine. We stored the walking stick in a closet on the plane (just don't forget to get it). He had it w/ him all through WDW. On the rides that he couldn't take it on a CM held on to it until we got off.

DH had a more pleasurable trip w/ his walking stick. We will be taking it with us again in May.

 

[Poppinsme]

I have a nice update. After reading about folding canes I mentioned this to my DH about maybe getting one. Well Last night DH surprised me with a folding cane! I love it. Went to Home Depot and tried it there and it was great. Cant wait to use it at WDW. And DH thinks its a splendid idea if I rent a ECV.
I want to thank all of you for your support. The DIS rocks!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

That's all great news! It's wonderful that you've got a cane you get along with, and good on you for the ECV issue!

Have a magical trip !

 

[zumbergc]

Ecv are great is you have bad knees.

I second the idea about grabbing the numbers for the ecv rental places from the FAQ on the top of the page.

Just have to remember a few things.
IF you have knee pains, being on your feet for 8-12 hours is going to be rough. Think about how you feel when you've been on your feet all day and your knee starts to hurt. It kind of wares on you.
Your not as happy, and sometimes a little more grumpy at the happy place of disney. IF your spending all that $$ and hoping to have a great vacation, you might want to consider the ECV.

Its not a fun thing to do at first, but for me makes the trips so much enjoyable and pain free.

Connie

 

[powellrj]

I have had bad knees since I was in high school and I am now in my late 40's. When I was younger, I was always able to tour commando style, but the last couple of years its more of a "I'll wait here and you can come back for me style"

I rented an ECV for our last trip and it drove my family crazy!! For the first time in years they couldn't keep up with me!! I had forgotten what a wonderful trip it really was! My younger DD had never known a mom without bad knees and she was amazed at me!

Rent the EVC, it will make such a difference in your trip.

It makes me sad when I read all the post about younger healthy looking people that abuse the EVCs. I maybe younger than an elderly person, but they have no idea how much pain this healthy looking person is in.

I had my left knee replaced in December and am having the other replaced in June, so I hope by our next trip I will be a commando traveler again!