Question on how to deal with a knee injury

[plummer925]

I hate to "whine" here as there are SO many people out there who are so much worse off than I, but I think this is the right board to post this question...

I have a knee injury - sometimes it doesn't bother me at all - other times I can hardly walk (my knee gives out on me) - this has been the situation for the past two weeks. I can't even bend down in a "squatting" position - if I happen to sit on the floor I can't even get up. I am overweight and my doc feels that contributes to the problem, but knee problems run in my family as well...

I'm very concerned about going to Disney World in 3 weeks...I don't know if I CAN walk around the parks....

I know there are wheelchairs available, but I don't want to use one as someone who may need it more than I may need it.....but if it feels like it did the other day I'd have no choice....

Any advice??

Thanks so much!!!

Crystal

 

[Figaro]

Hi Crystal!

I'm kind of an expert on bad knees (40 plus surgeries so far)(smile), so I can tell you that walking the distances at WDW usually puts quite a bit of strain on the knees. If I were you, I would rent an ECV from one of the companies that either Sue or Teri or Wheelsie will be along to tell you about. The distances into the park and between the attractions is more of a killer then the waiting in line is, and if you want then you can park the ECV outside of the attraction and walk in.

I always bring along gel pack ice bags and try to ice my knees when we are back at the hotel. I also bring along ace bandages (helps keep the swelling down) and my pain medications.

If you look around here, you should find quite a few posts about ECV's.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[plummer925]

Oh my....that's a lot of surgeries!!

Thank you for the advice. I think I'll have to take a look at other threads about the ECVs - that sounds like it may be a good option for me...

I did read something about them a week or so ago (prices mostly! yikes!!)...do you happen to know if the agencies that rent them take medicare (i'm on disability right now....)?

Thanks so much - I appreciate the advice - I wouldn't have thought to pack ace bandages - that would have been a PAINFUL ommission!!

Crystal

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You may be better off renting an ECV, as pushing a wheelchair can get very tiresome, especially if you are not used to it. Also it depends on the weight of the passenger and the condition of the pusher(s). Some information for off-site rentals are:

Here are the urls:

Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

I have used Walker a few times. They will ask for a credit card and charge it the day before arrival. They will deliver the ECV to your hotel bell services before your arrival and pick it up there after your departure. Their rates, especially for longer than a week, are much better than Disney's. Also, their scooters are much better.

Also, they have different sizes and can handle up to about 400 pounds.

You don't say if you are renting a car or what. If you are using a car for getting around, the ECVs break down into five pieces, the heaviest about 39 pounds. They take about a minute or so to take apart and about two minutes (once you are used to it) to put it together.

Another suggestion is find out your state's requirements for a temporary disabled hang tag and get the paper work and have your doctor sign off on it. The tag will allow you to use any of the handicap parking areas (which will be a necessity). Also, with the policy of charging for valet parking, with a handicap hang tag the fees will be waived. Also the valets will usually volunteer to assist in loading/unloading an ECV. In Virginia I printed the required form from the DMV website. When I took the completed form to the DMV Office it took less than 15 minutes from the time I walked in until I had my tag.

If you are in a cast, you might want to have the person who puts it on you draw a line with a marker where it will be sawn off. Then bring a "Sharpie" type marker pen with you and have the Characters sign the cast. Warn them when signing to not cross the line. After the cast is removed you will have an interesting souvenier.

You can use a bungee cord to help keep crutches or a folded up walker on the EVC or wheelchair. Usually it would be a short walk with the crutches from the wheelchair or EVC.

Good luck and let us know what finally happens.

 

[plummer925]

Thanks for all the great tips!

Thankfully, I'm not in a cast...though that is a GREAT idea if I was in one!!

I will most likely have a knee brace (one of those ugly ones that run down my entire leg - which will make for an interesting tan line)...

We are not renting a car - we're using Tiffany Towncar for transfers from the airport and relying on Disney transportation while we're there...

Thanks again for the advice - and thanks so much for the numbers - now I can at least have options!!

