Oh no...knee surgery right before trip! Advice?

[Jennasis]

Crumbs! Just found out that DH is going to have to have knee surgery at the end of the month, which may require him to be on crutches for 6 weeks post-op. The problem is that our WDW vacation is 8 weeks post op! That would theoretically only give him two weeks off crutches to be ready for the miles of daily walking.

He is NOT thrilled with the idea of using a wheelchair or ECV. We had to rent one on our honeymoon for a day when I hurt my ankle at Epcot and that whole day in the chair was not fun for me or for him pushing.

I'm guessing we'll have to scale back on our usual commando style in favor of a slower gentler pace, and even plan to cave in and rent a wheelchair if the walking gets to be too much. He's just kind of crestfallen about the whole thing (thrilled to be getting his knee fixed, because he's in a LOT of pain), but he's really worried that it will ruin the trip. We only go on vacation every other year and our vacations are rare and precious so i know he's bummed about the prospect of this much anticipated trip being somehow "lessened"?

Has anyone gone to the world right after a surgery, particularly a leg/knee/foot surgery? Any tips? I keep telling him that even sitting on a bench on Main Street sharing an ice-cream with him for a week would be vacation enough for me! Just being there. So I know we'll make the most of the trip no matter what.

 

[modmama]

Drag!

My husband had knee surgery last year (had his miniscus cut out) and he was up and normal much sooner than they said he would be... hopefully that will be the case with your husband!

Otherwise I think your plan of going a bit slower, and getting extra help when you need it, will work out well.

 

[EpcotQueen]

Having had knee surgery in the past I know he will head out to physical therapy right after. He may be in better shape by the time your trip rolls around.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I haven't done WDW under your circumstances but when I was younger (21) I broke my knee while living in England. I had to have pins in it and be on crutches for 3 months. I didn't let it slow me down - my boyfriend and I (he's now been my dh for 21 years) traveled all over. I remember climbing around old Scottish castle ruins. Point is - do know when he needs to take a break but go into it with a good attitude (between sitting around at home or being at Disney and moving at a slower pace - Disney still rules!) and you'll have a great vacation!

 

[shannonstar]

What kind of surgery? I had plica/scar tissue/lateral resection a month ago today and I was able to start walking after 3 days. Not Disney walking mind you, but walking.

I would say that the hardest park will be Animal Kingdom, that's more b/c of the uneven sidewalks than anything else. When my nephew was in a boot, that's the one park we broke down and got a wheelchair.

Taking it easy should be the plan. I am sorry that he has to have surgery, but if he gets results like mine, he will be happy in the long run.

 

[JennyDrake]

Again, what kind of surgery?
_I_ would plan on an ECV. I think it would make it MUCH easier on everyone. DH went 3 months after ACL reconstruction and he needed midday breaks with ice. I think your idea of abandoning commando style is a very good one, but with an ECV you can still accomplish a lot. It will be tough on the scooter having the knee bent. I think midday breaks would be good--and the pool will feel VERY good to him!

 

[bytheblood]

If needed, you can always push him around in a wheelchair and let him hang at the resort when he is not up to doing the parks. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

In March 2003, I had my Medial Collateral Ligament, Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Medial Meniscus repaired and was in Disney in May 2003. I didn't need any kind of wheelchair, crutches, etc.

 

[Vickie46]

If you see he is having problems and can't take the lines.. see if he can get a guest assistance pass and see if he could wait somewhere else until it was his turn to ride. I would think he wouldn't need to over do it 6 weeks after surgery. But I have no idea.. just my 2 cents.

 

[rwdavis2]

If it's just a torn maniscus then he should be fine. Anything more extensive then rent the wheelchair or ECV. You don't want to over do it and end up having the surgery again.

 

[ssleblanc]

I know people who have had knee surgery and been back to 100% (or better) within 6 weeks. Without knowing more about the kind of surgery and the problem, it is hard to say. Well, I'm not a doctor so it is really REALLY hard for me to say anyway LOL. But, it seems to me that if he is in a lot of pain right now, the trip would have been hard anyway. The surgery may correct the problem enough that at 8 weeks post-op he is feeling 150% better than he was pre-op because the problem causing pain will then be gone. Really, it just depends.

I agree - just plan to move forward and enjoy. If it is too much, take it easy, and know that ECV/wheelchair is an option if needed.

 

[mxfourlife262]

I'll ask again too, what kind of knee surgery?

I had ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair. I would say it's going to hurt worse to sit in an ECV with his leg bent all day. I would've opted to go slower and bring my crutches along in case I had to get some weight off it. My knee felt pretty good at about 6 weeks and I was back at work 8 weeks post op (physical job, on my feet all day). Depending on what is wrong with his knee, it could take 6 months to a year for him to be comfortable bending it for extended periods of time.

 

[Carnator]

A GAC in this situation will not be available. Guest services recommendation will be to use an ECV or wheelchair.

