tips for bad backs? anyone here with a bad back ever ridden the roller coasters?

[nataliesdaddy]

Ok so since last year I really screwed up my back. Now I am doing excercise and seeing a chiropractor to try and get back into shape

BUT my daughter is a roller coaster freak - And until her 9th birthday this Sept I always allowed her to ride my shoulders. Has anyone here ever ridden the rides who has a bad back? did it just wipe you out?

I know have a scrip for the largest percocet legally available - lol

am I 1) just plain stupid to even attempt riding tower of terror?
2) in need of therapy if I am dumb enough to think I can ride RNR?
3) A loving dad that wants to spoil his kid?

 

[MrsToad]

I hurt my back before going to WDW last October (with niece and nephew 10 & 14). While I did not ride TOT, I did ride RnRC at MGM, Space, Splash, and BTMR at MK, the safari at AK, and MS and TT at Epcot. RnRC was no problem as it is so smooth. BTMR and SM were a bit uncomfortable during the ups and downs when my spine felt like it was compressing on the down part, but it wasn't so bad that I regret riding. The safari, however, was an unexpected problem; we were in the rear seat and the bouncing up and down caused such pain I had to hold myself up off the seat to avoid the landings. I understand the front of the vehicle is less bouncy. All in all, I did okay by alternating sitting and standing during the day (too much time in either position caused aches), taking some meds, and spending time in the pool and hot tub at the end of the day (as did DH who has a somewhat permanent issue with his back).

As pain is an individual thing, I know you'll have to judge for yourself but I wish you good luck.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I hurt my back before going to WDW last October (with niece and nephew 10 & 14). While I did not ride TOT, I did ride RnRC at MGM, Space, Splash, and BTMR at MK, the safari at AK, and MS and TT at Epcot. RnRC was no problem as it is so smooth. BTMR and SM were a bit uncomfortable during the ups and downs when my spine felt like it was compressing on the down part, but it wasn't so bad that I regret riding. The safari, however, was an unexpected problem; we were in the rear seat and the bouncing up and down caused such pain I had to hold myself up off the seat to avoid the landings. I understand the front of the vehicle is less bouncy. All in all, I did okay by alternating sitting and standing during the day (too much time in either position caused aches), taking some meds, and spending time in the pool and hot tub at the end of the day (as did DH who has a somewhat permanent issue with his back).

As pain is an individual thing, I know you'll have to judge for yourself but I wish you good luck.

thank you very much for the response - I hadn't even thought about the safari... you are right.. that would be the bumpiest... and thank you for the comments about the roller coasters too. I know an old fashioned wooden roller coaster would do me in if it rattled much... but the metal ones like Kraaken (seaworld) are so smooth it is incredible... I too must switch bewteen standing and then sitting...if I stand for too long it really hurts

 

[shamrock30]

I have back problems, and the rides that bother me the most are Test Track, Space Mountain, and strangely enough, the tame rides that turn your cart around backwards--Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth. I've been stuck on those rides a few times, backwards, on the incline. Very painful!

Tower of Terror doesn't bother me at all, but as the above poster said, all back problems are different. I don't go on RnRC. I hope you are pain free at WDW!

 

[mudnuri]

my girls father has serious back problems- visits chiropractor 2-3x a week...was out of work for 9 weeks with a herniated disk. that said

he did tower of terror, rnr, test track, space mountain.

He just had to remember not to tense up...yeah- easier said that done

Brandy

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I hurt my back about 7 years ago and it has never really gotten completely better. Every once in awhile I will bend over and it "pops", which results in about two weeks of horrendous pain - meds, heating pad, etc.

I hurt it most recently the week of Christmas, 2004. I was shuffling around a la Ozzy Osborne. We went to Disney Jan. 12-17, and I was very worried about the injury cropping back up.

We rode SM and BTMRR. They were a little rough, but more from a neck standpoint, I thought. The worst ride for me at MK was Stitch. The way the seats are shaped I was REALLY uncomfortable the whole time and my back felt bruised afterwards. SM was our last ride on an EMH night before returning to the resort so that might have helped. We didn't do much more walking/riding after that, we just went to bed.

At MGM we did ToT and it was fine - no problems at all. Skipped RnRC because I am a chicken.

