neck injury tips

[lippylulu]

I have seen there are MANY rides at Disney and Universal not recommended for people with neck injuries. Some, such as a rickety train ride or anything with aburpt twists and turns, I can clearly understand. Are there any that have warnings that really might be ok? As long as my head an shoulders aren't being knocked side to side and back and forth, I should be OK. I have never been to Disney an ALWAYS dreamed of Space Mountain, and I do plan on doing Splash Mountain.

 

[Tissa]

My mom has neck problems and can not have her head tossed around. She has ridden everything and the only ones she won't ride again are Space, RnR and BTMRR. Everything else including Everest were fine.

 

[KSoda]

Unless you want to end up like me with failed three levels of fusions (pseudoarthrosis) and six broken pedicle screws imbedded in my vertebrates for the second time, PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION!

After my first two level fusions which included bone graft from my hip at the
C5/6 and C6/7 levels, four screws and plate, this lasted about a year and a half. I felt much better, less pain, felt I could do more especially when the weather was dry and warm and I felt stronger, until I noticed a strange sharp intermittant pain and increased finger and arm numbness.

I felt something had gone haywire inside early on after the first couple months, but, the doc did xrays and said it was ALL in my head, sent me to a psychiatrist, he had me diagnosed within ten minutes with depression and case neurosis.

Several more months passed, I figured hey, he's the doctor and said I was fine and ready to return to work. Well, WRONG! There was something wrong inside, three of the four screws broke requiring emergency surgery in June 2005.

I chose a new nuero and ortho-surgeon, they left the screw studs imbedded, removed the one remaining and fused C3/4 using cadaver bone, four screws and plate. This lasted until this past winter, when one screw after another broke at this level. I now have pseudoarthrosis, where the bone grafts have come apart.

Why all these titanium screws fractured? Not even the doctors can tell, but having worked with all types of fasteners and metals and welding all of my life, I have my idea's, but, I only have myself to blame I guess, because I was doing things I should NOT to have been doing during the times I felt better.

They place these warning signs on the rides and attractions for a good reason, first so we don't injure ourselves, second so they don't have liability for our ignorance and or lack of education to our physical bodies.

So, please, think twice, and even a third time before doing something you might regret later. Injuring yourself no only affects ourselves, but a multitude of people we care about and who rely on us as well.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

Soarin' is very gentle and has smooth movements.

 

[Earstou]

I think the very first thing you need to do is ask your doctor what you should avoid. Since none of us here know what your injury is, we really can't give you advice that is meaningful to you.
My doctor told me to avoid roller coasters (like Space Mountain). Since then, I've had a neck fusion, and now need to ask my doctor if I have additional restrictions. I won't mess around with this because it could affect my spinal cord, and cause VERY serious problems.
I do know I will definitely be avoiding Dinosaur in AK from now on, as it's a very jerky ride.