Knee Problem- Advice Please

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Hello all! I am a 3x CP of Disney (once in attractions, two in entertainment).

Here is my *possible* situation. Several friends from work and I are talking about taking a trip to Disney before school starts up again. I am currently experiencing an ongoing issue with my knee that may or may not require surgery (this has been going on ever since my last CP, Joanna can attest to the issues I was experiencing). I don't know what the situation will be later in the summer (surgery, crutches, braces, all better?) but am wanting to get some perspectives from our more experienced members.

I certainly know about all the accommodations that Disney makes, and have travelled with people with disabilities before. My mom has arthritis and they gave us an AA GAC for her, the same thing for my friend who had leukemia and had her hips replaced. In both instances we rented wheelchairs, and things seemed to be okay. However, I have never been the one in need of accommodation and am wondering if you have any advice. Lately, the more walking I do the more aggravated my knee gets (potential tendon/cartilage tear). I may have to suck it up and rent a wheelchair, but even then, sitting with it bent for too long is just as bad as walking on it for long periods of time.

For those who have experienced this before, what kind of sage advice do you have? What should I plan for, especially since I don't know yet what the situation will be come the end of July/beginning of August.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available wil increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

I know it is difficult at you age, but please ask yourself 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 traveling with, such as your friends or 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 friends or family? Absolutely YES!

One thing about a wheelchair or ECV is you do not have to stay in it all the time; yoiu can get out and walk, as long as the time or distance is not too bad. (And see #4 and #5 above.)

Unless you are used to pushing a wheelchair, or your friends or family are healthy enough to have no problem pushing you, I would suggest looking into renting an ECV from an offsite location, they are beter and less expensive than Disney's.

 

[mechurchlady]

HEY, it is my dear friend from another board, welcome. I am sure you found FAQs by now. I assume you are going to Disneyworld so there will be lots of pictures, links, and other info here. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. This is my chalet away from my home at that other board, lol. When you are done with reading the FAQs and looking at recent posts then feel free to ask away any specific questions.

Being a former CM at any park means you know the basics of other parks. I told you over at the other board about all I know, lol. Big hugs and welcome.

<--- me reading your posts, lol.

hugs from Churchy

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Thanks for the help! I talked to my friends, they were aware I was experiencing an issue. I was a bit worried about their response to the idea of using a WC (I really don't want to pay money for an ECV. As a CM, I saw how much of a pain they were!). They said they would have no problem pushing me in a WC if needed, in fact, they said they would have fun doing it. (I'm a little scare now, lol). I'm really anxious to find out what the surgeon says. I'm cleaning my apartment at the moment and every time I bend over to pick something up my knee pops. This is a new development and not a welcome one!

I start teaching summer school in two weeks, (1/2 days 5 days a week) and will also be waitressing four days a week, so this couldn't have happened at a worse time! I'll just be glad to finally get an answer to the problem.

 

[Momelie]

I would absolutely consider a wheelchair if I were you, if your friends don't mind pushing it.

Of course, if they are anything like my DH, you might have a few interesting moments.... the Adventureland "hill" comes to mind, especially if they find the quick turnoff to CP, LOL!

Seriously, though, when you have pain like that, you don't know how much pain you were in until you do something that relieves the pain. That sentence probably didn't make sense, but it will after you manage to make it through a park day with little to no discomfort and you aren't whimpering at the end of the day.

About getting stiff - the park wheelchairs don't have an apparatus to straighten the leg, so I highly recommend stretching right there in the chair whenever possible (like in lines when you have the space). I don't recommend it while on the move (see prior comment about DH's driving skills!). Also, since you are mobile to an extent, get out and walk as you can, in shops, restaurants, etc. I recommend that you NEVER take a wheelchair into a CS restaurant - recipe for disaster! Well, the only one I've tried is the Village Haus, and it was difficult to a) find a table where you could get a WC in, b) find a vacant table without having to do a mad rush to it (see WC driving comments), and c) not have people trip over you, or children come up and want to use you for a new playground toy. JME, though, YMMV.