 

[Jennasis]

He tore some cartilage...at least. Ortho says they won't know the extent of the damage until he gets in there. They may have to drill into the bone...the reason escapes me, but something to do with stem cells?

 

[rwdavis2]

He tore some cartilage...at least. Ortho says they won't know the extent of the damage until he gets in there. They may have to drill into the bone...the reason escapes me, but something to do with stem cells?

Never heard of stem cells involved with a cartilage problem (I've had 3 surgeries for torn cartilage in the knee). If it's just a torn maniscus he should be good to go in 2 weeks or so.

 

[disneynutsss]

i had a torn meniscus surgery on my knee about 6-8 weeks before my WDW vacation... my doctor insisted that i could only go if i rented a scooter - and i did. everything during the surgery went well, i progressed quicker than expected and the dr. still insisted i use an ecv. my dr. is a WDW fan as well, so he knows what strain WDW can put on a person. as you probably know, a WDW vacation is exhausting and to push a man on a wheelchair would be even more exhausting for whoever is pushing him. as for the straightening of the knee, there is plenty of room on a scooter to straighten it and if he wears a knee brace to keep it straight, that would probably be best.

in any case, i would definitely check with his doctor on whether or not he should use an ECV/Wheelchair - the doctors know best - and if the doc says so maybe ur dh will realize its best.

 

[Jennasis]

Never heard of stem cells involved with a cartilage problem (I've had 3 surgeries for torn cartilage in the knee). If it's just a torn maniscus he should be good to go in 2 weeks or so.

I think DH said something about the bone itself being inflamed and the stem cell thing is supposed to help with that? Don't quote me...I kind of went all numb when I heard "Six weeks on crutches"! Of course, if the doc gets in there and they DON'T need to do the bone drilling thing then he will be up and about right away. He's already got PT scheduled, to meet with the therapist the day or two before surgery when he goes in for his pre-surg tests.

He mentioned something about them taking a cartilage "plug"(?) from one area of his knee and moving it to the messed up part?? I dunno...i'm no doctor! But I'm fairly certain the drilling into the bone was supposed to be for the inflammation?

 

[ilovejsparrow]

I'm a recent physical therapy grad, and I can tell you that throughout my internships I saw knee surgeries affect people very differently. Is he a pretty active individual? He should have a better prognosis. I've seen people with knee surgeries do very well, and some who struggle with weakness and pain.

It will definitely be important for him to strengthen as much as possible prior to surgery to increase the odds of a quick recovery. Most of the "pre-hab" exercises are relatively easy. I've seen a big correlation between patients who go this route and people who don't.

But since you're going to WDW and will be walking a ton, I'd really try to get HM to get used to the idea of a wheelchair or ECV. While it isn't optimal, it will still be healing (can take up to a year) and excessive walking can set him back and only create more inflammation.

Good luck! Hope everything goes well.

 

[MinnieGolf]

I am no doctor, nor do I play one on TV. So there's no way I can tell you what your DH will be able to do on your WDW vacation. However, if his surgical outcome is similar to many people's, he'll probably be good to go. He'll probably feel like walking, and he'll probably be able to make it through the parks without any problems. He might want to ice the knee as much as he can when he's not touring.

Also, he might want to be aware that twisting and sudden stops will be more of a problem than walking. The large crowds at WDW create all sorts of pedestrian issues, including people suddenly cutting in front of you or stopping. So he might want to be extra vigilant and watch out for those situations.

Also, he should always try to get a seat on the bus. If he stands, the motion of the bus might aggravate his knee.

Have a great time on your vacation! This will be a great treat for him after his surgery!

 

[jmv223]

It sounds like the exact same situation I had in May. I went in to have loose pice of cartliage removed and ended up having the microfracture procedue done. I was completely non weight bearing for 4 weeks to allow the bone to heal, then I phased the crutches out over about a week and a half. I'm 8.5 weeks post surgury and about 90% now. I could defintely handle Disney but I'd be sore and swollen by the end of the day. Ice will be his BFF!! Good luck!!

 

[LSUfan4444]

I admittedly didn't read the whole thread, but here's my input.

In 2011 I went 6 weeks post op from a rotator cuff repair and the day I actually got out of the sling was the day we flew out of New Orleans. Now, I cannot speak to that of a knee, but my thoughts are more from a general perspective.

He will depend on you for alot more, loading the busses and boats, etc. It will be struggle for him at times just to get around himself and guard against other guests so be prepared to "carry the load". Allow him for some extra time in the mornings before you leave for his PT exercises/stretches and maybe some hot tub/heat time in the morning and ice time at night. This may mean he heads to the room to ice and you get, and deliver dinner etc.

His pain thershold will determine alort of what you can do, but just remember of all the stiff he won't be able to do, or carry that you would normally depend on - no pushing strollers, carrying kids, carrying backpacks, taking little ones to the bathroom, up/down alot of steps etc.

Be prepared to be alot more tired yourself because your workload is going to be alot greater. It may mean making two trips from the counter at Flaming Tree and back and forth to the snack cart. It is really a team effort.