Rolling Walker for Mobility Probs?

[crhbrault]

My family (DH, DD8, DS14) will be at Disney for a week the end of Sept. I have arthritis and chronic pain - broke my hip, back, ankles in an auto accident. I can't stand for long periods, and walking so much is going to really wear me out.

I'm 33. I use a cane at times when i am in severe pain. I have a ton of nerve and muscular damage in addition (Rhuematologist treats it as fibromyalgia - similar type pain, though traumatic in cause) , so I tend to stay sore and stiff anyway. Disney is definitely going to be an adventure that pushes me to my limits and then some.

I do NOT want to make the family push me in a wheelchair. I am not talented enough to handle using a motorized scooter, and frankly, I don't NEED a full time chair. Been considering purchasing a rolling walker with a seat attached. They weight about 12 lbs, and fold up fairly easily.

I saw another post on here that someone was thinking of using one, am hoping to get some thoughts from others - good idea or no? To be honest, husband is not in favor of it, basically he thinks there will be no place to put it to get on a ride, it will be a hassle, etc. My response was, then go ahead and plan for me to be stuck in a hotel bed by day 4 and enjoy the rest of the vacation without me. We have done Hershey Park, and NYC/ Washington DC daytrips and by the end of a day, my leg is literally dragging and my legs burn, I sit down and cant get back upright. I really do not want to spend my entire vacation on pain killers. I do plan to get some pre-trip prednisone as it usually gives me a lot of relief for about 10 days, and of course will take my usual ton and a half of meds with me.
Any thoughts, suggestions, etc would be a huge help, esp on the idea of using the roller - walker.

 

[peemagg]

I think instead of a rolling walker I would use a wheelchair. With this you could use it like a walker and then if you needed to be pushed you have a place to sit. With a rolling walker, you have no way to be pushed if you need to.

As far as it being a hassle with rides and such, no matter what you take, you will be able to use it right up to the ride and then leave it there until you return. You don't take it on the ride with you. It is put aside for your return.

A vacation is no fun if you are in constant pain. You are supposed to enjoy your vacation, not survive your vacation.

 

[cmesq61]

Everyone is different and only you can know your pain/exhaustion tolerance. I use a rolling walker w/ a seat every day, supplemented with my wheelchair when necessary. I can not make it around Wal Mart, grocery stores, etc., without it. It is awesome. For a trip to a mall, I need my wheelchair or ECV. I could never, however, do WDW w/o an ECV. My rolling walker only takes me but so far, and WDW is simply too far for me. Maybe since you've done a day at Hershey Park the walker will give you just the extra you need. For everyday use, rolling walker is great. Mine is 11 pounds, I am able to lift it in and out of my car for work everyday. It's a life saver. Don't think I'd still be working w/o it. FYI--most private insurance companies will not pay for a walker with a seat. Crazy, I know. Have a great trip!

 

[mom3sonstt]

You say that you are not talented enough to use the motorized scooter?? Before you rule them out, try one at your local grocery store, or WalMart - or if you have a mall nearby that rents them. They really aren't that difficult to use, for me they were a definite trip save! The ones at Walmart with the big basket on the front will be more difficult to maneuver than the ones at WDW, so, since you have 3 months to go, you can get some practice in with them.

If you stick with a rolling walker, on some of the rides they could set it aside for you. I'm thinking of the ones where they would have to transfer someone from a wheelchair into the ride vehicle - like Toy Story, Tower of Terror. Shoot, at Tower of Terror I parked my cart and used my cane going through the fast pass line, it is collapsible, so I usually fold it up and shove it in my bag during the ride - one time they offered to take it for me. When I got off the elevator, there it was leaning up against the wall waiting for me.

Have a good trip!

 

[tobikaye]

Last year my sister's arthritis made her stamina drop and she had to use her rollator (rolling walker). WDW handles them just like a ECV or wheelchair. You would want to get the guidemaps at Guest Relations for disabilities and follow the same entrance directions as those with EVC or wheelchairs. Basically, when you get on the ride, you would leave your rollator at/near the ride vehicle and then the cast member would move the rollator out of the way. If the ride exits at a different place than where you get on, then they will move the rollator to the exit.

FYI, this year, my sister's arthritis developed in a negative way and I had to rent her a EVC for the trip. My sister is special needs, but high functioning, and she handled the EVC quite well. You might want to try using them around the stores that offer them for their customers to see how it works. I will say that the ones rented offsite from WDW are easier to manuever than the ones at WDW or at the stores.

 

[JiminyC&me]

We'll be going to WDW in September (my last trip was Dec 2008 - This trip is loooong overdue) and my mom (age 80) will be coming too. Her doctor just prescribed a rollator for her and since we've no experience with them while in WDW I was wondering how they were handled while in the parks.
Thanks for all your answers! This is why Disboards are THE place to get all the answers.

FYI - We are going to get my mother a rollator with a seat that converts into a transport/wheelchair for when she gets too tired to use the walker.

Thanks again!




Exactly 3 months until our Disney trip!!!!