Post knee surgery trip.

[Ms. 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?
Scheduled for surgery 11/5/24 with a trip planned 5/13/25.
Thanks!

 

[Chirple]

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!

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.

I am doing it again this year. Had the same two procedures on the other leg in August and am going to WDW in December, also renting an ECV and bringing my cane.

Having the ECV was great. I could park it and walk; it helped with trying to cover distances and with waiting in ride queues. The only rides I avoided were ones where I had to step down, but I seem to have less issue with this recent replacement.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Good luck and feel free to let me know how it goes.
My dad is getting his 1/9/25 and I'm hoping it goes well for him.
My mom had one done in 2006 and the other in 2014. After the 2014 one she was whipping around with her walker faster than t he rest of us to the movie theater 4 weeks post op.
From what I remember 6 months is the max amount of time its supposed to take to get back to normal and actually better than pre surgery normal since you've got a brand new knee lol.
I'd say you'll be ready!

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

@Ms. WDW
Are you going home same day?
I know that's kind of "the way" they do things now.
My mom was in the hospital for 2 days and then rehab for 2 weeks.
My dad is supposed to come home same day and that's really what I'm concerned about.
Basically I'll probably be his "caregiver" especially in the middle of the night and I just don't know how he's going to be able to walk up and down stairs etc.

 

[Selket]

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?

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.

Are you going home same day?

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.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

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.

They made it quite clear its an outpatient surgery although I'm sure if he could not walk with a walker then they would have to keep him overnight.

We have a very UNideal house.
Even if he stays on the first floor we have a few stairs to get in and out of the house and up and down from the kitchen to family room/bathroom.
We also only have a powder room on the first floor so he has to go to the second floor to shower. Although we are considering having him go to my sister's house to shower because its on the first floor and a walk in vs a tub.

We have the experience from my mom's 2 knee replacements but she didn't come home same day so she was the hospital/rehab's "problem" until she was relatively mobile lol.
I kinda think my dad will do well with this surgery compared to my mom because he's always been a determined to move person and has done manual labor his whole life even now we can't get him to sit haha.

We do have multiple remote controlled recliners as well as toilet seat risers, walkers, and a shower chair.
I thought about renting a hospital bed so he can really get his legs elevated but at the same time it may be difficlut to get him in and out of it compared to a recliner that can stand him all the way up.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I had TKR in 2019. Surgeons insisted I make a trip to WDW just prior to surgery with DH, DS (dpt) and DIL. They were colleagues of my son at the time. I used an ECV and had successful surgery. I had a tough time with pain post surgery and for quite a few months after. We didn't go in 2020 due to covid, however, I have used an ECV ever since (only at WDW). I use a cane everywhere else.

There is no reason to overstress your knee or for that matter, your other knee. No reason to be a hero or care what anybody thinks!

I was to be in the hospital one night, but the surgeons offered me two if needed (three if I wanted). I went with two. DH was home with me for two weeks. It was incredibly difficult for me with the pain and him dealing with me with the pain. We survived. Listen to your docs and especially your physical therapist as they are the ones who will be there for you.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[Chirple]

@Ms. WDW are you currently doing any pre-surgery muscle strengthening? Having the experience from my first surgery, I spent a couple of days a week at the gym working on various leg machines and increasing weights during sets as well as spending time on a recumbent cycle. It has paid off tremendously in getting full range of motion back.

I was inpatient for one night due to clotting risk factors. They had me practice stairs at the hospital (using my cane); I have 27 steps to go up and down at home to get to ground level. I had at-home PT 2x a week for two weeks (did exercises in between on my own) and then started outpatient PT. My husband works from home (as do I) and handled the grocery shopping and laundry. I took care of myself with no assistance from him except the first couple of days with putting in and taking out the shower chair.

 

[CanucksRock]

My mom went to WDW after her first and second knee replacements about 6-7 months after the surgeries. She used a scooter both times. (She also used a scooter on a trip before the surgery due to pain). She’s now a year and a half out from her second replacement and went without a scooter during our September trip. She did great - no pain, and she even did a 22,000 step day! Her Apple Watch was like you have never done this before, it was in shock

 

[OKW Lover]

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!

