I did in 2023 four months post total knee replacement with leg straightening. I rented an ECV and took my cane. I used my cane when I went into stores as a buffer.Just wondering if anyone has made a trip to WDW 6 months after a total knee replacement. And, if so, how was it? Did you rent a scooter?
Scheduled for surgery 11/5/24 with a trip planned 5/13/25.
Thanks!![]()
Well, I went 4 and 6 months post-op after having the right knee replaced in January. I had to rent an ECV both times because my left knee was very bad and awaiting knee replacement surgery that I just had done a few weeks ago. I think it's hard to say if someone would need an ECV for certain at 6 months - depends on their fitness level and their rehab and maybe their other joints. It takes a couple of months (in my opinion) to recover from surgery and work on your extension and flex before you can really start to work on building up the stamina (muscle) for a lot of walking. I'd rather plan to rent an ECV and not need it. That being said, I'm really hoping to make a trip to Japan next year by May which is 8 months post-op - and I think Japan overall is brutal for walking and stairs - easily rivaling WDW.Just wondering if anyone has made a trip to WDW 6 months after a total knee replacement. And, if so, how was it? Did you rent a scooter?
Outpatient knee replacement surgery is probably more common than having overnight stays these days. Some of whether he can manage at home in that first week depends on the layout of the house. If the bedroom/bathroom is on the same floor and he can stay put that is ideal. Some people manage stairs off the bat but I didn't have to try so not sure how easy that is. Usually a physical therapist will come to the surgery recovery area to get your dad up for his first post-op walk. I suggest letting them know that he needs to be able to make it to the restroom (he should be able to manage alone in there if his home bathroom is well set up with a toilet seat riser and grab bars around the toilet) and discuss the stair situation. Ideally he will have a recliner at home that he can move to from the bed so he can be up in the day. For you, it would be helpful to know from his doctor under what conditions they'd consider keeping him at least one night. I came home after both my knee replacements and it was VERY nice to be home.Are you going home same day?
Well, I went 4 and 6 months post-op after having the right knee replaced in January. I had to rent an ECV both times because my left knee was very bad and awaiting knee replacement surgery that I just had done a few weeks ago. I think it's hard to say if someone would need an ECV for certain at 6 months - depends on their fitness level and their rehab and maybe their other joints. It takes a couple of months (in my opinion) to recover from surgery and work on your extension and flex before you can really start to work on building up the stamina (muscle) for a lot of walking. I'd rather plan to rent an ECV and not need it. That being said, I'm really hoping to make a trip to Japan next year by May which is 8 months post-op - and I think Japan overall is brutal for walking and stairs - easily rivaling WDW.
Outpatient knee replacement surgery is probably more common than having overnight stays these days. Some of whether he can manage at home in that first week depends on the layout of the house. If the bedroom/bathroom is on the same floor and he can stay put that is ideal. Some people manage stairs off the bat but I didn't have to try so not sure how easy that is. Usually a physical therapist will come to the surgery recovery area to get your dad up for his first post-op walk. I suggest letting them know that he needs to be able to make it to the restroom (he should be able to manage alone in there if his home bathroom is well set up with a toilet seat riser and grab bars around the toilet) and discuss the stair situation. Ideally he will have a recliner at home that he can move to from the bed so he can be up in the day. For you, it would be helpful to know from his doctor under what conditions they'd consider keeping him at least one night. I came home after both my knee replacements and it was VERY nice to be home.
My wife had her knee replacement 8 months ago. The recovery period is highly dependent on the individual and how seriously they take the post surgery PT. You should be fine with a ~6 month recovery period but only you will know. Plan on renting a scooter for the heavy days but give yourself a chance to try it without.Just wondering if anyone has made a trip to WDW 6 months after a total knee replacement. And, if so, how was it? Did you rent a scooter?
Scheduled for surgery 11/5/24 with a trip planned 5/13/25.
