New to having a prosthetic...

Tinker Bell Fan

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DH recently had to have his left leg amputated (above the knee). He'll be getting a prosthetic (hopefully by Christmas) - we had a set back but are doing good now.

Anway, since we are both new to having a prosthetic (I include myself only because I've never dealt with someone who has one); I'm wondering how difficult it is for those of you who have a prosthetic leg to manuver onto a ride especially when there is a moving walkway (like Haunted Mansion or Peter Pan's ...etc.)? I know each person is different, I'm just trying to get an idea. And for the person with you...what do you need that person to do in order to help you?

Thanks!! Just looking for all the advice we can get.

Thanks again!

Michelle
 
I could write a book on what you are about to learn. Your first knowledge will come when DH is fitted with his prosthetic leg. Will he take to it and find his balance? Time and therapy will tell.

I didn't find my balance. I tried. So I walk with a walker for short distances, at home I use my wheelchair because the walker bangs into everything and you can't use it and carry anything at the same time. Outside the house I have a scooter in the back of my mini-van with a scooter lift. My mini-van has power doors which helps me. I paid for my scooter and scooter lift myself. At least with a left leg amputation, DH should have no problems driving as usual. Make sure to get a handicap tag.

If DH goes on SS Disability, then in 24 months he must go on Medicare. Medicare will not pay for a scooter for DH if his ailment primarily is about his leg amputation. You have to have upper body weakness (like stroke or MS, for example) for them to help with electric mobility devices. All they will do is furnish a wheelchair. Those TV ads are extremely misleading, and don't ever, ever, call the companies with TV ads. They use high-pressure sales tactics and overprice their products immensely. Do your shopping through local medical equipment stores. Compare their products to buying them online and saving more money. I use Spinlife.com. !00% reliable, and best prices.

Getting to your question. If your DH finds his balance and walks somewhat normally, maybe moving ramps won't be difficult. But only a few months since getting his first prosthetic, his stump could be sore, and he may be given only a beginner's prosthetic, which is not a great help to proper walking. I say this because the prosthetist can't predict DH's success/failure with the new device and may alter it continually, searching for what works for your DH. Also, DH may gain weight with his amputated limb, and need a new prosthetic in just a year.

I am going to bet that your DH will not do well on a moving ramp. Peter Pan will be out of the question. You need to be ambulatory to ride. Same with the Wedway People Mover. Both rides, they will not stop the moving platform. For Haunted Mansion, go to the Handicap entry (which is the exit). They can stop the moving platform if you say your DH can't handle it. They will also stop it for you to exit. POTC is not bad. BTMRR is not bad. Spash Mountain is a little difficult but doable (and worth it). Space Mountain -- forget it altogether. See my thread a few days ago about my disastrous ride. I would say Swiss Family Robinson is out. Jungle Cruise is doable. The speedway cars, I don't know, I would say forget about them.

At Epcot, Test Track was tricky to get out of. I have kind-of retired from that ride. The Maelstrom I didn't bother with. At DHS Rock N Roller Coaster they have handicap cars that differ in that they have doors that open. This really makes all the difference in getting in and out of this ride with an amputated leg. It is still a bit of a head scratcher, though. You'll find out what I mean. I'm trying to say that beginner prosthetic knees are either locked straight up and down, or unlocked and can't hold weight. So some rides you have to think of what to do with that half-useless leg and where to put it so you don't collapse it. AK is OK, can't think of anything offhand.

As far as what you can do to assist, you have to follow along with what DH says. Everyone is different. And he will be learning, and maybe changing his mind from day to day and hour to hour. I have encountered plenty of people who held out their arms to help me but truly, I look for a railing or the side of the ride because I have been known to bring people's arms and them flat to the ground by leaning my weight on them. Railings, not so much. Best advice: keep a smile plastered on your face (takes practice) and be ready to laugh instead of cry. :)
 
POOHsie - thank you for your response. It really helps! We have a scooter (one we had purchased for my dad a few years ago, who has since passed away) and we do have a wheelchair and a handicap tag. He's been on disability since January (took 2 years). He's diabetic and has cardiac & vascular disease - the doctor who examined him for the disability said "it won't get any better" and that was when DH had both legs. The past two years has been one trip to the hospital after the other - every 90 days he was having some type of surgery! I'm not kidding!

Thank you again for the descriptions regarding the rides - that helps. And I'm sure will give us food for thought while we're at WDW!

We're hoping that he will be able to find his balance with the prosthetic - but time will tell.

I've always been an up beat type of gal - the past (almost) 3 years have been very trying - but I keep smiling for DH's sake (as well as for mine). We're both saying "if you don't laugh about it, you'll end up crying and laughing is so much better!"

Thanks again!! :hug:
 
Your DH's troubles sound just like mine. My dad and his mom had the same, also (bad genes). I have had bypass operations to both legs, left kidney, main aorta (fem-pop), both carotids, one has been done twice. I also have 4 stents in my heart. And the amputation. Dr. is now telling me that what is left of my amputated leg has such bad circulation that I will lose it to my hip sometime in the future.

Oh well, I am here right now, and I am out and about. It is really great to have my real right leg to drive with. My husband died last year, so my set-up with the scooter in the car, gives me all the independence I need to do my own shopping and errands. I bought a bunch of those recyclable shopping bags. They have flat bottoms and big handles. I can put the floppy grocery bags in there and just have one sturdy bag to carry while walking with my walker to my door from the car.

I have had 10 surgeries related to all this. The first two years, when I had so many of the surgeries, I had pain and was weak. Now, I feel better than before I had the surgeries. The surgeries did really improve my health. It was just that they were so invasive at the time. I look for you and DH to have better days post-surgery. One of the things DH can do is see about the local YMCA swimming pool for exercise. They usually can handle wheelchair-bound. It might be some of the only real exercise he will get. My Dr doesn't want me walking too much on my stump now because of my bad circulation.

It's good to keep your plans for WDW, and keep your routine as before. Your DH can easily slip into a do-nothing mode. He needs to keep on his toes and you can help keep him out of the doldrums. Do your errands with him. Get him out of the house and moving as much as you can. WDW is terrific for handicapped people. That is why I keep going back, and why others bring their handicapped family members with them on their trips. You will do things more slowly, but what the heck.

You can send me a private message if you wish to talk more about your situation in the future.
 















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