Tips for touring with knee pain

[schoen]

Knee pain is a new thing for me. Unfortunately, my two-week trip is in one week, and I won't be able to start PT before I leave. I know it is a common ailment. Does anyone have tips or tricks to making touring more comfortable?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Yes. Rent an ECV from an off-site location.

Most people walk 8-12 miles per day at WDW.

I would suggest going over to the disABILITIES Forum. One of the first threads is the disABILITIES FAQs. On Post #2 we have a lot of information for people with mobility and/or stamina situations, including fairly detailed information about both on- and off-site rentals of ECVs and wheelchairs. To get directly to the disABILITIES FAQs from here just click on the link in my signature.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Not sure if it'll work for all knee pain but I use knee sleeves when my knees hurt after running and they make a huge difference. You can pick them up for about $10 each and the compression and heat really do eliminate a lot of the soreness.

 

[WuvEeyore]

Knee pain is a new thing for me. Unfortunately, my two-week trip is in one week, and I won't be able to start PT before I leave. I know it is a common ailment. Does anyone have tips or tricks to making touring more comfortable?

From personal experience, knee braces, supports or sleeves, pain patches or pain rubs for overnight relief, ice packs and Advil. Go at a pace you are comfortable with. Rest when you can and don't overdo it.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[schoen]

From personal experience, knee braces, supports or sleeves, pain patches or pain rubs for overnight relief, ice packs and Advil. Go at a pace you are comfortable with. Rest when you can and don't overdo it. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the response! Any knee braces or pain patches/rubs that you find work particularly well? I a.m just looking to make touring more comfortable. I do not think an ECV or a wheelchair are a great option for me, as sitting for prolonged periods of time make my pain worse. Also, I have never used a mobility device, and I am not sure a crowded theme park is a great place to cut my teeth!!!!

I bought an ace bandage today, and that is helping slightly.

 

[TitaniumZ]

See a medical professional! (or a couple if you can) Depending on the type of pain, and the cause, I found a chiropractor to be very helpful. I had severe knee pain when I started a running plan, so bad I could barely walk. After a chiropractic adjustment to my knee, it was gone, and has stayed gone. A doctor specializing in sports medicine may also be worth a visit. Instead of just saying "stay off it" they often can suggest treatments that will reduce the pain, and prevent further damage while still allowing mobility.

 

[WuvEeyore]

Thanks for the response! Any knee braces or pain patches/rubs that you find work particularly well? I a.m just looking to make touring more comfortable. I do not think an ECV or a wheelchair are a great option for me, as sitting for prolonged periods of time make my pain worse. Also, I have never used a mobility device, and I am not sure a crowded theme park is a great place to cut my teeth!!!!

I bought an ace bandage today, and that is helping slightly.

I like Icy Hot patches, but my Mom swears by Absorbine Jr. But don't use either and then wrap your knee at the same time. I prefer adjustable knee braces with a hole cutout for the kneecap, to stabilize it, but it would depend on what is causing your knee pain. Did you have a knee injury?

 

[chemnerd09]

I have two types of knee braces that I'll use. One is the type with the hole cut out for the knee and the other is a band that goes below my knee. I actually found having shoe inserts to be the most helpful. I'm knock-kneed so having the arch support really helps. Take as many breaks as you need. There is generally lots of places to rest and sometimes we have as much fun watching people as we do riding rides.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

Kinesiology tape (KT tape) is great. For me it is better than any of the braces I have and stays better than ace bandages. I buy it in the sports section at our Meijer store but they have it other places too. It's 12.99 a roll but it has changed my life! I had a possible torn meniscus and a bowed acl that I chose not to have repaired (long story). Now I have rehabbed my knee to the point that I can easily walk 4-6 miles everyday at home. It has made it so that it doesn't hurt to walk and I could rebuild the muscles that I lost post injury.

Watch the KT full knee taping video on the manufacturers website or on YouTube. It's great stuff!

 

[ponyboy]

Hydrocodone

 

[sharadoc]

Hydrocodone

Wiseguy! That's an extreme and potentially dangerous solution. Narcotics should be a last resort and only when the pain is unbearable.

Seriously, for me it's learning that I need to stop and when. I use ibuprofen and acetaminophen since one stops the inflammation and the other blocks the pain signals. It's not something I would do at home, but it's okay for vacation.

Plan your walking routes for the shortest distance. Driving to the parks works for us, because I don't have to risk standing on a bus, or standing around waiting for the bus. Standing still is actually more painful for me than walking.

Stabilizing the knee with a brace or tape is also great.

Icing when you can is good too. I have brought a small ziploc sandwich bag and asked for ice at a CS to put on my knees when we stop to eat.

Most of all - the right shoes. I love Crocs and they do the best for me. I also have sturdy Propet walking shoes that I alternate with. But I've done whole trips with Crocs (multiple pairs) and have done great.

