Space Mountain and neck pain

[KTSMOM]

I've ridden Space Mountain numerous times with no problems, until last year.
I rode Space Mountain just once and when I got off my neck felt like it had been whipped around. That took me totally by surprise and it was pretty uncomfortable so I didn't ride Space Mountain again for the rest of the trip. Now we are going back to DW in a little over a week and I'm conflicted about riding Space Mountain again. Has anyone had this experience, and if so have you figured out a way to ride it so that you don't feel like your neck is being whipped all around?

 

[pieface]

You must be getting older like me the last time I rode it I felt like I was hit by a truck. The only thing I can suggest is to be totaly relaxed the stiffer you are the more your going to hurt.

 

[720L]

I stiffen up and brace myself the best I can! The unexpected drops are what hurt me the most. The last time I went on it I swore I wouldn't ride again.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I stiffen up and brace myself the best I can! The unexpected drops are what hurt me the most. The last time I went on it I swore I wouldn't ride again.

I gave up on that one a few years back, along with a few others.

 

[DisneyWisher]

I'm 47 and the only time I feel beat up is if I sit in the last seat (6), the second car whips more than the first.
For anyone that has felt pain after riding what seat were you in?

 

[smallworldnh]

I rode it last September after they did the rehab on it and found it was so much rougher than I remembered. I was very disappointed because I always loved that ride. I posted about this after my trip and someone replied that it makes a difference which side you board on. I usually boarded on the right but this time we were sent to the left. I don't know what the difference would be. It was awful though.

 

[720L]

I've been in every car...always painful LOL. I think Disneyland is smoother.

 

[PSUGuy]

Wifey has neck issues and has to avoid Rock n Rollercoaster, but Sp Mtn doesn't bother her. For my money Dinosaur is worse than either but not enough to keep me away. A year ago March I took shot to my left ribs on Sp Mtn that took forever to heal, but such is life for those with an AARP card.

Bill From PA

 

[kbonner]

Last time I rode it was back in December. It really did a number on my back and my neck. I will ride it at least once when I am back in Sept-Oct, but will give up on it does it to me again.

 

[LONES]

I've always loved Spacemountain, but when DH and I got off the ride on our last trip (2012), I said, "I don't care if I ever go on that again!" I thought it must have been that I am now on the north side of 40.... but no other rides seemed to bother me. I do think I was in the last car, though....

 

[MrsDuck]

I'm in my 20s and until last year, I could ride Space over and over and over.

Something either happened to the ride or ME last year. Riding Space is now a pretty miserable experience for me - lots of being jerked around, neck pain, and an upset stomach.

I try to do my best to relax as much as possible and ride when I think I'm most ready for it (before eating, etc).

 

[BrianL]

I have back problems, and I always tense up. Nothing has ever really bothered me much (or exacerbated my condition anyway) and I will continue to ride. I have friends who say SM is too rough, but to me it's much smoother than BTMRR.

 

[KTSMOM]

I've always loved Spacemountain, but when DH and I got off the ride on our last trip (2012), I said, "I don't care if I ever go on that again!" I thought it must have been that I am now on the north side of 40.... but no other rides seemed to bother me. I do think I was in the last car, though....

I am on the north side of 40 too (just barely though ) , but was hoping that wasn't the reason for my pain. So not ready to have to limit what I ride. I already gave up the tea cups, just couldn't take the spinning like I used to be able to. Sigh...

 

[iGoofy]

I rode SM in December for the last time. I was miserable after riding with neck pain and headaches. Never again!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[mkarizona]

Space Mountain is my favorite ride at DL so I keep trying to ride it in WDW but I always feel like I have been in a train wreck.

 

[goofyredraider]

I'm 47 and the only time I feel beat up is if I sit in the last seat (6), the second car whips more than the first.
For anyone that has felt pain after riding what seat were you in?

I tweaked my back on it this summer while riding in seat 6. The next several times we rode it during the trip (after a good amount of days in between) the kids knew if we got lined up and the end was involved, mom wasn't sitting there this time.

 

[ttintagel]

Yeah, it's always been a rough ride for me, but last year was the first time it gave me neck pain that lasted more than a few minutes after I got off. I had to take some extra Motrin and sit for a while doing stretches to ward off a proper headache I could feel coming on.

I've heard rumors that they're going to be doing something to the brakes on the next refurb, and rumors within rumors that that may ease some of the worst jerkiness.

 

[nugov2]

I rode it in June...middle seat and I thought I was going to die. My neck hurt so bad and hurt the rest of the day. I actually tried to slide all the way down in the seat b/c it hurt so bad(dh thought I passed out) but even that didn't help. My dh and kids rode it a bunch of times and they were all fine. I am in my 30's and never had a problem in the past. I guess old age

 

[mymickeyfans]

I injured my neck in an accident on my horse about 10 years ago. It never gives me any problems now, but last year was our first trip to WDW and Space Mountain really aggravated it! We're going again this year, but I love the ride so I'll try to do it again!

 

[Josh'sDad1974]

I rode it in dec 2011. Worse ride ever. My neck hurt the rest of the day. Of course I have a pinched nerve that I have to take a muscle relaxer every nite. I am on the south side of 40.