Resting a weak back at First Aid

[David Gardner]

The tread title is somewhat general, but I actually have very specific questions.

My wife had a serious back injury and surgery several years ago, and since then she's good for a couple of hours, maybe three, before she has to lay down and rest her back for at least an hour. I've hd several people, including multiple cast members, tell me that she can lie down at first aid. Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? I'm wondering if there's any problem with availability, like all the beds are full, and if they'd kick her out after some time limit.

 

[Bete]

My husband did this once in Magic Kingdom and it worked out fine.

I do believe your concerns are valid. If they need the bed for something more serious then you probably will be asked to give up the bed. They may allow you to sit in a wheelchair instead if that would help her if this occurred. With a wheelchair they may provide a pillow and/or cushion for the seat and back and possibly a leg rest to elevate her legs if you need to do it this way.

Have you considered a scooter or wheelchair for her. You can rent both. You can rent at the park or an outside rental. She could try out some free store scooters at home and she how she likes it. I think it would be easier on the back if she didn't have to walk. Doing this would allow you to have more park time hopefully without pain. Park tickets are not free, and you don't want to spend your time in first aid for long periods of time.

Also, ask her doctor for some advice. Could a brace help?

 

[DisneyOma]

When my pelvic floor disfunction and pudendal neuralgia get bad, I need to lie down as well, and first aid has always been welcoming. I've never had a time limit. For the record, sitting does not help. It actually can make it worse.

The first aid station at Animal Kingdom is my favorite, with the one at Hollywood Studios a close second. The HS one has a great staff, and they called a shuttle for me when I needed to go to Urgent Care one trip.

 

[David Gardner]

Have you considered a scooter or wheelchair for her.

Also, ask her doctor for some advice. Could a brace help?

Thanks for the response. We've used a wheelchair the last two trips. It helped a little, maybe got us to that three hour mark, but ultimately there's still a limit. The second trip we went to Disney Springs on arrival night, and she wanted to wander around a little. We went over that limit, and she was in the room for the next two days.

For the record, sitting does not help. It actually can make it worse.

Agreed. The first wheelchair trip it was a toss-up. The second we took a pillo from the room for her to sit on, and that made it much better.

 

[SteveMouse]

You can rent a scooter from an offsite vendor and have it delivered to your hotel or DVC villa (Scooterbug can deliver and pickup from Disney resorts' concierge desks, other vendors can't).

That means you can take to anywhere you go, including Disney Springs and the theme parks. It's also cheaper than renting in the parks.

All modes of Disney transport can accommodate wheelchairs and scooters.

You can try driving scooters in list big box stores like Walmart, Target, and many grocery stores.

You can rent wheelchairs and scooters in the parks and at Disney Spribgd as one-offs.

 

[David Gardner]

You can rent a scooter

The problem there is that neither scooters nor wheelchairs address the issue. She has to lie down for an hour or so.

 

[Bete]

I would go to a local zoo that rents scooters and try it for a day. Bring a cushion for the back. What do you have to lose to see if this can help. Less walking should help her back.

Again, I want to stress consulting her doctor. A back brace could help. Maybe, a pain shot could help.

Would using ice packs or heating pads help? She could use these while she sleeps and it may help her last longer in the parks.

Maybe, alternate rides and inside shows. Shows provide a rest.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The tread title is somewhat general, but I actually have very specific questions.

My wife had a serious back injury and surgery several years ago, and since then she's good for a couple of hours, maybe three, before she has to lay down and rest her back for at least an hour. I've hd several people, including multiple cast members, tell me that she can lie down at first aid. Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? I'm wondering if there's any problem with availability, like all the beds are full, and if they'd kick her out after some time limit.

I keep thinking about your poor wife. I wonder…if she has (at most) 3 hours on and then at least an hour off, from a practical perspective she’s going to be extremely limited by what she can do in the parks unless you guys are very aggressive about using paid upgrades. Might it make sense to hold off until she can rebuild some of her stamina, or is this really the best that you can hope for? Depending on where you are staying just getting to the parks might take an hour, ride lines can easily be an hour depending on time of year, dining, waiting, walking to first aid well before she absolutely needs it, etc.