 

[Redbudlover]

I know you said ECVs don't seem like a good option for you, but I would think about it some more before you discard the idea. I have a bad back occasionally and I can use Aleve, ice, and all the above to help out with the pain, but you are not talking about walking around the mall. I find that the difference between a great trip and a "bearable" trip when my back is acting up is an ECV. Believe me the learning curve for driving in a busy park is about 15 minutes. If you rent it in the park you do not have to navigate the buses with it. In fact I often park it with the strollers in an area with several attractions and walk from there - that takes care of the sitting too much problem. I don't stress my back from pushing too hard and at the end of the day I am not exhausted and hurting and needing treatment.
In fact when I see older seniors at the park trudging along trying to just get through it I cringe. A trip to WDW is supposed to be fun. Making it easier by having a ride from one part of the park to another just makes your vacation easier and more fun. When my 61 year old husband and I (66) get to WDW in December this year we are renting one and sharing it, just to have time to rest his hip and my back and not be exhausted when we stop for the night.

 

[rimomma66]

Kinesiology tape (KT tape) is great. For me it is better than any of the braces I have and stays better than ace bandages. I buy it in the sports section at our Meijer store but they have it other places too. It's 12.99 a roll but it has changed my life! I had a possible torn meniscus and a bowed acl that I chose not to have repaired (long story). Now I have rehabbed my knee to the point that I can easily walk 4-6 miles everyday at home. It has made it so that it doesn't hurt to walk and I could rebuild the muscles that I lost post injury.

Watch the KT full knee taping video on the manufacturers website or on YouTube. It's great stuff!

I SWEAR by KT tape. I have had pretty bad achilles tendinitis since I ruptured my plantar fascia last year and KT tape has been my salvation.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Just a thought about that ECV.

I had some tendonitis in my right ankle when I visited Disney in July...So...what did I do with my tendonitis??...I walked 5-6 miles a day on it every day for a week. I would go back to the room in the evening and put ice on it.

Toward the end of the trip, I got on a ride and felt a slight pop...and then walked and walked and walked.

I got home and went about my life that included some light walking ...and my ankle hurt. I bought a $5 slip on ace bandage...and walked on my ankle.

In mid-September, I went to the foot doctor.

I hope to get the boot off my foot for my torn ligament in mid-November.

Pain is a convenient way for your body to tell you that you have a problem.

At least be prepared to get the scooter.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Knee pain is a new thing for me. Unfortunately, my two-week trip is in one week, and I won't be able to start PT before I leave. I know it is a common ailment. Does anyone have tips or tricks to making touring more comfortable?

We borrowed a wheelchair from our resort, AoA, for my boyfriend after he pulled a muscle in one leg and could barely limp, let alone walk. Couldn't have worked better.

 

[rwdavis2]

What exactly is the problem? Ligament, cartilege? Since you are going to PT then you should have a diagnosis so the therapist knows what to do. Otherwise what is the purpose of the therapy?

Anyway, ask your doctor for prescription strength ibuprofen. They work wonders and usually better than narcotics. Ice the knee at night as well.

 

[robinb]

I SWEAR by KT tape. I have had pretty bad achilles tendinitis since I ruptured my plantar fascia last year and KT tape has been my salvation.

My DD is a competitive swimmer in High School and uses KT tape on her knee, but there are certain ways to tape it depending on exactly how you need to support your knee. She tapes her knee differently than a teammate tapes her knee. How do you tape your plantar fascia? Mine has been bothering me and we have plenty of tape in the house!

ETA: for the OP: You may think about "rolling" your quadriceps. We have a 6"x18" foam roller from Dicks Sporting Goods for my DD and she uses it on her quads to help relax the muscles into her knee. I have osteoarthritis in my right knee and just started to roll my quad out too. It hurts like hell while I am working on the muscles, but my leg and my knee feel a LOT better when I'm done. FTR, you NEVER want to roll over your knee, just the leg above it. There are plenty of websites that describe the correct method of rolling out your quads.

 

[zumbergc]

At least bring with you the names of some of the offsite ecv rental companies. That way after the first day, and your in so much pain because you walk miles on your bad knee.
Then the next day you wake up and you feel even worse, or you damaged your knee even more by walking on it all day.

Bring your pain med of choice, but also bring it into the park with you.
When pain hits and its back at the hotel room, not very helpful.

 

[lauradis]

I would recommend really good running shoes. They can make hugh difference and don't forget to take breaks, time for some people watching.

really don't rule out a scooter.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

What exactly is the problem? Ligament, cartilege? Since you are going to PT then you should have a diagnosis so the therapist knows what to do. Otherwise what is the purpose of the therapy?

Anyway, ask your doctor for prescription strength ibuprofen. They work wonders and usually better than narcotics. Ice the knee at night as well.

ABSOLUTELY!!

Narcotics cover up the pain...Ibuprofen relieves pain and heals.

I fractured a couple of ribs last year, and was afraid to take a lot of the lorisets prescribed. My sister told me to take 4 Ibuprofen (that's the prescription strength). Her doctor told her that as long as she didn't take them long that it would not hurt her stomach.

Anyway, the ibuprofen worked better than the lorisets and I didn't pick up a stubborn little addiction.