God Bless,

Crystal

 

[JudithM]

Crystal, I second everything the others have said about renting an ECV rather than having someone push you in a wheelchair. A thought that comes to mind is ... can you bend your knee? I ask because I have a knee condition where I am not supposed to do stairs often & the more I can keep my leg straight (not bent), the better I am. In my case, the orthopedic doctor said I put 2.5 times more strain on my knee when it is bent. With this in mind .. wheelchairs at Disney that I have used & seen do not seem to have any way for the guest to keep his/her leg straight. On the other hand on the ECV I can pretty much keep my legs out forward & straighter than in a wheelchair. Does this make sense?

I agree with Cheshire Figment about the handicapped parking permit - you can ask you doctor. It will be invaluable to you at both WDW & elsewhere.

Please remember that YOU are just as entitled to use a wheelchair or ECV than any other guest with a medical need! Have fun!!

 

[plummer925]

Please remember that YOU are just as entitled to use a wheelchair or ECV than any other guest with a medical need!

I think I really needed to hear that!

Yea, I CAN bend my knee when it's not bothering me - like tonight - after starting to write all this the pain/stiffness subsided, and it's ALMOST normal (I can at least tuck my leg under me again, but still can't get up off the floor). I just feel so silly sometimes....

I really appreciate everyones great comments - I guess I need to consider everything....

Thanks again,

Crystal

 

[Nanajo1]

I second or is it third? all the good advice you've received re ECVs. It came to me that we have been suggesting ECVs a lot recently. I looked for my file on tips for ECV and W/C users and I must have lost it when my disc crashed. Any way, I thought it might be a good time to remind folks of those tips. I'll start with reminding folks the seats of w/c and ECV can get hot when left in the sun, so bring a towel to cover the seat, also it can be used to cover your knees, legs while riding. We forget that our knees and legs are really out there in the sun while we are riding. Remember sun screen on the knees and don't forget your hands and arms! Your hands are constanly in the sun.
Well I thought I would just put out a few of my personal tips.

 

[JudithM]

The same towel that blocks the sun during the day, can keep you from getting chilled in the evening. On our last visit to Fantasmic, I had our towel that I had been covering the seat. Well, the young lady next to us in the handicapped section was cold. She was going to rip a plastic bag, but I let her use our towel while we were there.

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome, plummer925. It looks like you got a lot of good advice already.

do you happen to know if the agencies that rent them take medicare (i'm on disability right now....)?

I'm quite sure that the rental companies take medicare because most of them would be the same medical equipment companies that people who live in Orlando would use for medical rentals. The question would be whether medicare considers the device is medically necessary. I'm sure any of the companies can help you to figure that out. You would need a doctor's prescrition and certification of medical need for medicare payment.
One thing that may cause problems for you is that some of the rides have quite a long step down and you sit quite low in the ride car. A couple that I know are a long step down are:
Small World and the Ride in Mexico at Epcot: For both of these there is a car where wheelchairs can be rolled right on. That car is also a good choice for someone with knee problems since you can walk onto the boat using the ramp.
Pirates of the Caribbean and The Maelstrom in Norway at Epcot: Both of these are boat rides where you have to step down into the boat. For both of them, you have to get out of a wheelchair and sit in the boat.
You can always ask the CM at the rides for more inforamtion about boarding. If you have questions about specific rides before you go, post your questions.

 

[Kermit]

I have a bad knee too, but it doesn't sound like it's as bad as yours. One thing that I do is take big doses of Advil before it starts hurting. My pain is related to inflamation that occurs when I bend my knee repetitively from walking, so the Advil helps, but only if I start before it hurts.

The other thing that helps is to wear an Ace bandage for part of each day before I have pain. I know that wrapping isn't really supposed to prevent pain, but in my case, I wrap it tightly enough to force me to walk without bending my knee. You might consider that over a brace since it's a little less cumbersome. You really should have something to just remind you not to bend your knee too much when getting onto low rides or walking on stairs, even if you do get an ECV since you will get off of it periodically. Last time I had problems with the bandage rubbing my skin too much, so next time I'm going to put some sort of barrier between the bandage and my skin. I'm thinking about cutting off a piece of some old Cuddle Duds (silky long underwear) to just fit under it.