Can he fly?

Hi all!

My husband has had an accident and it looks like he has torn one of the ligaments around his knee and possibly damaged his cartilage too.

He is getting an MRI this week to confirm this and hopefully will get a date for an operation sometime in the next 2/3 weeks.

He mentioned our holiday and asked if that would affect it and the doctor reckons it won’t but sitting for 8/9 hours in the same position could be very uncomfortable and that he should try to walk around as much as possible.

I wondered should I let VS know that we have this problem or should we just wait and see and hope he’s going to be ok?

Yes let VS know, they will get medical clearance, and put notes in the booking that he is fit to fly.

It's best to get this done in case there are any complications on board, and it may help you get a slightly better seat

[ChuckC]

Boyle73,
VS is interested in knowing of any medical concerns before you board, so I would call customer service. Depending on how full the flights are, you may be able to change seats to improve your husband's legroom or access to lavatories and exits.

Let us know how it works out, please, and here's hoping your husband's feeling better soon.

Chuck-

Hi

Thanks for your replies, I've sent an email to customer services explaining situation, will let you know what the response is.

Lesley

Oh I hear you on knee problems - back at the end of 2002, I had a knee operation a couple of months before I was due to travel to SFO. I pre-advised Special Assistance of the problem, and got my consultant to write a note for VS, saying I was still recuperating (and I sent a copy of this down to SA before the flight). They were most accomodating - putting me in a bulkhead seat IIRC [y]

Cheers

Michael

[Nottingham Nick]

Very slightly OT, but - assuming VS say it is okay for him to fly - make sure your travel insurance company are happy as well.

I don't want to start giving 'egg sucking lessons';), but they require full details of all pre-existing medical conditions.

If you don't tell them, and get their permission to travel, there may be all sorts of complications in the case of a claim. [:(!]

^I wouldn't say that's an egg sucking lesson - some people don't realise how far insurance companies will go not to pay out.

Didn't tell us you were blonde? Sorry, you're on your own.

Can he fly? hmm tempted to make an is it a bird joke here!!
Seriously though you need to inform VS and your insurers (get a letter from your GP)

You dont want to be in the USA liable for medical expenses

I have a disability so call Special services all the time - they are exremely helpful

[Scrooge]

Lesley...just an FYI,I 4 years ago I had my ACL replaced,I flew cross country the following morning,my doctor wasn't to happy about it,but I had no problems,evn hour or so I went for a walk up and down the aisle.Before getting the surgery done I let the airline (HP) know that I would need a little extra time getting on the plane,even with the pre baordsit was going to be a hassle and that I needed an aisle seat on the right hand side so I could strech my leg out.

As it happens I ended up upgrading to 1st,but HP went out of their way to take care of me [y].

Anyways,getting offt topic,just make sure that he has room to streach his leg out and that he walks on it every now and again to stop fluid from building.

Like Nick has advised I'd certainly discuss this with your insurance company as soon as possible -they may stipulate that evidence of your husbands fitness to fly is provided by his surgeon prior to departure and may also require that you inform them of any medication he may be prescribed following this treatment episode (the very small print in most policies usually covers these things).If the proposed surgery and the holiday are likely to be close to each other any chance of postponing the op until after you return?

Dear Boyle

I can't give the game away too much, but suffice to say that I have some considerable experience in this area. I would go along with the advice given to you by your surgeon, and assuming there are no early post op complications, one thing that you ought to consider is his rehabilitation program.

It seems to me that you are talking about a torn anterior cruciate ligament with possible damage to a meniscus. The surgery and immediate post-operative recovery for these things are usually straight forward, but the actual operation itself only contributes about 50% to the overall result. Sticking to the rehab program religiously is very important and if the countdown you show is correct he may only be in his fifth post op week when you go away. To give your husband the absolute best chance of returning to sports or other vigorous activity you should be discussing the various possibilities of maintaining a supervised rehab regime whilst he is away.

Oh I hear you on knee problems - back at the end of 2002, I had a knee operation a couple of months before I was due to travel to SFO. I pre-advised Special Assistance of the problem, and got my consultant to write a note for VS, saying I was still recuperating

Having had a similar experience--I queried the possibility of a Y bulkhead at check-in two weeks after knee surgery--and was hopeful as agent looked at loads and made a call--and was then issued a purple UC pass. My only surmise is that there may be some VS nervousness about dvt--but I enjoyed the flight--and have stayed with VS ever since so it worked out well all around.

Of course I didn't attempt a flight two weeks after the NEXT knee surgery (that's it for water skiing!)but am quite grateful for modern answers to active injuries and for VS' generosity in making what could have been a miserable flight a most excellent experience.

RR:)

Hi all

Special Services were EXTREMELY helpful and have requested a bulkhead seat for him if its available. Our biggest worry was they they wouldn't accept him for the flight but they said they were happy to accept him even if he needs to bring his crutches etc.

He has called our travel insurance company and we have to keep them updated on our situation.

Looks like I have lost my holiday slave

Thank you for all your comments, I will let you know what happens,

Lesley