WDW with a Knee Immobilizer??

[lady_hlh]

We found out after an MRI yesterday that my 13 year old DD has a lateral femolar subchrondal fracture behind her knee cap from dislocating it at camp and we're supposed to be driving to WDW this Sunday. The first doctor we saw was only an attending at a sports medicine practice and not an ortho practice. She told us that my DD would need to use a knee immobilizer and crutches but I made an appointment at an ortho practice for this Friday AM. I would definitely rent a wheelchair to push her around in the parks because there is no way she could be on crutches for that many hours. However I found an old thread that listed rides that could accomodate a leg cast which seems similar to me and I'm wondering if my DD would have a good time if she can't go on lots of rides that she loves. We are also going to Daytona Beach Shores afterwards, I know she can't walk on the beach but I'm also not sure if she can even go in the pool which faces the ocean with the knee thing on. I could kill my DH because our DD hurt her knee over two weeks ago and he kept saying oh it is just a sprain she is being a baby. I listened to him at first because he was a big jock and I never did any sports. So she has already been walking around on this injury for all that time until I decided to take her to the doctor and they ordered the MRI because they thought it was her ACL. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or has done WDW wearing the knee thing.

 

[SMD]

We found out after an MRI yesterday that my 13 year old DD has a lateral femolar subchrondal fracture behind her knee cap from dislocating it at camp and we're supposed to be driving to WDW this Sunday. The first doctor we saw was only an attending at a sports medicine practice and not an ortho practice. She told us that my DD would need to use a knee immobilizer and crutches but I made an appointment at an ortho practice for this Friday AM. I would definitely rent a wheelchair to push her around in the parks because there is no way she could be on crutches for that many hours. However I found an old thread that listed rides that could accomodate a leg cast which seems similar to me and I'm wondering if my DD would have a good time if she can't go on lots of rides that she loves. We are also going to Daytona Beach Shores afterwards, I know she can't walk on the beach but I'm also not sure if she can even go in the pool which faces the ocean with the knee thing on. I could kill my DH because our DD hurt her knee over two weeks ago and he kept saying oh it is just a sprain she is being a baby. I listened to him at first because he was a big jock and I never did any sports. So she has already been walking around on this injury for all that time until I decided to take her to the doctor and they ordered the MRI because they thought it was her ACL. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or has done WDW wearing the knee thing.

I was in an immobilizer for 3 months, no crutches. It was my right knee, so I could only get in and out of cars on the passenger side, and I usually couldn't get my leg down in the back seat, so I'd have to scoot across the seat with my leg up. I couldn't swim, I could take it off to shower, but climbing in and out, even with it off I wasn't supposed to bend it. Also, I couldn't go to the movies because sitting in use seat was too awkward for the length of the film. There was definitely no swimming and no theme park visit that summer.

Think about this, how is she going to get on and off rides that load below ground level without bending her leg? How is she going to sit on rides with her leg extended out in front of her? If the doctor thinks it needs to be immobilized, I wouldn't risk bending it that many times, not to mention possibly banging it when a ride moves or the additional strain climbing in and out of vehicles.

 

[lady_hlh]

I did find a list of rides that can accomodate someone in a full leg cast who can't bend their leg and it was less than 1/2 the rides at MK with none of the coasters on it all. I told my DD that it would be kind of like when she was a toddler and we only went on a few rides that she liked but we met lots of characters. The no pool part would stink in August but we can ride the monorail or take the boat over to FW for the camp fire sing along with Chip and Dale because we are staying at CR. It is either a limited WDW vacation or no vacation at all this summer for our DD. My DH was saying well lets just go to the beach instead but if she can't walk on sand, go in the ocean or go in the pool then spending all her time at a beach hotel is an even worse vacation.

 

[SueM in MN]

I did find a list of rides that can accomodate someone in a full leg cast who can't bend their leg and it was less than 1/2 the rides at MK with none of the coasters on it all. I told my DD that it would be kind of like when she was a toddler and we only went on a few rides that she liked but we met lots of characters. The no pool part would stink in August but we can ride the monorail or take the boat over to FW for the camp fire sing along with Chip and Dale because we are staying at CR. It is either a limited WDW vacation or no vacation at all this summer for our DD. My DH was saying well lets just go to the beach instead but if she can't walk on sand, go in the ocean or go in the pool then spending all her time at a beach hotel is an even worse vacation.

I'm not sure if you saw the information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread - here is a link to it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713&page=3

I took the information from an old thread and a list Disney used to have on their website and updated it.

There are things she will be able to go on, but not being able to bend the knee does limit things, so you will need to have a different trip then you originally planned.
Hope she's at least not in pain.
Let us know how things work out.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

I did find a list of rides that can accomodate someone in a full leg cast who can't bend their leg and it was less than 1/2 the rides at MK with none of the coasters on it all. I told my DD that it would be kind of like when she was a toddler and we only went on a few rides that she liked but we met lots of characters. The no pool part would stink in August but we can ride the monorail or take the boat over to FW for the camp fire sing along with Chip and Dale because we are staying at CR. It is either a limited WDW vacation or no vacation at all this summer for our DD. My DH was saying well lets just go to the beach instead but if she can't walk on sand, go in the ocean or go in the pool then spending all her time at a beach hotel is an even worse vacation.

Ask the MD about the pool. As long as she keeps her weight off of it, and doesn't use that leg to kick forcefully, she should be fine in the water. No water slides, though.

