<p>I am flying next weekend to Boston to attend Boston University's parent weekend. I have a currently undiagnosed foot issue, and they have told me to take as few steps as possible for the next month. I am traveling alone (ironically, my husband ruptured a tendon in August and still can't fly). I have already contacted the airline, and supershuttle, so the actual travel aspect is covered. I have access to both a transport wheelchair (my mom's)
and a standard wheelchair (from church) and can't decide which one to bring. I can walk with a boot and am bringing a cane - they just don't want me to put weight on it repetitively. Thus, I can walk around my room, a store, a small event. </p>
<p>Advantages of Transport as I know them: much easier for my DD to push me through stores, on city streets, etc. because of size. More compact - more likely to use more than a bulkier chair that would get "stuck" not going through places. Disadvantages: I can't wheel myself anywhere, so will have to call the hotel if I want to get from my room to the taxi. When my DD isn't available, I am somewhat grounded. Not so bad - I should probably be resting in between activities anyway. </p>
<p>Advantages of Standard Wheelchair: I can wheel myself (although my husband said for a nonuser it is very very tiring and I won't want to really "Go" anywhere like that. More comfortable to sit in for lengthy periods. </p>
<p>I am also expecting it to rain - I would think if you are sitting you would be getting wet, and the person pushing you can't hold an umbrella - how do you handle THAT? Do I hold the umbrella??? Do I bring a blanket? </p>
<p>Thanks for any help you can give me - my DD really wants me to come, and has volunteered to push me all weekend, but I want to make it as easy as possible for everyone.</p>
<p>can you use crutches instead? That might be easier to get around with.
That must be really frustrating to be told not to use your foot for a month, but they don’t know what is wrong with it. Have you had X-rays?</p>
<p>For the rain - bring a hooded plastic poncho that you can wear which will cover your lap and legs so that your clothing will not get wet.</p>
<p>We had to bring our son, who was then 13, to D’s college orientation in a mountain town in a wheelchair in a full leg cast. He was forbidden to put any weight on the leg so he could only use crutches to get to the bathroom.</p>
<p>We had a bunch of people who could push him (his older and younger brothers, me and H and occasionally D) and we stayed on campus. Is there any way you can stay on campus so that your D can get to you more easily? Given your medical condition, maybe there is a way the school can acccommodate your need? If you can’t, arrange with the hotel beforehand to have someone available to take you up or down. A bellhop would probably appreciate the tip you’d give.</p>
<p>Use the transport chair. My H’s cousin lived with us for awhile. He was wheelchair bound and wound up destroying his rotator cuffs with the self-push and he had had OT to train him to use it properly.</p>
<p>I was wondering about the necessity of a wheelchair, too. I spent a year “walking” on a smashed leg on which I was not allowed to put any weight at all for the first six months or so (till i grew new bone across the gaping empty space between the pieces.) Additionally, I had a crack in the 'good" leg, so it was a little painful to walk on that, initially; despite that, I used a walker for a few weeks while the good leg healed, and then crutches for the entire time the smashed leg was healing, much of the time which, as i said, i couldn’t put any weight on the leg. Crutches are designed to take the weight off the one leg–I’m really surprised you’re directed to use a wheelchair. I mean, not that they’re easy, they’re not–but overall, they allow for more access and control than a wheelchair would.</p>
<p>Yes, they have done x rays - all they could see was a bone spur in one foot (the one that hurts LESS!) and “narrowed joints.” The podiatrist I saw Friday said that he rarely has anyone come in that he can’t diagnose - how lucky I am. He did say that he doesn’t see a turmor or anything scary, and he ordered more tests which were done Friday. I see a different dr Monday and will hopefully get some new ideas - just praying that she doesn’t forbid me to go on Thursday. I tried crutches on Friday, but they seemed to exacerbate the pain. There is a ton of walking done in Boston, which is why I think the wheelchair would be better. Not too great for my DD, though… The poncho is a great idea!!! I am PRAYING the forecast stays the same and there isn’t rain, but my DD said that the most challenging adjustment going from CA to Boston is the dramatic day to day and hour to hour weather changes, so I am assuming that at least a few times in four days we will have rainy weather.</p>
<p>You might want to see if you can rent a “knee walker” or “knee scooter” for the weekend. Using crutches can be exhausting (even if you are in pretty good physical condition) and if used improperly can cause nerve damage from pressure under the armpit. I saw some website that rent for $35 a week. Don’t know if I can link websites, but here is one:
[Knee</a> Walker | Roll About | Knee Scooter](<a href=“http://www.kneewalkercentral.com/]Knee”>http://www.kneewalkercentral.com/)</p>
<p>Otherwise google “knee walker” or “knee scooter.”</p>
<p>That’s an interesting idea… thank you alll… and thank you for the PMs tooo…it never ceases to amaze me how nice and helpful people are on this board! We all seem to try so hard to “hand back” our good fortune and wisdom. Very inspirational.</p>
<p>My DH was on crutches for younger s’s parents weekend. The biggest advantage was the handicapped sticker for the rental car. Bring it along if you have one, even if for a taxi or something. You might need it. Any chance another family member or friend can accompany you? Sorry to hear your DH is down for the count too.</p>
