Neck Problems?

[MzDiz]

Help me out here. I have neck problems, not anything serious, but a herniated disc that occasionally causes some weird things to happen in my neck. This past summer, I had a problem with a coaster in a park here in my home state. This was the first time I'd ever had a ride give me a pain in the neck, so to speak. Granted, it was a rough one. Anyone that's been on Michigan's Adventure's Shivering Timbers coaster knows what I mean. So it's got me thinking about my upcoming trip to WDW. I hear Space Mountain is a bit rough and jerks you around some. How bad is it? What should I avoid? I looooove coasters, the real old, rough ones I need to stay away from though.

 

[MareQ]

I would definitely avoid RnR and BTMRR. SpaceM - IMO anyway - isn't as rough as the other two. Others will probably have a different opinion of course In addition I find Body/Star Wars are a little rough.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would also think twice about KS. Mom has neck problems and when I took her on that (I wasn't thinking), she was sore for days! We didn't even attempt SM.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and the daddy of them all, Rockin Roller Coaster, are all rough on the neck, IMO. With the latter, I've found if I prepare myself properly by pushing my neck into the seat back before it takes off, I'm okay. Otherwise, my head flops all over the place.

I have the same exact problem on the right side of my neck and in my back. Lucky me.

 

[mattsdragon]

In the last year and a half, I have had 2 major surgeries done on my neck. I had a tumor removed from my spinal cord, and a month and a half later, I was riding Loch Ness Dragon, Apollo's Chariot and Alpengiest at Busch Gardens. I have since had two herniated discs removed from the same spot, and between the two surgeries, I also went to WDW twice, rode all the rides with not much trouble at all. Just take some alleve and enjoy the thrills.

 

[MzDiz]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I really appreciate it!

 

[james15]

I fractured a vertbrae in my neck a few years back. I have never had trouble on any of the disney rides for the most part there much smoother than a six flags or busch gardens coaster.Really weather changes bother me more than any amusement park ride i have ridden.

 

[bigmac5]

I too have neck problems. Whiplash from a car accident. I was leary at first but had no problems with any of the rides until Splash Mountain. Most of the rollercoasters have a smooth "landing" after the down part but in Splash it is a sudden jerk at the bottom when you hit the water. I would not go on it if I were you. I was in pain the next day. Luckily I brought my hot neck wrap with me.

 

[cocodog]

I have had two herniated discs, so I can empathize. We went on our first WDW trip since the problems started this past spring. Space Mountain was previously my favorite ride anywhere; this year I found that I should no longer ride it. BTTRR did not bother me. I did not ride Splash Mtn. this trip. I did not ride Rockin Roller Coaster, but my dh said that as long as you put your head against the seat back to begin with, that it was OK. I will add that my neurosurgeon (I got by without surgery) specifically advised AGAINST riding roller coasters. Good luck!

 

[cocodog]

Help me out here. I have neck problems, not anything serious, but a herniated disc that occasionally causes some weird things to happen in my neck. This past summer, I had a problem with a coaster in a park here in my home state. This was the first time I'd ever had a ride give me a pain in the neck, so to speak. Granted, it was a rough one. Anyone that's been on Michigan's Adventure's Shivering Timbers coaster knows what I mean. So it's got me thinking about my upcoming trip to WDW. I hear Space Mountain is a bit rough and jerks you around some. How bad is it? What should I avoid? I looooove coasters, the real old, rough ones I need to stay away from though.

PS-- Be sure to AVOID the Dinosaur Ride and the other roller coaster-tilt-a-whirl type ride (can't remmeber what it's called) in the Dinosaur part of AK. They were both VERY jerky rides and hard on the neck !!!

 

[lovehoney]

Another non-rollercoaster ride to watch out for is Test Track. I wasn't expecting it to jerk my back around like it did.

I also rode Space Mountain and wish I hadn't. It just seemed rougher than I remember.

I thought RNR was pretty smooth as long as, as the other poster said, you keep your head back. Dinosaur seemed very rough but it didn't cause me any problems - I rode it twice.

Have fun.

 

[qtwns]

Stay away from Dinosaur--my back was out for a week and I had never had back problems before.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I also have minor neck problems, and although I can ride just about anything, Space Mountain (the new one at DL) did give me a major pain in the neck when I rode it. Because of that, I couldn't ride any rough rides for the rest of the day (like Thunder Mountain RR or the Matterhorn). By the next day I was fine and rode whatever I wanted, but those dark coasters, where you can't see when a sudden, jerky turn is coming, can be a killer on the neck if you're prone to neck problems.

The bad thing about minor neck problems is that, even though it's a "minor" problem, it creates a huge PAIN! For days and days it seems!

If you don't have serious neck problems, I would try Space Mountoun once, and do what a previous poster said - put your head back into the head rest area (if there is one) so it's stable and supported, and see if that helps you get through the ride without problems or pain. I think that's pretty good advice. I'm going to give that a try the next time I ride Space Mountian (or some other roller coaster) too!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Has anyone developed sciatica from a herniated disc? Omigosh! It's soooo fun! You must try it some time!

I mean, think about it. Your back hurts and it radiates down the back of your leg! It's like to two illnesses in one! You can't sit, or stand! It's wonderful!

Here's hoping mine doesn't start acting up again in March. If so, I'll be one floating around on pain pills.

Trip? What trip? Did I go somewhere???

 

[luvmy2sams]

Has anyone developed sciatica from a herniated disc? Omigosh! It's soooo fun! You must try it some time!

I mean, think about it. Your back hurts and it radiates down the back of your leg! It's like to two illnesses in one! You can't sit, or stand! It's wonderful!

Here's hoping mine doesn't start acting up again in March. If so, I'll be one floating around on pain pills.

Trip? What trip? Did I go somewhere???

Isn't sciatica lovely? I had it for a whopping 7 months before I finally switched doctors so I could get an MRI to find out what the heck was going on with me. Ended up having surgery in July for a herniated disc, and I feel like a new person now. I couldn't have survived without the pain meds the surgeon put me on while waiting for my surgery date. I'd gotten to the point where I felt paralyzed on the left side...couldn't move at all but had the added bonus of still being able to feel the pain.

 

[jojomg]

I have neck problems too and I was not bothered by rocknroller coaster has a high back that cradles your neck and shouler bars..it is really very comfie...space mt is jerky and can hurt your neck...as can thundermt...I do them all and am just stiff and sore for the next couple of weeks..it is well worth it