spinal cord stimultor and rides

[huckster]

i pu this on disabilities also getting no respones hopeing some has on or knows some one who had s one and their experence at wdw thanks

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi Tammy, nice to see you.

Not sure what a stimulator is, but when I had a herniated disc a few years back, I rode almost no rides. Just did my park touring, using a scooter, with other folks from here. They rode some rides, but I limited myself to ones like Figment, Small World, etc.

Hope you and family are well.



ETA...In general, with spinal problems, I think it best to stay away from any jerky rides, like the mountains, coasters, etc.

 

[WdwJon]

I have had one for many years and have no issues on any rides. The only restrictions will be due to your underlying problems. ie back problems, etc. You might need to reduce the intensity, I myself don't, on Mission Space, for as the spinning increases so will the stimulation increase. Not much, but it will. It is the same feeling you might get if you try and lie down with the stim on at the same level. So you might need to turn it down, not off. This will also happen on Spaceship Earth as you are tilted back in your seat in the ascent and decent.

I ride everything else, ToT, all coasters, with no problems. I do seem to fall asleep in the Hall of Presidents, but I think that is a whole different issue.

Good luck, relax, and have a great time.

Jon

 

[huckster]

thank you for the respones ,as far as underlying back issues they are there still after 4 surgeries, i was worried about jerking the paddle loose in my spine or tearing the wiring .. but sounds like you did ok, as for the walking standing , i am still hoping i dont have to use a scooter, was gonna try the first day or so , then order one to be sent there if i need hopfully i can do that on short notice from Rangys scooter i think it was recomened on the DIS.i just hate to accept i am so broken ..
Hi Dan hope all is well with you and your family all is real good with mine
wdwjon is yours put in by laminectomy? into spine? thoratic area? mine is a Medtronic. again thanks

 

[WdwJon]

I had a laminectomy, but that I believe is the surgery for the herniated disk. Mine was for my lower back.

The stimulator, also Medtronic, paddles, wires and leads were tunneled in with only a few small incisions. The paddles and leads were placed in the middle of the spine, however the sensation is in the lower back and legs. The stimulator was placed in my back just behind my love handle.

Once they scar in, it would have to be a greater jolt than any ride in DisneyWorld to jar them loose.

I would decide on riding a ride on whether it will aggrevate your problem, hurt you even more, rather than whether it will loosen the stimulator, etc.

Jon

 

[clandrum]

What ever you do please be careful. My mom has had 4 different ones put in place and somehow it has stopped working or the leads have broke all four times. She currently has a non working unit in her because she refuses to have any more sugeries- hers is through medtronics. Hers is for leg pain so the leads might be a little different than for the back but I know having broken leads fished out is no fun. I would talk to your doctor.

 

[Tomh]

I know nothing about this, but wanted to wish you a good trip. I ruptured a disc in my back a month or so ago, and will be going to Disney this summer. I'm also hoping that none of the rides aggravate the situation.

 

[disnut8]

I just wanted to add that if the OP gets to the front of the line on ANY Disney ride and decides it's not for them, they can ALWAYS tell the Cast Member doing the seating that they would like to leave. It's very easy to do and you will be told how to exit safely. Everyone knows the thrill rides have these so-called chicken exits but you can do it at any ride throughout Disney World. When in doubt, proceed on the side of caution.

 

[crostorfer]

I do the stimulator implant surgeries all day long. (Well, I don't DO them, I preform the x-ray portion of the surgery.) I would say that if you have chronic back pain that it would be a good idea to stay away from rides that are jerky on the spine just as a precaution. Mission Space, Dinosaur, Big Thunder Mountain, etc. It just makes sense.

On a side note, I hope your Stimulator is working well for you and giving you relief!!! I like happy endings!

 

[huckster]

Thanks for all your replies , they had to perform a laminecomy to insert the paddle , also had them done to repair hernated discs in lower back , as for rides my concerns were dino and thunder mt the only two i ride i am a chicken lol so i think any others i like will be fine.sorry to hear your moms has quit working.. mine started out great but has decreased over the last few months mine to is for leg pain from failed back surgeries..well you all answered what my mind was telling me LOlLits hard to give up things ... and get old lol
again thanks alot for your replies

 

[CopasFamily]

I work at a pain management surgery center here in Florida (5 days a week doing epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequencies, and spinal cord trials.) We do the implant trials at our center, but our docs do the implants at the hospital.

Do you ever have it reprogrammed? When our patients start to lose effects of the stimulation the Medtronics or Boston Scientific reps come in to reprogram.

If you're still under their care, I would contact your surgeon. My docs said it would really be a case by case determination on what they would recommend. Best of luck!

 

[VPachex]

Hi! I have an Intellis from Medtronic on the back of my head (the electrodes are subcutaneous between layers of muscle because it’s for occipital neuralgia, the nerve was damaged and chronic headaches etc) and the battery is in my back, on my shoulder blade.
So, after 4 months two electrodes broke out of nowhere, the rest is ok, but those that short-circuited or something were really important so I had an emergency surgery to try fix it, didn’t work, I’m having surgery on February to change the whole strip or pad (the left electrodes)
Sorry for the long and confusing introduction!!
so actually we’ve been planning a family trip to Disney World with my whole family and I was super excited! Since I was intervened before and I have a mesh plate I know I can’t go crazy, but I had gotten in the Star Wars flight simulator and I was dizzy but oh so happy!!
I am scared of the big rollercoasters anyways…
I had asked one of my surgeons but he didn’t know for sure (he didn’t have patients going to amusement parks, both implants and amusement parks are extremely uncommon!) but I figured I would be okay with what I wanted to ride, like, I think the biggest thing would be the T-rex if I dare, or splash mountain, slinky, I wasn’t sure about the flight sim because it’s shaky, my brother told me it’s more the feeling…

But now that the device broke and no one knows why, I started freaking out about it and thank goodness I found this!!!
I know everyone has it in their back but, maybe you can tell me how it went still? I don’t have adaptative stim (not sure why) but I know the gist of it.
Or maybe one of the technicians knows if there’s difference between the back and the head and if I can ride the millennium falcon!

Thank you so much if you read all this, I hope you had a beautiful trip and that everyone is doing well with their devices!!!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Zombie thread. Closing.