how do you handle the parks, walking, etc. with fibromyalgia,arthritis?

[Minnesota disney fan]

Hi: I have a severe form of fibromyalgia which is called a "malignant form of fms for which nothing helps and will only get worse". Stated by my rheumatologist. Whew! Needless to say, I start out in pain and it gets pretty unbearable by noon. I go back to the resort and rest. Then out to another park or DTD, or just to explore our resort for a very short while. I rest a lot while at the parks and take my time.
I was just wondering what others do to help them with all the walking, rushing, etc. It is pretty tiring and painful just to walk from the bus to park entrance. Thanks1

 

[LdyApxr]

Never works for me. Alcohol sure does the trick, though...

Until we wake up the next day and wonder how we lived through our 20's!

 

[GrammieBee]

Once upon a time I could, and did, walk around any of the parks from rope drop until 1:00 am the next morning. Now, due to irreversible back problems it is impossible to walk more than a few yards without being in severe pain. So, being a practical and independent person, I use a scooter and still enjoy the parks, which would be impossible if I had to walk.

In other words, or for heaven's sake, don't suffer if you don't have to. Do what you are able, but have a scooter delivered to your resort and enjoy your vacation. It is better to use one of the numerous scooter rentals and have it delivered. It is less expensive, you can use it anywhwere and it can save you a long walk to the scooter rental in the parks. As long as you are being a careful, patient and courteous driver,don't worry about what others may think. Anyone who thinks less of you would probably be the first to yell for a scooter if they were in the same amount of pain.

We never jump to the head of the line because i am in a scooter and we always wait for the next bus unless we are the first in line. After all, I am comfortably sitting down while we wait. While I would like courteousness from others ,being courteous works both ways.

 

[Disneykings]

Thank you disneykings! I took a water aerobics class at the urging of a friend that said it was gentle and easy! Whoa! I honestly couldn't move for 2 weeks - lots of severe pain. So, that didn't work. I do think if I just swim gently it would help. I started a weight loss program 2 years ago so I could get in shape for WDW. I've lost 15#'s slowly, and feel much better with the weight off. I also am trying to get into "Disney" shape for those of us who have arthritis/fms. I have increased my walks, use treadmill, garden, and gradually getting my stamina up. Even with all that, I was not really able to keep the fibro at bay. So that's why I asked the original question, hopefully without a scooter. But it seems that a lot of people love them so will give it a try this fall!

Congrats with the amazing weight loss. I agree losing weight helps a lot. I have always been small but gaining just half a stone made my hips and knees really bad. Pre-disney get in shape is a great incentive No one will take any notice if you do try the scooter and your memories of an amazing holiday will long outlive any concerns you might have at the time. It dosent mean you have to use it all the time but its a back up for the longer days or after a bad night. My father in law who suffered a major car crash when he was young swears by his scooter. Have a great holiday

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Thanks everyone: I have decided to try the scooter, especially since my "spill" this am. I was on the golf cart with my husband. We use it for getting around our place and gardening, etc. Well, he decided to change directions rather suddenly (I mean a sharp turn!), and I decided to just keep on going the direction were we heading in!
I was tossed right out of that cart and made a perfect 4 point landing! Yea me! I should get a 10 from the judges Anyway, I've been kinda sore, stiff, and in pain. Sooooo, just decided, yes, I will rent a cart this time and will let you all know how it went after we get back in November Yes, my husband felt really bad and didn't even laugh ( I did), cause he knows how much that really hurt. Poor guy, I feel bad for him!

 

[USERBOYD66]

We are going to Disney because of my husband's mobility issues. He will be using a motorized scooter. In Disney, you know everything will be accessible, the sockets are American (as compared to the public areas on a cruise ship), the pools are easy to get in and out of, people are use to seeing scooters and wheelchairs (while on the cruse ship, people can be ignorant to those in wheelchairs). If we were to go to some of our other vacation spots, there would be cobble stone streets, old buildings, or even he may not fit is with the party crowd.

Like I said, Disney is our favorite place since living with these new issues.

 

[DisneyJunkie]

My DW suffers from fibromyalgia, so I can sympathize. With her, we on occasion have had to rent a wheelchair in order to help her get around WDW. Other times, she's fine to walk although she does tire very quickly and gets pretty sore. Sometimes she just needs to go back to the resort and rest for a while, and I'll go back out to the parks myself until she texts me and I get her and off we go again. The wheelchair helped her quite a bit when it was needed, even if it was another added expense. It was worth it to make sure she'd have a good time too.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

My DW suffers from fibromyalgia, so I can sympathize. With her, we on occasion have had to rent a wheelchair in order to help her get around WDW. Other times, she's fine to walk although she does tire very quickly and gets pretty sore. Sometimes she just needs to go back to the resort and rest for a while, and I'll go back out to the parks myself until she texts me and I get her and off we go again. The wheelchair helped her quite a bit when it was needed, even if it was another added expense. It was worth it to make sure she'd have a good time too.

yes, I'm thinking that way too! I'm going to try just walking and see how it goes. BUT I will rent a ecv if I start to get in too much pain. I'm just going to do it day by day, park by park, instead of renting one that has to be loaded onto a bus, at this time. Never know for later. Just renting one in a park will be a BIG step for me

 

[DisneyJunkie]

yes, I'm thinking that way too! I'm going to try just walking and see how it goes. BUT I will rent a ecv if I start to get in too much pain. I'm just going to do it day by day, park by park, instead of renting one that has to be loaded onto a bus, at this time. Never know for later. Just renting one in a park will be a BIG step for me

When we did the wheelchair, we paid in advance for each day of the vacation. So at the end of one day, we turn it in, and have enough tickets to check one out again for the remainder of the visit. Nothing to bring back to the resort with you in the evenings; just pick up your wheelchair/ecv at the park each day.