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.

 

[Boopuff]

Had total knee replacement 3 months ago. I was determined not to use any walking device. I am an “old dog” did PT twice a week, exercise my knee daily. I’m going next year and I’ll dance my way into WDW. No scooter for me. Good luck

 

[leebee]

I had total knee replacement 6/21/23 and went on a solo to Disney 11/5/23. I took my cane and I took it slowly in the parks, but I could manage it with no issues. I had a great time! However, it IS highly dependent on recovery. I didn't feel like my recovery was exceptionally quick- I actually took an additional 2 weeks of sick leave on top of what I originally had planned- but I was OK in the parks.

In addition to building strength pre-surgery, I think it would have been more helpful to build up flexibility. The hamstrings in the leg on which I had surgery tightened up and slowed my overall recovery. Even now, 16 months post-surgery, I can feel that they are tighter on my replaced knee than on my other knee. Good luck with your surgery.

 

[Selket]

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!

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

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 don't have a chair that straddles the tub but this one worked fine for my mom.

My dad is stubborn which for the most part is a good thing.
He is absolutely not the type that would consider staying up in a bedroom for a week. Honestly he'd probably had a great time at a rehab facility because he's a very social person.

He would never agree to staying at my sister's house. Plus no one would be there all day and my mom and I would not be going there to stay.

I think the key is going to be him LETTING us help.

 

[KPeterso]

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,

 

[leebee]

My house has 6 steps to the front door and 16 steps to the second floor, where my bedroom and the only bathrooms are. I had outpatient surgery when my knee was done. The surgeon told me the surgical area would be bathed with anesthesia and that my spinal block would linger for about 24 hours. As soon as I could navigate on crutches, I went home. My goal was to get up all those stairs and into bed before the pain meds ran out! I didn't have much trouble with the stairs that day, but I didn't go downstairs for about 2 weeks. The first couple of days, I needed someone to help lift my leg in and out of bed, but after that I was OK moving on my own. PT came to the house 3 times a week for the first month, and nursing home care came twice a week for the first 2 weeks, and then once a week for the next 2 weeks.

Possible TMI warning: The most helpful items I had post-surgery were a bidet and some steadying bars for around the toilet. The bidet helped me stay "fresh as a daisy" and it was so much easier to get on and off the potty with the bars. I got them both on Amazon... the bidet was about $32 and the safety rails were about $50. Money well spent. What was useless was a wedge pillow for my legs. I thought elevated and a little bent at the knee would be the way to go, but surgeon was insistent that my leg NOT be bent; in fact, I kept a rolled up yoga mat under my ankle so that my knee was well-extended. That wedge pillow is still in the plastic bag it came in!

 

[Debbie Jean]

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!

 

[Rescue Mom]

Hi Ms. WDW!
My husband had TKR in December, and we went to WDW in April. He didn't need an ECV. He took his cane as a backup, but he left it at the resort after the first day because he didn't need it. We did take the parks at a slower pace, avoiding excessive walking. For example, we used the Friendship Boat at Epcot to reduce walking around World Showcase. We also used elevators to avoid stairs.

Some rides can be a bit uncomfortable (especially for taller people like my husband), due to the flexion required to sit in the limited space.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to be diligent with your PT. My husband followed his PT protocol very diligently, and I think it made a difference in both his short-term and long-term recovery. We just returned from a trip last week, and I was delighted that I had to increase my pace to keep up with him!

In our experience, the bottom line is that you may have to make a few adjustments, but at six months post-op, you should be able to have an enjoyable vacation!

 

[KPeterso]

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!

I actually agree with you. I think it was a mistake for my mom to come home and not go to rehab post TKR. She did complain to anyone who would listen how I was too strict and was trying to force her to do things. Uh yeah - I am your caregiver and I am going to make you do those exercises and walk as you are supposed to. And I am going to make you eat. She would yell at me and refuse far too often.