Knee replacement 5 weeks before trip

[myjourney]

I know this will vary from one person to the next, but I would like to hear from anyone who visited DW within a couple of months of knee replacement. I have reserved a ECV from Apple just in case, not sure if I will need it?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You will need it!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

There's an echo in here! You will need it, and I recommend that you take a large zip loc bag in with you so you can make an on-the-fly ice bag. Remember, too, that CMs are happy to slow moving walkways down for you on most rides if need be.

 

[powellrj]

Is there anyway you can cancel your trip or move it?

I had total knee replacement in both knees and did very well, but even I wouldn't have wanted to make the trip that soon. I went home in 2 days, was off all pain meds in 10 days and was driving the kids to activities at 2 weeks and there is still no way I would have wanted to make the trip to WDW from Indiana at 5 weeks!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Repeat after me, "Scooters are our friend!"

Um, will your doctor allow you to fly that far that soon? There's a danger of blood clots when you sit too long in a cramped up position on a plane.

 

[myjourney]

They are doing one knee then the other will be done in the summer. I will have to find out what the doctor says about traveling. I am pretty sure a direct flight is around 2 hours. Driving is about 16 hours but we can stop and walk when needed. My surgery is the first week of January and the February trip is an extra week because my daughter has a convention to attend and we want to go if possible. Our main family Disney trip is in May, so if he says no then it will be OK because of the May trip.

 

[JoyMouse]

You can do it!!! I went last year 6 weeks after total knee replacement. I did use a scooter, but had a wonderful time! I just went with the attitude that I was gonna take it easy and enjoy the trip. I was there for park opening each morning and stayed until evening. I took my cane in too, that way when I got up I had some extra support. I didn't have to fly, we live 4 hours away so we drove. We just stopped a couple of times so that I could get out and stretch (and potty!). I would do it again!! Good luck and feel free to message me if you have any questions.
Joy

 

[Mom B]

Good luck to you! I had my left TKR on 9/15 hoping things would be well recovered for our January trip. 2-1/2 months later I'm still wondering...I know I would be fine with an ECV but hoping to avoid it if at all possible. My strength and my 'straightening' are good but the bending is not going so well. But DH has back and knee problems so I won't have too much trouble keeping up with him! And the kids, well, they can just go at their own pace and we'll catch up eventually. Everybody's situation is different and you could well be in better shape than I am. Do take care not to overdo, though!

 

[EpcotQueen]

I would not recommend a trip so soon after knee replacement. You should be right in the middle of physical therapy and not a good idea to miss any session. I had my knee done last April and found pt key. Flying will be difficult with limited leg room on most flights. Talk to your doctor. Go by what he recommends. If he says ok, then definately a scooter.

 

[myjourney]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I told my daughter to make arrangements in case we cannot go. I have until 5 days before to cancel. I thought I was a fairly brave person, but I find as it gets closer I am very scared of this surgery. Hopefully I will feel calmer by January

 

[PatMcDuck]

It is so hard to know how you will be doing so soon after the TKR. I would say to reschedule, based up my experience with DD's TKR.

DD had a TKR in Sept, she is 19 years old. (LONG story, she will have the other knee done in March). OK, this may not be typical, but at 6-7 weeks post-surgery, she had to go in for a "manipulation" under anesthesia. They put you to sleep for 10 minutes, and bend your knee, to break thru the scar tissue inside). Set her back a little more, but now at 9 weeks post op, she is doing fairly well. At 6-7 weeks, before the manipulation, she was only at 80-90 degrees, tops, and a WDW trip would have been almost impossible. As they will explain, the problem is not the new knee, it is the muscles, tendons, etc.

While she was driving about 2 1/2-3 weeks post op, she has not returned to work (PT retail job, on her feet all the time).

Good luck what ever you decide!

 

[BeerMe]

I went 5 months after a TKR and walked everywhere, I'm sure I couldn't have done that at 5 weeks.

 

[ctotty]

I had one tkr in Feb and the other in April and went to WDW in November. I still had quite a bit of pain. Being on rides that jiggle that metal around in your leg is quite painful. People bumping into your knee or as I had it, an absent minded kid kicked mine on the bus is very painful. I had a scooter, and found that it got stiff. A knee replacement is very painful- give your self at least 6 months and get your PT done first. You will enjoy your trip so much more in May.

 

[harrismargaret9]

Go ahead man! You can do it!