For teaching - don't know what age you teach (I teach college freshmen) but I've found a wonderful stool in Target that has a very comfortable seat, and a bump out shelf thing for my feet. I use it when I lecture, and also a wireless mouse has been a godsend to keep me from getting up to change the slide or PP stuff.

Hope all goes well at the surgeon, though, and that you never need to use this information!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Been here, done that, have the scar to prove it (and the pain). This is the reason I use an ECV at WDW. I tore the meniscus (common in young/active women) in my right knee in August 2000 and couldn't have surgery until December 2000. I suffered quite a bit sometimes, but did well after the repair, that is until January 2006, when I fell over my mom's foot and landed right knee down on the floor that was carpeted, but had concrete underneath with no padding. I spent 5 months on crutches and had PT and antiinflammitories, but still have to use the ECV to get around WDW and even some local stores if I have had a bad day.

Do not feel bad about having to use a WC or ECV. I do advise that if you are going to WDW when it is hot, rent the ECV and save your friends the exhaustion of pushing you in the heat. I pushed my mom through AK in a WC in June 2005 on our first trip and that was torture. I almost passed out. From then on she had to rent an ECV.

Suzanne

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I just found out I will be teaching 6th grade Communication Arts. Specifically I will be teaching the book Canyons by Gary Paulsen.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Have you considered looking into some kind of bracing or bandaging to provide extra support for the knee? This is not instead of the wheelchair, but just to help you when you're out of it. Some kind of stick or crutches might also help take some of the weight off, but I don't know how that would work around the waitressing.

If you have problems having the knee bent all the time, you might want to look into renting a wheelchair from off site, that has the possibility to ellivate the leg. It probably wouldn't be wise to wheel around with it out, as a lot of people don't look where they are going in Disney, but you could put it up for shows, parades and meals.

Hope this helps!

 

[kayleighnik]

I would definately get a wheelchair.

I've found that if I use a wheelchair, I'm able to walk with little or no problem when I'm out of it. I was a bit reluctant to use a wheelchair, and didn't do so on the first day...we went to Epcot - big mistake! I was completely crippled by the time we got round to American Adventure (we hadn't done Future World) and my brother and mom more or less had to carry me back to the hotel. I was laid up for the rest of the day...not fun.

And it can be quite interesting being pushed in the wheelchair...my 12 year old brother insisted on pushing me down a hill and letting go (if no one was around). Just be careful...your friends might get so busy looking around at the wonderful surroundings, they don't look where they're going! I went into several walls and bushes...courtesy of my Nan!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I do wear an OTC knee brace, but it was tough finding one that fits. The one I have isn't great, but it's the best so far. My problem is that I am about the height of the average 12 year old and most braces are unisex and meant for average sized adults. I tried a copmany that makes braces specifically for women, but it slid right off my leg. I've discovered that an adjustable "one size fits all" brace is actually the best that I can find OTC, I have the velcro as tight as it can go and I still have to readjust it all the time. I see the surgeon next week, so hopefully he'll be able to give me a better option. Thankfully now that the university is out of session, the restaurant is slow and we go home early. They're also really good about not putting me on the stages and not sending me to the basement for stuff. Ice beforehand, several Ibuprofen, and my brace gets me through the evening .

I will admit, I have a hard time accepting using a WC. I used one when an ECV damaged my achilles tendon and it was very uncomfortable for me. I don't know if it's a height thing (I'm already really short to begin with), but I hated being down that low and I felt really self conscious. Sometimes when my knee is really bad I think about using one of the ECVs or wheelchairs at the grocery store, but again, I feel very self conscious and always end up chickening out and just leaning on the cart. Out of curiosity, has anybody else ever felt this way? How did you get over it?

