My hubby has to have knee surgery - now what??

[Gymbomom]

My hubby has torn his ACL and MCL in his knee. (I think that is what they are called) He will be having surgery on 7/22. We go to Disney on 9/18 - 9/28. The Dr. said he will still be in an "air splint" and on crutches at that time. The Dr. said he would supply a note for Disney for us to get a wheelchair. (Not sure if we really need that as I think anyone can rent a wheelchair - right???)I can't imagine him lasting 11 days on crutches, so I know we will need to get a wheelchair. Do you think we need one at the resort as well?
I was really looking foward to this trip being the first one w/o a stroller, oh well.

How does the wheelchair lines work at the rides? I have to say I dread having everyone look at us in that line - I know people can be really negative when someone doesn't "look" like they need to be in a wheelchair.
But, I am not sure if he will be up to standing on crutches waiting in lines.

Thanks for any ideas or planning thoughts.

 

[Carnator]

If you go to the DisABILITIES FAQ at the beginng of the disability thread there is a lot of info compiled there.

To answer some of your questions.

NO, you do not need a Dr.'s note. That is a big no no.

Some of the resorts are huge so you might need a W/C or ECV just to get around them.

 

[arminnie]

Wow that's a long time after the surgery to have to be on crutches. I've taken care of my sister (twice) and a friend who had major ACL/MCL surgeries (plus my cousin too I almost forgot). My dad had a total knee replacement, and I helped another friend who did too.

All of them were ambulatory within two weeks - now not WDW ready by any means, but not even using a walker by two weeks out.

But whether he is able to walk some or not, I would recommend an ECV. He will have a lot more freedom and independence - plus you will not have to push him. Getting one off site will be cheaper and it will also be helpful at the resort.

Many of the lines are accessible by wheelchair or ECV. I had to use an ECV two years ago when I'd had pneumonia for 8 months. It was not that bad really. I loved having that basket most of all.

Good luck with the surgery and the trip.

 

[KPeveler]

also, disney rental chairs do NOT have elevating or adjusting foot rests, so if he still cant bend his knee, i would suggest either an ECV or a rental from off-site that has elevating leg rests.

a manual chair is MUCH harder to push than a stroller, so i would definitely say an ECV so you dont have to push him!

and pooh on what other people might think in lines - i use my personal chair and get up and walk when i get to the ride vehicles... i'm certain people think i am faking, but i know my own illness/disability, and i do what i need... they dont know you, so who cares what they think!

 

[Gymbomom]

Thanks for the replies....... He has been to all of the Dr. appt's by himself...it might be time for me to go to one so I can better understand what his recovery time will be.

 

[SueM in MN]

You already got some good advice and got pointed to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You don't need a doctor's note to rent a wheelchair or ECV. Check with your insurance though. If the doctor deems a wheelchair or ECV to be medically necessary, your insurance may pay part of the cost of renting, with the correct paperwork.

I'm going to suggest some places to look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Post #2 has information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs. As has already been mentioned, the park rental wheelchairs have fixed footrests, not elevating ones. So, if you decide to do a wheelchair, I would rent from off-site. That will also help out with the resort - because they are big and include a lot of walking. It can also be quite a hike from the bus or parking area to the place in the park where you can rent wheelchairs/ECVs. You can also get crutch holders to hold the crutches on the wheelchair/ECV from the off-site rental places.
I would also agree with the others that an ECV would be a lot easier than a wheelchair. It would give him a lot more independence and no one would have to push him around.

Post #3 in the disABILITIES FAQs thread has links to the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities at each park. You can get an actual written copy at the parks, but it's nice to see the internet information ahead of time.
There are also some links in post #3 about boarding rides.

 

[arminnie]

Not about the parks but another bit of info that might prove helpful.

Each time my sister had knee surgery she had this contraption that circulated cold water around the knee. There was an ice chest that I kept filled with ice and water.

The machine circulated the ice cold water thru tubing and this thing wrapped around her leg. I know that sounds like some kind of torture device but it really did help in keeping her knee iced - better than ice packs.

She used it twice and so did my cousin. The other friend who stayed with me after surgery just had to use ice packs which were much harder to control. With the "ice water machine" my sister could sleep through the night - even if I did get up to put more ice in the container once or twice.

My sister has even loaned hers to other people whose doctors did not provide it or else their insurance did not cover it.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I have had my ACL reconstructed twice (both on my left knee) and I currently have a completely torn right ACL that I'm going to have operated on after my vacations this year...well actually most likely not until January.

Anyway, just a piece of advice - when your husband has the surgery, make sure he stays ahead of the pain medicine, never letting it lapse. My doctor told me that and I was very thankful that I did. He said that if you let it lapse, you'll never catch up with the pain. Do you know if he's have the petella (spelling?) graft or the cadavor graft? I have only had the cadavor graft surgery.

