Please help, DH hurt his back and we leave in 2 days!!!

[alicia080979]

My DH was working out in the yard today and pulled a muscle in his back and can barely walk. He went to the Dr. and they gave him muscle relaxers and pain killers but he is in so much pain everytime he moves. He doesn't go the Dr. or take meds so I know its bad. I don't know what do. We have a 15 hour drive Thursday night/Friday morning but that is the least of my worries. I can drug him up and toss him in the back for that. My real concern are the parks. I know nothing about wheelchairs or the scooter things. Can anyone help me? Where do you get them in case he is still in a lot of pain and can't do much walking? I don't know if it matters but DH is a big guy...6'4 350lbs football build. Do they even make scooters that will fit him? We are driving and have an SUV with 3rd row seating so we can pick up a scooter/fit one in our vehicle I think. This is his 1st trip and his 31st bday so I want everything to be perfect and don't want him to miss anything.

Thanks for your help!

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry about his injury and hope he feels better soon.

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. In post #2, you will find all you need to know about scooters and wheelchairs. They can be rented from the parks or from off site rental places. They do have heavy duty ECVs that will fit someone if his size.

If you plan to transport it in your SUV, make sure you let them know when making arrangements to rent. You can get one that breaks down into pieces for transport. Be aware though that the largest piece may be around 40-50 pounds and an acward shape. Someone will need to lift it into the SUV and most SUVs are a pretty high lift. He doesn't want to hurt his back just getting it in and out. When you get to the parking area for the park, let the CMs at the entrance booth and directing traffic know that he has an ECV and (I presume) doesn't have a handicapped parking permit. They will direct him to an appropriate place to park. The usual parking lots have trams to get you to the front of the park. These are Not ECV accessible.
Buses, monorails and most boats are accessible - there is more information in the FAQs thread.

For the most part in the parks, the lines are wheelchair and ECV accessible, so you will usually be going in the usual way. If he chooses to walk in line, be aware that some are a long walk from where you enter the line to the boarding area.

Also something to think about is the pain medication. Some affect the ability to drive/be alert. If he could not drive while taking them, he should not drive an ECV either. Even though it moves slowly, it still moves and the driver needs to be able to control it. On our last trip, I saw someone plow into a metal rail. His ECV just grazed it, but his arm/elbow took a full hit. So, there are lots of things you need to be aware of when driving an ECV, including some fairly narrow places and other guests who may pop out in front of you.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

OMG sorry to hear this. I pulled my back muscle just by lift a heavy laundry basket and the best thing that helped was a hot tub. If you have a water park close to your home you may want to make a visit. We were scheduled to go to Kalahari within a few days have I injured it and we still went. I sat in the hot tub and man what a difference.
Also try a hotel hot tub but before making a reservation call first to find out if the hottub is working,
OBW that the heating pad on your trip. While at Disney relax in the hottub.

 

[Hannathy]

Be prepared to delay your trip for a few days. sorry to tell you this but as someone with a bad back he may not be ready to be thrown into a SUV for a 15 hr trip! Also depending on how he hurt his back sitting on a ECV and riding thru the parks could be just as bad as walking, and what about sitting on rides? There have been times with my back that sitting was as bad as standing. I also agree that depending on how much muscle relaxant he is on he may not mentally be up to touring a park all day. If it is so bad he couldn't go to work, he probably won't be able to tour a park.

 

[bookwormde]

Pulled back muscles are not fun. Quite honestly I would not underestimate the difficulty for the car trip for him (even medicated). One of the best things I have found is the 8-hour thermal wrap. With his size you may need to hold them is place with an ace bandage but I can tell you that they make all the difference (like the hot bath thing but better). The car ride and even in a scooter they will make all the difference (stock up with 2-4 per day). By doing this I have been able to continue with relatively moderate physical activities without it being unbearably painful.

bookwormde

 

[dclfun]

Have you talked with his physician yet about the advisability of continuing your trip? That's where I would start. Thinking about the ECV, someone has to lean forward a bit to drive it, and have their arms extended a bit to reach the controls. Would this cause him more pain? He will be surely going over bumps and having to be very careful steering. I know when I'm at Disney, I'm on full alert and am not as relaxed as when driving my chair elsewhere, which causes me to tire more easily. If you are going to push him in a manual w/c this will be a strain on you. Will he be able to transfer in/out of ride vehicles or stand for a short length of time? Are you staying on property? Do his meds make him dizzy or nauseous? I'm hoping he'll have a quick recovery but if not, I'd be sure via his physician that travelling won't cause him more harm in the long run. Good luck!---Kathy

 

[alicia080979]

Thanks so much to everyone for their replies. I was starting to panic last night!!! I got the info on the EVCs just in case we need it. DH works from home almost everyday so he was still able to work last night just really uncomfortable. He took a muscle relaxer the Dr. gave him and went to bed and this morning he said it is more sore like after a bad charlie horse but he can walk thank goodness! He actually went into his office and was able to drive just fine. He plans on taking the Rx strength Motrin the Dr. gave him so hopefully that will help and keep him from having to take the muscle relaxers or pain killers they prescribed him bc he hates taking anything like that. The Dr. is aware of our trip and told him to just stop every 2 hours to stretch and use ice 20 min/20 min off as much as he could on the drive down.

Hoping for lots of pixie dust that he is completely healed and able to enjoy his 1st trip to Disney!!! Thanks again!

 

[dclfun]

Thank goodness! Don't forget about the First Aid centers in every park if he needs to rest a bit, get ice, etc. I hope everything goes smoothly.---Kathy