 

[Willow1213]

I know how you feel about being self-conscious. My fiance has knee problems also. He was told that it was a very common sports injury and that the only cure was rest, ibuprofen, and some physical therapy. It was supposed to be all healed in 3-6 months.
Well, a year and a half later and two trip to WDW, he is still in pain everyday. At least once a week its so bad he can't drive (stick shift). He also refuses to use a wheelchair. I keep telling him that it's ok, no one is judging, but he still refuses. He does use a cane sometimes, which I saw him quickly hide behind him when we ran into a friend at the store. At 22, having mobility issues is tough.
We are currently looking for new doctors, a switch of insurance sucks when you are trying to get help.
Your situation sounds very similar to his, only they actually let you see the surgeon to get help! Hope you feel better soon. We got familiar with lots of benches on our trip. Hope you have a great time.

 

[ntsammy5]

I've had knee problems my entire adult life -- started with a major injury and surgery when I was 17 and sorta ended with a replacement at 60 -- in between I spent 36 years in the army. The best thing I ever found that helped a lot was to wrap it in an adjustable one size fits all neoprene wrap -- very tight. It helps a lot especially at WDW. Good luck.

PS: A replacement was the smartest thing I ever did. Standing was always a big problem and we just recently watched our daughter run two marathons, one at Disney and I stood for several hours without problems. That was really great!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

As I mentioned, my biggest problem at the moment is finding a brace that fits since I am much smaller than the average person. I finally found one that has hinges on it that fits and gives me good support- which is needed for waitressing and teaching all day. I guess I just feel like a fraud since I am on my feet all day at work as a waitress and a good part of the time at school. It's pretty painful sometimes, but I don't have a lot of choice at the moment.

 

[syko]

Not Disney related but have you tried MBT shoes?
My sister has had several back surgies, and in the UK these shoes are classed as a class 1 medical device.
Since changing to MBT's she has had no problems.....until she was silly one weeked and wore her other shoes!!!!

 

[7165red]

What are MBT shoes? More info please.

 

[SueM in MN]

What are MBT shoes? More info please.

Here's a link to the company's website. I have seen people wearing them - the sole is kind of distinctive looking. Haven't talked to anyone wearing them though.

Another kind of shoes that I have heard good things about for knee and back pain are Zcoil shoes. They have springs built in to absorb shock.

 

[mrmagicmph]

Here's a link to the company's website. I have seen people wearing them - the sole is kind of distinctive looking. Haven't talked to anyone wearing them though.

Sue,

Now you can say you have. I've been wearing MBT shoes now for probably about a year now. EXCLUSIVELY wearing them. They HUGELY change how your feet walk (in my case, between the MBTs & finally getting a new pair of orthodics after 20 yrs or so of use, they're literally resculpting the shape of my feet). They do have a very distinctive sole, as you have said. One thing about them, though, is that if you tend to stomp when you walk, as I do, you can tend to wear down the sides quickly. The shoes are EXPENSIVE (probably average $250 or so), though you can have them resoled by their approved place (& ONLY their approved place) for $60 to $80.

Also, a small note... at least at The Walking Company, where I buy them, because the shoes have medical "properties" (see how they're reshaping my feet), if the shoes are prescribed by a podiatrist or other medical professional, they reduce the price.

Anyway, hope that this helps. Enjoy the Magic! We now return you to your regularly scheduled topic

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

If I were you, I wouldn't stress too much about it either way. I'd start out without one and then if you need one, get one. I can relate that sitting can cause the your knee to be very stiff...it happens to me! I would suggest trying to ice it at night if it's causing pain and maybe carrying some over the counter pain meds while in the parks.

I've had a bunch of knee problems myself, one scope on my right knee (miniscus and just an overall cleaning) and 2 complete ACL reconstructions on my left knee. I currently have a completely torn ACL in my right knee (I'm hoping 3 times is a charm because ACL surgery is no fun!) that I won't have operated on until I get home from both of my vacations to WDW.

Good luck but don't stress too much about it!