<p>Younger daughter has two working legs, DH has 1, SD (small dog) has 4, BD (big dog) has 3ish - getting older and developing hip dysplasia, I have one. Mmmm…what are the chances???</p>
<p>A standard wheelchair would be much better than a transport wheelchair. I usually use a standard although I can not self-propel for far, and it’s a thousand times better than when I need a transport wheelchair. You get sick of not being able to move a single inch by yourself! The standard is a pain to transport because of it’s weight, but not significantly harder to push or navigate.</p>
<p>Also, since you can walk a bit, I’ve found that it’s often much easier to walk up a few stairs and have someone carry up the wheelchair than spend several minutes searching for a ramp.</p>
<p>A friend used a knee scooter after ankle surgery. Worked great even around the house. My kid had a friend at school who used one - went faster than anyone else around the hilly campus!</p>
<p>Would a single heavy medical boot, padded with velcro closings such as is prescribed after breaking and ankle or foot bone, be an option if coupled with crutches? </p>
<p>That might be something to ask when you are next seen. The boot I know is very big and black. I think it’s meant to stabilize the foot while healing, and protect it from impacts. </p>
<p>I am not sure whether it legitimately prevents you from putting weight on the foot. If you were to upgrade from cane to crutches and had a prescribed boot for the weekend, I’m wondering if that’d be good enough for your dr’s approval?</p>
<p>I’ll be an advocate for the wheelchair, or, if you’re feeling ambitious, a scooter rental. (There are companies that rent them for people traveling on the cruiseships out of Boston, so that ought to be very doable.) If you have to use crutches for a whole weekend of activities, you’re going to be awfully sore. </p>
<p>I’d also let the university know – I think they’d probably have some suggestions as well, and possibly some reserved seating areas at various events.</p>
<p>Right now the weather forecast for next weekend - Thursday - Tuesday is sunny, clear and 60 degreses as the high…Itis going to rain mos t of this week but clear up for Thursday…so, it is going to be cool but no rain drops in sight!</p>
<p>As a long time disabled person (I have leg paralysis and can ambulate, slowly, with canes and leg braces), I would say go with the standard wheelchair and take it easy. </p>
<p>Take some small bills (ones and fives) so you can tip the wheelchair assistants who can meet your plane and wheel you in their wheel chair down to baggage claim. Tip them and the taxi/bus drivers who help you load the chair. </p>
<p>Scooters are harder to manage for newbies. They can be a challenge to load and if you “give it gas” at the wrong moment you can run over some other parent or granny. </p>
<p>Be prepared to be yelled at – not because you are suddenly ghastly, but because, for some odd reason, people see a wheelchair, think “disabled” and seem to think you must be also hard of hearing (You may also be spoken to in bright, cheery tones as one normally hears spoken to an infant). </p>
<p>Consider this all an opportunity to understand the lives of others and to deeply appreciate one’s healthy blessings.</p>
<p>My mom needed a wheelchair for about 18 years or so…here’s my suggestions:
For rain, the poncho is good, but a golf umbrella is wonderful. It can keep both of you dry. An extra pair of pants/shoes is a good idea, just in case you get really wet.
For carrying things, a length of ribbon is very useful. Tie it around the handles of the chair, you can hang things from it, it can hold sweaters across it. A few extra plastic grocery bags can serve the same purpose (link the handles).
Be aware of your purse. Friend of the family was in a wheelchair for most of his life, the guys finally found someone to weld a wallet holder inside the chair, he had been robbed a couple of times. Not everyone is nice.
Allow extra time to get from place to place. </p>
<p>I hope you get good news from the Dr, and your visit goes well.</p>
<p>Have you considered flying your daughter to your home that weekend? You and your husband can visit at a later date. Your daughter will get to see both parents and you won’t have to worry about traveling complications.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t skip it. IT is a wonderful message of love to your D that you are going to be there for her, even if it is challenging. In this case it doesn’t sound like you are putting health at risk – simply a case of some extra management being required. </p>
<p>We didn’t get to parent’s weekend (I really do not travel very well) and I would have if it had been possible.</p>
<p>Very good point, Olymom. Dr. agreed that I can go, but insisted on scooter or transport chair. I ultimately picked scooter, but am going to be very cautious. To those of you who have been wheelchair bound, I want to tell you a story from when this DD was 3. </p>
<p>At 3, DD was QUITE a talker, and we were heading toward Marshall’s Department Store one day. I was preoccupied with a return, and wasn’t really listening until I heard her say “Mommy, look at that lady.” I looked up, and here was a lady in a wheelchair grimacing and sweating, trying to get through two sets of double doors with noone near enough to assist her. She was wearing screaming bright neon green pants, weighed about 450 pounds, and was giving our daughter an absolute death stare. And we were perhaps 15 feet away. It was like watching a car accident about to happen in slow motion- I have never wished so hard for duct tape in my life. Sure enough, before I could say a word, my daughter blurted out “WOW Look at those BEAUTIFUL green pants.”</p>