turnip

Oh wise and all knowing Fodorites I need your assistance.

I have a chance to take my 66 year old Father to Germany for a week. It's the birth place of ancestors and we still have some relatives there. He has never been to Europe and would love to go.

The problem is one of his knees. It's pretty much shot. He is still in excellent shape but his knee has went south in a hurry the past few months. The doctor is talking about a total replacement within a year. He can walk a block or two but then it really causes him pain. Has anyone been in a similar situation and found a decent solution?

A wheel chair is totally out of the question (I tried). Going next year is a choice I guess but other than his knee, the rest of the situation - availability, budget, etc. is in perfect alignment.

Any ideas?

quokka

In general, you'll want a hotel that has a lift, is centrally located and doesn't require climbing steep hills and/or stairs. When you have decided where you want to go, contact the local tourist office, explain the situation and ask for recommendations. These guys at the tourist office know all accommodation in town and will be able to tell you which suits you best - that's their job. Every city and town has a tourist office - google "name of place" and "tourist information" to find them. Don't book online, phone or e-mail them first and ask. The staff there can be expected to speak English.

What are you planning to do in Germany? Where are you planning to go? Are you going by car or public transport? Any special interests and wishes? Staying in one place or travelling around? etc.

In some cities - Munich, for example - you'll find rickshaw services that serve as taxis and also do private tours of the city centre with the driver giving explanations. That should be more fun than a wheelchair!

Horse-drawn carriages, bus tours, tram tours, boat rides, scenic train rides, cable cars and cogwheel trains up mountains... In many places they have tours that take you round without any walking at all, but we'd have to know where you want to go to search for more.

bettyk

My husband has trouble with his ankles and had a lot of difficulty getting around on our trip to Germany last Sept. We ended up buying him a cane in Meersburg which was a life saver! They also have those canes that have little seats built into them where you can sit down when standing in lines, etc.

Almost all of our hotels had lifts which took some effort because we usually limit ourselves to the smaller towns and villages. But it can be done. Otherwise, you are looking at climbing stairs up one or two floors or more.

Think about where you want to go and get back to us with a little more detail. In the larger cities like Trier, they usually have city sightseeing bus tours in German and English:

http://redaktion.trier.de/praefectus/trier?tourist_en

quokka

Has he tried walking with two trekking resp. Nordic Walking poles? Like these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trekking_pole (in cities, the Nordic walking ones with a rubber tip are better than those with a sharp metal tip like in the photo).
They take a lot of weight off the knees and look far more "sporty" than a cane. They are nothing uncommon in Germany - I've also seen people with walking difficulties use them in the city. The telescope version which will fit into the suitcase is best for travelling. If you don't find them at home, any sports store in Germany carries them.

travlingirl42

My mom and I have traveled with this issue. She had one knee replaced, but not the other meaning that we've done both pre-op and post-op issues. One tip: when I booked our hotel in Paris I told them about my mom's knee issue and that a larger bathroom would be very helpful -- they were great and bumped us up to a huge suite, which turned out to be a godsend since we were delayed there over 9/11.

travlingirl42

Oh yes... quokka is right... definitely get a walking pole! My mom's brand was Leki.

quokka

I own a pair of Leki Nordic Walking poles, too. For exercise reasons, so far, but since there is a history of bad knees in our family there may come a time when I use them for other purposes.
Get a pair, not one. They are usually sold in pairs anyway.

quokka

P.S. Have a good humoristic answer ready for The Usual Question.

"Where did you lose/forget your skis?"

(Yawn. Can't those kids invent a new joke?)

Pegontheroad

Has your dad looked into getting Synvisc injections (3 of them, a week apart)? Synvisc replaces the sinovial fluid in the joint. It was a great short-term solution for me for a couple of years before I decided to get my knees replaced.

I had been very uncomfortable, especially on cobblestones, despite using Celebrex and other painkillers. The synvisc enabled me to go a couple of years before getting the replacements. That's pretty important because the knee replacements don't last forever.

I'd suggest he see an arthritis doc right away.

I like the idea of the cane also. I used one for our trip to Germany, and not only can you put some weight on it, but people, tend to be more thoughtful and helpful when one uses a cane. They'll give you a room on a lower floor, etc.

suze

I would use a normal cane, not hiking poles. If you stick more to cities you can get around using taxis. Have your hotel help you arrange things.

*try* to talk him into using wheelchair assistance, just to get thru airports.

bettyk

I also think using a cane is best. DH's had a hand grip which allowed him to hold it comfortably and put his full weight on it when necessary.

Because of kidney problems, DH can't take Celebrex or any anti inflmmatory drugs -- just pain meds. He recently got some custom made orthotics but we haven't done a trip with them yet.

nytraveler

I would avoid airports (but you can get a cart for both of you and the luggage) and train stations as much as possible. With cabs or cars yu can usually closest to things - and on your own schoedule (if necessary dropping him off, then parking the car and coming back.)

My SIL had a problem for while and took a shooting stick that unfolded into a seat - to use as a cane and to sit down while waiting to be picked up.

Obviously only hotels with elevators - and ask for rooms not down a long passageway.

suze

I'd make use of some organized sight-seeing bus tours if you are in locations that offer that.

nytraveler

The problem with organized sightseeing is that the buses often have t park in special large lots long distances from the sights. they may drop you off - or not - but then you often have to walk back. Wit a car or cab you can usually get closest to where you actually want to be - rather than wasting limited walking time in trekking in from a parking lot a couple of blocks away.

LSky

I've seen a lot of older people in Germany with the hiking poles and they seem to get around just fine.


Last fall, we were staying on the 2nd or 3rd floor and I would see this elderly German man at breakfast with his hiking/walking sticks. Walking seemed like a real challenge to him.

Turned out he had a room on our floor, no elevator. Now, I'm not saying that anyone could climb those stairs with them but I was impressed.

Pegontheroad

I like Suze's suggestion--to try to talk him into using a wheelchair at the airport. On the same trip where I used the cane, I requested a wheelchair for the airport because I wanted to stay off my knee as long as possible.

It was great! We moved through the security, etc., at a much faster pace than we would otherwise have done. I highly recommend it.

Pegontheroad

I forgot to say that my traveling partner, my sister, is not a good walker. We think a hop-on/hop-off bus is a good solution for sightseeing. Also, in cities like Munich, you can get tours by bicycle.