WDW - 7 weeks after Rotator Cuff Surgery

[gracelrm]

Anyone ever been after such a surgery? Wondering if I will be able to do any rides other than IASM/POC type rides? I'm thinking I'll need to steer clear of crowds, which will be difficult the week after Easter. If it was a regular Disney trip - I'd just postpone - but two of my children are marching in the parade at Magic Kingdom and I've got to be there!

 

[Nadjalu]

Have you spoken with your doctor? That is what I would do. He/she is best at explaining if you can do those things.
That type of surgery is tough, I would hate to see you have to go thru it again.
My FIL had that surgery the begining of this year. He is retired and doesn't do much but yard work. Of course he did "too much" and didn't follow what the doctor said and during Christmas time had to have it redone.
And he was only doing stuff around the house.

While it isn't ideal to go to WDW and not ride, I think you said it best that you want to just be there for your kids.

 

[gracelrm]

I will consult with my PT and my Orthopedist for sure. This might be just the opportunity I need to see the shows and stuff I never get to do - I will probably skip parades and fireworks to avoid crowds other than the one my kids will be marching in. I'm going again in June - so I can make up for lost time then. Just wondering if anyone had any other suggestions out there for post-surgery tips.

 

[mccathy]

I will consult with my PT and my Orthopedist for sure. This might be just the opportunity I need to see the shows and stuff I never get to do - I will probably skip parades and fireworks to avoid crowds other than the one my kids will be marching in. I'm going again in June - so I can make up for lost time then. Just wondering if anyone had any other suggestions out there for post-surgery tips.

Crowds can be rough - I wonder if you were wearing a sling if people might be more careful around you? Probably not, though. Maybe a shirt that says "BACK OFF! I JUST HAD SURGERY." I dunno. Good luck.

 

[Vivianne]

A co-worker of mine had this surgery 1 week ago. I went to visit her at home on Friday and.... She has fibromyalgia and thought her pain was due to her condition but....found out otherwise. The doctor told her she was in bad shape.

Whatever you do be careful..you want your surgery to be successful.

 

[ironz]

I had rotator cuff repair 14 months ago, and went to WDW 3 months after surgery.

Definitely be doing everything your ortho and PT tell you! The rehab for a shoulder is so crucial...you'll hear lots of stories, like a PP said, about people doing too much and re-injuring their shoulder.

I was out of my sling by 6 weeks after surgery (everyone will be different in that regard, I imagine). BUT...when travelling and around crowds, I would wear it...partly for protection, and partly as a visible sign of "please do not run into me!"

You may be ok for parades and fireworks...esp if you can position a family member to stay on the affected side, as a buffer from other people. At 3 months out, I felt ok doing all the rides I wanted to, but was careful not to overdo it. I even rode EE. But, I was twice as far out after surgery than you will be. Probably sticking to the milder rides is best, and watch the ones that are low to the ground and take a little more balance and holding on to get in and out of the ride vehicle.

Also...take your pulley and stretch bands and do your PT exercises every day! Vacation is no time to slack off!

Good luck!

 

[gracelrm]

Thanks for the suggestions of wearing the sling. I'll be in a sling that has my arm strapped to my body and resting on cushion type thing - I was told I'd be in it for 6 weeks - thinking as long as it didn't hurt anything - I'd wear it in the park. I think I'd be more comfortable and maybe it would help with crowding around me!

 

[mousefan1972]

I am an orthopedic PT w/14 years of experience. Please be careful! Your repair will still be vulnerable to re-injury at 7 weeks out and I would hate to see anyone have to go through that surgery twice. Even if you can come out of your sling at 6 weeks, still wear it in Disney as it will signal to other guests that they shouldn't bump you or jostle you. Make sure you still do your ROM exercises as prescribed by your PT, so you don't lose ROM on your trip. It might be a good idea to bring a reusable ice pack as you may be sore in the evenings. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Jennasis]

I had rotator cuff repair 14 months ago, and went to WDW 3 months after surgery.