You're husband may or may not end up being on crutches (it really depends on the doctor) when you go. If he does, just rent a wheelchair and go! But make sure that he wears the brace or whatever the doctor orders for him. It's important to keep the knee supported because he doesn't want to end up hurting it.

Good luck!

 

[HarbinsMom]

I've had ACL repair/revision done twice. I was non-weight bearing for 3 weeks with both. Then, they ease you into walking, first with both crutches, then with one, then without. The 3rd surgery was non-weight bearing for 8 weeks, with a trip to WDW a week later. I used an ECV and my crutches and could not have done it without the ECV. It would have been impossible to think I could have walked all that way on crutches.

Keep a ziploc or an icebag with you and an ace bandage so you can ice throughout the day. It will help, I promise. Staying ahead of the pain with the pain meds is also a great idea.

Have fun!

 

[HarbinsMom]

Not about the parks but another bit of info that might prove helpful.

Each time my sister had knee surgery she had this contraption that circulated cold water around the knee. There was an ice chest that I kept filled with ice and water.

The machine circulated the ice cold water thru tubing and this thing wrapped around her leg. I know that sounds like some kind of torture device but it really did help in keeping her knee iced - better than ice packs.

She used it twice and so did my cousin. The other friend who stayed with me after surgery just had to use ice packs which were much harder to control. With the "ice water machine" my sister could sleep through the night - even if I did get up to put more ice in the container once or twice.

My sister has even loaned hers to other people whose doctors did not provide it or else their insurance did not cover it.

The machine that circulates the cold water is great. An absolute life saver, but works on electricity. I took mine to use at night when we were back in our room, but wasn't practical for the parks. I just used an icebag that had an ace bandage and wrapped it around my knee. It helped, but I love the ice machine. Wonderful invention. Used mine 3 times now.

 

[*Valdez*]

Don't mind what people may or may not think.
Don't forget to locate the first aid in every park for reference. Just in case.
Keep knee elevated in the room and one thing my surgeon kept reminding me was to alternate between ice/heat packs, for pain and swelling.

 

[ntsammy5]

Get some disposable cold packs to use in icing down the knee as necessary. What kind of surgery will he be having? I can guarantee that he won't last 11 days on crutches unless he's a triathlete!

 

[sking85111]

This is the first time I have ever posted on this board, but thought that I would share my experience with acl surgery. My daughter tore her acl playing lacrosse and had the Patella Graft surgery on July 1. We decided to cancel our upcoming free dining trip because we thought that it would be too much for her. At this point we are 2 weeks post op, she is walking with the aid of crutches and bearing some weight on it. She is currently in a brace that runs from her groin to her ankle. It has a wheel on it that allows the doctor to control the degrees at which the knee is bent, currently it is set to 20 degrees. We were told the brace will be part of her wardrobe for 2-6 months depending on her progress. While the brace is light weight, it is large and makes her extremely warm. With the warm August weather, I thought she would be very uncomfortable. Another reason for cancelling our trip was that we were planning on driving and I thought the 17+ hour car ride would also take its toll. I am hoping that Free Dining will be offered again next year, so she can enjoy it completely and comfortably. Good Luck to your husband hope his surgery goes well.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also - a suggestion for ice....
If you bring an old fashioned ice bag (the cloth kind with a screw on lid) you can refill it with ice for free. All the resorts have ice machines and you can get ice in the counter service restaurants or First Aid for free.

 

[asta]

Not about the parks but another bit of info that might prove helpful.

Each time my sister had knee surgery she had this contraption that circulated cold water around the knee. There was an ice chest that I kept filled with ice and water.

The machine circulated the ice cold water thru tubing and this thing wrapped around her leg. I know that sounds like some kind of torture device but it really did help in keeping her knee iced - better than ice packs.

She used it twice and so did my cousin. The other friend who stayed with me after surgery just had to use ice packs which were much harder to control. With the "ice water machine" my sister could sleep through the night - even if I did get up to put more ice in the container once or twice.

My sister has even loaned hers to other people whose doctors did not provide it or else their insurance did not cover it.

For both of my knee surgeries, the doctor provided a contraption like you described. It circulates ice water but does it by gravity, not electricity. It would be OK to take to WDW but I found it was easier to use the frozen gel type packs that you can buy at a drugstore. I found mine at Walgreens and they come with a pouch and a velcro strap that will hold them in place on your knee. (These frozen gel paks may look like freezer paks but they remain flexible.) I did have to ask our hotel (the GF) to bring a real minifridge with a freezer. The ones they replaced the honor bar with do not have a freezer. There was no cost and the new fridge was brought within minutes.

These ice paks were a life saver. I live with constant knee pain and use these after every time I walk any distance. They won't make the pain go away but they help you enjoy a little bit more of WDW fun.