It's good you're seeing an orthopaedist prior to the trip (I'm an old ortho nurse--hospital, not office). He may be able to put her in a hinged brace that will allow some limited bending of her knee. ASK HIM/HER about it!!! The immobilizer is cheap, but VERY uncomfortable and almost impossible to move around rides with. A hinged brace is MUCH easier to deal with. Can you tell I've been in both? Beg if you have to. They can set the hinge to be as straight as they need it to be. It is hotter, but it makes it less like having a log for a leg. Insurance will pay for it if the doctor orders it, and they should have them on site to fit it to her.

I hope you still have a great trip, and I'm sorry she's having to go through this.

 

[lady_hlh]

I'm not sure if you saw the information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread - here is a link to it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713&page=3

I took the information from an old thread and a list Disney used to have on their website and updated it.

There are things she will be able to go on, but not being able to bend the knee does limit things, so you will need to have a different trip then you originally planned.
Hope she's at least not in pain.
Let us know how things work out.

Thanks for the link. I think we should still go and do more shows, it has been years since we've gone to some of them once she became a ride fiend. She isn't in a lot of pain and has been walking around on it for over 2 weeks because my DH was convinced that it was only a sprain. We could also do new things I've wanted to try like a horse drawn carriage ride at FW or watching the movie at night at the hotel by the pool. Last year it was constant park hopping and no down time so this would be a more laid back trip.

 

[lady_hlh]

Ask the MD about the pool. As long as she keeps her weight off of it, and doesn't use that leg to kick forcefully, she should be fine in the water. No water slides, though.

It's good you're seeing an orthopaedist prior to the trip (I'm an old ortho nurse--hospital, not office). He may be able to put her in a hinged brace that will allow some limited bending of her knee. ASK HIM/HER about it!!! The immobilizer is cheap, but VERY uncomfortable and almost impossible to move around rides with. A hinged brace is MUCH easier to deal with. Can you tell I've been in both? Beg if you have to. They can set the hinge to be as straight as they need it to be. It is hotter, but it makes it less like having a log for a leg. Insurance will pay for it if the doctor orders it, and they should have them on site to fit it to her.

I hope you still have a great trip, and I'm sorry she's having to go through this.

I sure hope they OK her to at least dip herself in the pool without standing on the leg. At least we're at CR and not YC where the pool slide is pretty boring. Also thanks for the hint about asking for the hinged brace instead of the immobilizer, I'll add that to the list for tomorrow's appointment. I'm hoping that the injury isn't more than a level 1 and won't require her to have any surgery.

My DD is very down, I'm trying to figure out how to make her happy that at least she is going to WDW even if it isn't exactly the trip she was dreaming about. I was thinking I should tell her we'll book the free dining bounceback for next August so that she'll at least be able to look forward to another trip.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I had a Donjoy hinge brace which lifted the pressure from the knee joint but let me bend somewhat. I spent five days at Disney World. I was abble to walk on it, but a wheel chair would be better for endurance.

There are sever pads with a soft foam cloth finish that I put in hinge area to keep from rubbing and sweating.
Perhaps the doctor will be able to order this.

 

[lady_hlh]

Just an update, I'm so glad that I took my DD to a sports medicine doctor at an ortho practice today because they did an x-ray of her knee. The doctor came in and told us that the x-ray doesn't show a fracture at all, the image on the MRI was just a very bad bone bruise. My DD is ecstatic now that she'll be able to do all the roller coasters that she loves and I'm relieved that I won't be pushing around someone who is already as big as me in the August heat

 

[JenniBugInPink]

Just an update, I'm so glad that I took my DD to a sports medicine doctor at an ortho practice today because they did an x-ray of her knee. The doctor came in and told us that the x-ray doesn't show a fracture at all, the image on the MRI was just a very bad bone bruise. My DD is ecstatic now that she'll be able to do all the roller coasters that she loves and I'm relieved that I won't be pushing around someone who is already as big as me in the August heat

Yay! The injury that she had can kind of go either way. So did he say she could be completely weight bearing and have no restrictions on bending, etc.? It may still give here some pain, especially as the day goes on, so there might still be a little pushing, later in the day, or late in your vacation as she gets tired and the knee gets sore...just a little fair warning. I hope she does great and has a terrific time (and you all, too)!

 

[lady_hlh]

Yay! The injury that she had can kind of go either way. So did he say she could be completely weight bearing and have no restrictions on bending, etc.? It may still give here some pain, especially as the day goes on, so there might still be a little pushing, later in the day, or late in your vacation as she gets tired and the knee gets sore...just a little fair warning. I hope she does great and has a terrific time (and you all, too)!

He didn't put any restrictions on her at all except that she shouldn't start running again for a few more weeks and she should take that slow. She did say her knee still feels a little sore so if it hurts at disney we'll go back and take a pool break. So maybe this year we'll take it a little easier than last year.

 

[OurBigTrip]

He didn't put any restrictions on her at all except that she shouldn't start running again for a few more weeks and she should take that slow. She did say her knee still feels a little sore so if it hurts at disney we'll go back and take a pool break. So maybe this year we'll take it a little easier than last year.

I injured my knee three months ago, but I hobbled around for a week or so, and it felt fine, so I didn't go to the ortho.

Fast forward to our WDW trip, and by day 4 of 11, I was in very rough shape, and really had to curtail my park touring.

All of this just to say that if it starts to bother her a bit, better to take a rest, and re-engage later. I pushed myself too much after it started to hurt, and by the last two days, no amount of rest made it feel better.

Hope you guys have a great trip!

 

[sleepingbean]

Take advantage of the shows and parades, even more so
And if it wasn't already said, renting a smaller wheelchair from home rather than the full sized ones at Disney can be very helpful! We did that for our dd when she was around age 12 and that worked great. There was still plenty she could do with the chair and we found that a slower pace was still a fun trip. Just a different focus. We enjoyed the details, and I hope you guys do, too!