Having said that, if she isn’t really that interested in rides and just enjoys <being> at Disney there is plenty to experience in limited windows. Also optimizing where you stay relative to the park(s) you are most likely to visit may help as well, as she may be more comfortable lying down back in the room sometimes vs at first aid.

Best of luck to you!

 

[David Gardner]

I keep thinking about your poor wife.

Thanks for the thoughts. You're correct that there's not much she can do, and the nature of her injury precludes almost anything like a thrill ride unless she wants to chance not being able to walk again. On our first trip I took her on Soarin' first thing and she cried.

The injury was several years back, and we're really at a point where it's as good as we're going to get. Like I said, she can't go one most of the thrill rides, but we want to take our grandsons before they get too much older. On the other hand, if we can only get 5-6 hours in a park for a day it doesn't seem worth it, especially with what they're charging.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Just there for a few long park days with a terrible back. I did walk all day and was in awful pain the whole day. Lion king show and fantasmic almost totally did me in. I should have gone to first aid to lay down with maybe an ice pack if they have them. I did put the generic icy hot patch on and it does help. I am not allowed to take NSAIDs anymore and wow do I miss them. I just kept going. I forgot about seeing your post before the trip or I would have tried out the first aid. My daughter is embarrassed for me to use the rollator. I may have to do so anyway next time. That was helpful in the past.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

My daughter is embarrassed for me to use the rollator. I may have to do so anyway next time. That was helpful in the past.

if a rollator (or wheelchair or ECV or whatever) helps there is never any reason to be embarrassed to use it. Heck, if you can figure out how to have Prince Ali’s elephant-led processional walk you around the MK I say more power to you!

 

[David Gardner]

Just there for a few long park days with a terrible back. I did walk all day and was in awful pain the whole day.

Thanks for posting. My wife could never go that long. Like I said, I scheduled an arrival night dinner on our second trip, so she was on her feet from the time we got on the bus, through check in and getting to the room, then the bus ti Disney Springs and throughout dinner. On the way back to the bus to get back to our room her back went out and she was in the room for the next couple of days. Once er back goes out, thats it.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Thanks for posting. My wife could never go that long. Like I said, I scheduled an arrival night dinner on our second trip, so she was on her feet from the time we got on the bus, through check in and getting to the room, then the bus ti Disney Springs and throughout dinner. On the way back to the bus to get back to our room her back went out and she was in the room for the next couple of days. Once er back goes out, thats it.

After dying (it felt like) from pain on the Southwest flight home I am laid up for a couple days. Standing is better than sitting for my back tho my painfully numb feet would deny that. Laying down is best of all especially with a heating pad or ice pack. I really should have tried the first aid for a brief reprieve

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think the first aid thing is more like an emergency thing to be able to have a higher likelihood of using it and it working out with touring the parks. The CMs offering that suggestion means it's okay to use it as in not prohibited not that it would actually work out nor long term for the day.

I think the reason why it shouldn't be the focus even though that's the direct question you asked is because it's a gap stop measure that doesn't really address her issue. You have to be close to the first aid area once she really gets to the point of absolutely needing to lie down, you have to have a bed available at that exact moment and for the length of time of needing it and it sounds like it could potentially be needed more than once in a day to get her back to the hotel room.

The other suggestions primarily working with her doctor are more feasible and informational. When my mom was about to have her total knee replacement the months leading up to it sitting down for too long was a problem, standing up for too long was a problem so I get that component of it. The suggestions regarding a wheelchair, scooter, or rollator can still be good ones. The pain component needs to be at the forefront. If sitting down in a wheelchair or scooter for a short time but frequent time prolongs the time in the parks without undue pain that could be good. A cushion, maybe a special order one for her specific medical needs, could help out there. A brace might help but if it still means she'll have to lay down while in the parks it may not be the most workable one.

I agree about going into the parks with such a severe limitation is hard but if workarounds can help out and you're willing to pay the fee to get the Disney park experience (as opposed to sticking to places like the resorts or Disney Springs) then I would say it's worth it.