Definitely be doing everything your ortho and PT tell you! The rehab for a shoulder is so crucial...you'll hear lots of stories, like a PP said, about people doing too much and re-injuring their shoulder.

I was out of my sling by 6 weeks after surgery (everyone will be different in that regard, I imagine). BUT...when travelling and around crowds, I would wear it...partly for protection, and partly as a visible sign of "please do not run into me!"

You may be ok for parades and fireworks...esp if you can position a family member to stay on the affected side, as a buffer from other people. At 3 months out, I felt ok doing all the rides I wanted to, but was careful not to overdo it. I even rode EE. But, I was twice as far out after surgery than you will be. Probably sticking to the milder rides is best, and watch the ones that are low to the ground and take a little more balance and holding on to get in and out of the ride vehicle.

Also...take your pulley and stretch bands and do your PT exercises every day! Vacation is no time to slack off!

Good luck!

Sage advice!

DH had this surgery done (actually torn labrum) back in August. He was in SAD SHAPE for a long time after surgery. I just asked him about this for you and he first gave me this look but then said much of what the poster I quoted said.

For MONTHS after his surgery, I walked on his bad side to buffer him from bumps. We'd ask for booths at restaurants and sit him against the wall with the bad arm to the wall.

You WILL be in pain. Not as bad as before surgery or directly after, but do expect discomfort especially if rain is forecasted. Your shoulder will be able to predict change sin weathr better than Al Roker!

At 7 weeks out, plan to skip anything jarring (all thrill rides). Even the jolt of dropping on ToT will be too much. All mountains and coasters are out. No Splash, No BTMRR. Mo RnRC.

Bring your pain meds, your sling (as a visual cue for others to stay clear of you) and DO YOUR P/T. DH was a stellar patient and recovered great but it was a long road.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Just be smart about your ride decisions. I obviously won't recommend any of the coasters, probably not the mountains. I would avoid the following:

MK:
SM, SM, BTMR, POTC -it's a toss up... the boat bump at the end could jar you really good. Either brace yourself or have the doctor plaster your arm to your body!

EP:
TT

DHS:
RnR, ToT (agian, toss up - the action is up/down and I don't think it's jerky but it's not my body!)

AK:
Safari, Kali, Primevil Whirl, Dinosaur, EE, pretty much anything fun here!

Good luck and be safe.

 

[ladeb59]

I went to WDW last Oct, 4 weeks after shoulder surgery and did fine. I was able to ride all the rides I wanted but I don't do rollercoasters anyway so it was no big deal. Just have to be careful in crowds. My MD suggested that I may want to wear the sling in crowds, thinking that people might be more careful. But I didn't wear one. I did do alot of range of motion exercises in the pool that really helped. Go and have fun.

 

[ratmaster]

Jennasis- I'm with you on this. I had the same surgery and was in bad shape for some time. I can say that I would have been in no shape to go to WDW for a while after.

Best of luck.

 

[J Le]

I've never had rotator cuff surgery but I've had my right shoulder replaced twice. Long story short, I no longer have a shoulder 'joint' - any movement I have is from my back.

In addition to the wise advice above... Consider getting in and out of rides - if you don't have the stomach and leg muscles to get up and down without using both arms, even some of the theater seats never mind iasw can be tough getting in and out. You may want to ask about seating fewer to a row too so you're not rubbing shoulders. Seat belts (Soarin' for example) are hard, but not impossible, to do with one arm and it helps to have a buddy.

Enjoy the quieter pace - as a PP said, you'll be in pain. Not only from the surgery itself but from the stress on your body dealing with a different way of walking. Bring a heating pad for those other sore muscles.

 

[ironz]

Also want to add...if you are flying out to WDW....put the "patient" in a seat where the shoulder isn't vulnerable...either to getting bumped in the aisle or by another passenger. I had my right shoulder repaired, so would sit in the right hand side window seat with my shoulder to the window.

The sling is nice to rest your arm, and, as I said (and others)--as an indication for people to hopefully watch out for you.