Thanks!![]()
Yes...that it definitely not ideal. I didn't have to deal with stairs at all except two steps up to get inside the house which was easy enough. I've known people with the bedroom and full bath on the 2nd floor to go up there post-surgery and stay put for a week or so, because things from the kitchen can be brought to them. With a tub you'd need a chair that straddles the side so he doesn't have to step over. Any chance he can stay with your sister that has the walk in shower for the first week or two? Maybe stairs are less of a problem than I think - I'm just not sure. I had no problem sleeping in my bed or getting in and out if it or my regular recliner (it's not the assisted lift type). Some people cannot tolerate a bed at all and sleep in a recliner. You can ask 10 people and get 10 different opinions on that - some people have an easier time of it post-op than others, and pre-surgery fitness or lack thereof doesn't always correlate to how those first few weeks post-op will play out. I think all you can do is plan for how he'd like it to go, and be ready to pivot on some things if needed. Best of luck to him - and you!We have a very UNideal house.
Yes...that it definitely not ideal. I didn't have to deal with stairs at all except two steps up to get inside the house which was easy enough. I've known people with the bedroom and full bath on the 2nd floor to go up there post-surgery and stay put for a week or so, because things from the kitchen can be brought to them. With a tub you'd need a chair that straddles the side so he doesn't have to step over. Any chance he can stay with your sister that has the walk in shower for the first week or two? Maybe stairs are less of a problem than I think - I'm just not sure. I had no problem sleeping in my bed or getting in and out if it or my regular recliner (it's not the assisted lift type). Some people cannot tolerate a bed at all and sleep in a recliner. You can ask 10 people and get 10 different opinions on that - some people have an easier time of it post-op than others, and pre-surgery fitness or lack thereof doesn't always correlate to how those first few weeks post-op will play out. I think all you can do is plan for how he'd like it to go, and be ready to pivot on some things if needed. Best of luck to him - and you!
Had staged bilateral TKR a month apart in 2013. With each I did 10 days of in patient rehab… best thing I could have done. The PT’s there work you… hard. Pain meds are carefully controlled but make no mistake, it hurts… bad. The thing is, when you go home, loved ones won’t push you through the pain… but for the best results, though, you need to push… you can’t wait till it doesn’t hurt so much. At home it becomes easier for loved ones to “help”. In the long run, they are doing you no favors. The people I’ve seen who had the most problematic outcomes went home to family and did out outpatient rehab. Family loves you… in patient rehab folk don’t… they are laser focused on whatever it takes for your recovery. I realize my opinion is probably in the minority but that would definitely be my recommendation.My mom had a total knee replacement in 2017. She spent 2 nights in the hospital and was discharged to home. She was nice to nurse and pt about doing her pt exercises but would not do them for me. I think receivers would have gone better if she had gone to rehab to ensure that she would do her exercises and would eat her meals (constant fight with me). She needs a hip done now and that will not be happen unless she goes to rehab afterwards. I can’t do it with her again.
In terms of Disney, we went to Disneyland less than 2 months later - we are local. We needed to renew our premier passes which could only be done in person and had seen price was going up so wanted to ensure we got the lower price. We used a wheelchair and she only went on a few rides thst did not really involve stepping up or down (such as soaring and Toy Story as I recall). As the spring went on, more rides were added into the mix. She went to wdw in September and we still got her a scooter (and do to this day) as her other knee is not great and she just cannot do the walking at her age,
Had staged bilateral TKR a month apart in 2013. With each I did 10 days of in patient rehab… best thing I could have done. The PT’s there work you… hard. Pain meds are carefully controlled but make no mistake, it hurts… bad. The thing is, when you go home, loved ones won’t push you through the pain… but for the best results, though, you need to push… you can’t wait till it doesn’t hurt so much. At home it becomes easier for loved ones to “help”. In the long run, they are doing you no favors. The people I’ve seen who had the most problematic outcomes went home to family and did out outpatient rehab. Family loves you… in patient rehab folk don’t… they are laser focused on whatever it takes for your recovery. I realize my opinion is probably in the minority but that would definitely be my recommendation.
Almost a dozen years post-surgery, my gait is perfect and I have excellent ROM but I still use a scooter at WDW… enjoy parking it and walking but always knowing it’s there. I treat these little titanium beauties like the treasure they are to me!