What I do consider probably not the most worth it is to try and cram it all in with taking the grandchild. It's a large effort without such restrictive needs. As hard is it may be I don't think I would try to do any remedies and take the grandkids in the park. If you do you basically need to commit to one very small activity with the grandkids and then leave for the rest of the day. Personally if you're deadset on having the grandkids along I would save the together time for at the resort and plan to stay onsite. Some pool time, or a dinner. If you just have to have park time do like I said a very small activity then leave. I'm not sure that will be the best usage of your time. Alternatively try one trip with aid from her doctor to see if anything is actually reasonable before committing to a trip with the grandkids. While you didn't specify ages the kids aren't going to look back and think why oh why didn't we get to be at Disney with grandma, they will enjoy time spent anywhere else too, meaning it doesn't have to be something that causes such great pain just for the sake of it.

 

[Bete]

Maybe, give Dollywood a try instead. There are enough rides to keep the grandchildren satisfied. There are less crowds and you can accomplish more in less time. Dollywood has live park entertainment, too. You can eat in her park, as well. It would be easier to get back to your resort for a rest when needed. If you stay in a Dolly resort, you get transportation to their park.

There are plenty of shows to see outside of Dollywood that the kids would enjoy.

You could enjoy the Smoky Mountains. You can do a car ride through Cades Cove.

This would be easier on the pocketbook, too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Maybe, give Dollywood a try instead. There are enough rides to keep the grandchildren satisfied. There are less crowds and you can accomplish more in less time. Dollywood has live park entertainment, too. You can eat in her park, as well. It would be easier to get back to your resort for a rest when needed. If you stay in a Dolly resort, you get transportation to their park.

There are plenty of shows to see outside of Dollywood that the kids would enjoy.

You could enjoy the Smoky Mountains. You can do a car ride through Cades Cove.

This would be easier on the pocketbook, too.

If Dollywood is like Silver Dollar City it is terrible for someone with limited mobility. I'm pretty certain Dollywood has hills and is built into the topography. We saw zero wheelchairs at Silver Dollar City because it's far too hilly, very little strollers too. It can be good for the non-rider but not good for the limited mobility user due to the terrain.

 

[Bete]

If Dollywood is like Silver Dollar City it is terrible for someone with limited mobility. I'm pretty certain Dollywood has hills and is built into the topography. We saw zero wheelchairs at Silver Dollar City because it's far too hilly, very little strollers too. It can be good for the non-rider but not good for the limited mobility user due to the terrain.

I agree Dollywood is hilly but not quite as bad as Silver Dollar City. I should have mentioned using a scooter rental at Dollywood. My bad.

 

[AussieFan8]

Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? I'm wondering if there's any problem with availability, like all the beds are full, and if they'd kick her out after some time limit.

I have colitis and got really sick during Fantasmic about a year ago. I was so nauseous and dizzy that I wasn't really able to walk. They took me in a wheelchair down to first aid and I asked if I could take some medicine and lay down because I knew I couldn't walk out of the park on my own yet. They said yes but told me I would be limited to a half hour, which made me a little panicky because it usually takes longer than that for the meds to help. As I was in there, Jollywood Nights was starting, so the park was clearing out some. No one else came in first aid while I was there, and they didn't bother me or ask me to leave. I ended up staying for about 90 minutes until I felt well enough to leave. I don't know if they would have enforced the 30 minute limit if more people had come in or the park had been more crowded. I hope something works out for you!

 

[gottalovepluto]

... My daughter is embarrassed for me to use the rollator…

That’s the worst. Ignore that crap. One day she’ll mature and realize aging happens to everyone and it is no reason you should not be able to do what you love.

 

[gottalovepluto]

… Like I said, she can't go one most of the thrill rides, but we want to take our grandsons before they get too much older. On the other hand, if we can only get 5-6 hours in a park for a day it doesn't seem worth it, especially with what they're charging.

I’ve got a fam member with health issues, sometimes he can ride very little and we’re only in the parks 5-6 hours. He still has a great time and continues to return because he loves being at Disney, loves spending the time with us and likes seeing us happy even if he didn’t get to experience the ride itself with us. Is he getting the best bang for his buck? Maybe, maybe not. What else would he be doing? Staying home? That’s good bang for your buck but sad for your soul when the opportunity to do something else is there.

I’d consider hotels near the parks or with easy transport so she can be assured of a comfortable afternoon rest for as long as she wishes. Yes, that’s 3-5 hours out of the park- but it’s a proper rest with no worries of being kicked out.