We didn't think anything about the Safari - we were in the second row from the front so maybe that's why it didn't seem too jerky. Dinosaur was jerky but not unbearable. The thing at AK that hurt my back was ITTBAB! When the thing pops out of the seat back and pokes you - not good! It hit me in the exact same spot that was sore from the seats in Stitch.

Test Track didn't bother me at all.

Good luck! Back injuries are yucky!!

 

[cocodog]

I also have cronic [upper] back problems. Had two ruptured discs last year.

Space Mountain has always been my favorite ride, but I found last week that I can't do it anymore. I was in the very back seat, and it was way too jerky on my neck.

Also the Dinosaur ride was awfully jerky. Right after, we rode the Primieval Whirl, and I found it pretty jerky, also.

Big Thunder Mountain RR was not a problem for me.

Good luck.

 

[TheresaNY]

I found Goofy's Barnstormer particularly uncomfortable due to the hard seat - by the time I got positioned the ride was over !! I also did NOT appreciate most of the water raft rides at BB and TL particularly the family raft ride at BB. You take a lot of jolts to your lower back that you cannot anticipate coming and cannot position yourself to avoid them. Also didn't like Thunder Mountain after the third time in a row on it !! Couldn't brace myself any longer !! Same thing with Dinosaur !

 

[Hugpug]

I have had a bad back for many years. I rode TT ,TM,SM,DS anf KS. The DS AND KS WAS THE WORST. No problem with others I would never ever ride DS again I was black and blue when I got off that one. KS can do one time as long as you sit up front.

 

[TheresaNY]

What is DS ?? I am guessing that KS is Kilamanjaro Safari ..... but I am clueless as to "DS" I thought Dinosaur was just plain "Dinosaur". Is that DS?

 

[pnutmnm]

I too have been wondering this question. I broke a disc in my back (while bending over to get my hair dryer of all things...taught me a BIG lesson about vanity!!! lol ) and had to have it removed. It has been 3 years now, but I still have some problems. I wondered about how "jarring" some of the rides can be.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

thank you all for your input - I guess I will chance it and bring my percocet just in case

 

[tiggrbaby]

Several years ago I strained my back right before leaving home to go Orlando for two weeks. The best thing for me was using these pads that velcro around your body and have these heating discs that last about eight hours. It was like having a heating pad on all day! It kept my back loose enough to keep going all day. I don't remember what they are called, but they come in a red box. They were expensive, but it was worth it!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Just another perspective here: the rides that I had no trouble with were RNRC (this is a very smooth roller coaster), ToT, Splash Mtn, Test Track, and ones that I had some trouble with were: BTMRR, Space Mtn., Dinosaur (very bumpy) Goofy, and the safari was a little bad in some places, but overall not worth sitting out. Hope this helps! Enjoy!
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[bugsy]

I injured my back some 25 years ago (no I am not THAT old, only 47)
Let your body be your guide. I ride EVERYTHING, I bring a couple of
vicodin in case my back is a little stiff in the morning, tho that is more
likely due to an unfamiliar mattress. But I would recommend not to let
DD ride on your shoulders, the weight compression is the most damaging
and painful, and I am guessing she is much to big for this anyway. One thing
I do to alleviate pressure on my spine when the plane lands, and I have been
doing this for years, is when the plane is about to land, lower your torso over
your knees kinda tightly, it is hard to describe, and let your torso absorb the
impact of landing. I have and have had a herniated disc for years, trust me
this helps ALOT. Best of luck to you

 

[gizfish]

Both DH and I have lower back problems. Safari at AK can be a definite problem. We would have loved to have gone on it more than once but didn't dare to. If you go on it, try to raise your butt off the seat (kinda like people "post" on a horse) when the driver speeds up because that is when those bumps are most painful. The only "thrill" rides we did was star tours and test track. Star tours was okay, but I had to push up against the seat when we dipped forwards. Test track try to sit in the front, not in a middle seat and pay attention to what the ride is about to do. The first part really shouldn't be much of a problem. The last part, once I braced my feet against the front of the car and pushed back, I had no problems at all. Also, make sure you take breaks during the day. I found that just a small one hour or so of lieing down at the hotel and I would be fine for another 5 or 6 hours of the parks.