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Over the years Mrs brydos health has deteriorated, she has various problems and has not driven for a number of years.
I can’t help but feel for many of our members, my wife included, who suffer on a daily basis.
It would be good to hear how your condition affects you with regards to driving.
Whether it be getting in or out the car, adjusting car seats, ride affecting your joints getting wheel chairs scooters etc in and out, not being able to turn to check blind spots or to reverse, or if your a carer what are your specific problems.
Remember don’t give details that are too personal just information in general.
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Believe it or not when I’m driving it’s one of the few thing’s I can do since D-day (Since becoming disabled) that seems like I’m not disabled using the adapted control and auto gearbox.
Get odd days where joints or muscles play up that make it harder than normal getting in and out of the car but being mobile after leaving the car is my main problem but pavement scooter takes care of that though of course can’t go off tarmac and enjoy the wilds of the countryside or beach but I’ve got a good mind that hides that possible depressive state of mind that can bring on depression thinking about it.
Chris when i first read D-Day i got my calculator out to see what age you are lol.
Its fantastic how tech in cars make driving so much easier cameras, automatic, lane assist adaptive cruise control and its just getting better.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.One thing that did slip my mind is long distance driving, anything over 80 miles as I take a daily water tablet so for every cup of tea there’s two pee’s but getting my timing right before I set off helps plus I’ve now got a portable urinal I keep in the car, just got to be careful I don’t park up anywhere where the car is overlooked by Joe public when using it.?
Many years ago one of the old 3 wheel mobility cars suddenly stopped in front of me, it was in town so no way to pass. After a couple of minutes later the driver empties a bottle of yellow liquid out the window then drives off.
My driving is self-regulating:
Generally the MS (relapsing-remitting) is the least trouble because when my ability to focus goes usually lasts about 6 weeks) I’m totally unable to drive (duh!). Luckily this only happens roughly once every couple of years (at the moment). Fatigue (feeling exhausted for absolutely no reason) also means I don’t drive. That’s about two days a week.
Mastectomy and reconstructive surgery on both sides means I can’t raise my arms higher than 90 degrees from the body without pain, and reaching behind for the seat-belt is a bit ouchy, but obviously not incapacitating.
My back . . . Well. When the discs slip it’s a month in bed followed by a month recovering. Longer when the sciatic nerves decide to get involved. That’s pretty much an Annual Event. No driving or even being a passenger during these phases. When my back starts twinging more than ‘normal’ I also don’t drive – I can’t risk it going when I’m 60 miles from home. Getting in and out of vehicles is getting harder.
Other problem is crushed coccyx, which most affects choosing a car. I can’t have firm suspension (e.g. nothing less than 17″/18″ wheels now) but hate spongy suspension and soggy handling. I do believe my current car (Golf GT) will be my Last Hurrah car-wise, before entering the world of SUV’s.
As for the wheelchair – there’s no way I can lift my ‘chair in and out of the boot and as I can’t self-propel either, DH does the lifting, loading/unloading and pushing.
My condition means after many years of getting by driving in discomfort, it’s come to the point where I’ve finally had to stop and admit defeat.
I have a degenerative condition called Ankylosing spondylitis I’ve had since a teenager, after 40 years my spine is now completely fused and curved forward and to the right at my cervical spine so my head is dropped and fixed to the right.
My hearing has gone due to the bones in my ear fusing.
It’s been impossible to find a car seat that is able to support me so I need extra cushions under my right butt cheek and thighs, I need my right arm to be supported while driving, so the door arm rest has to be at the right hight for me.
Along with my spine I’m also fused in my SI joints, my sternum collar bone and ribs. Making breathing difficult and the pressure of a seat belt agony.
Part of the condition is osteoporosis so It’s very easy to get soft fractures at any time.
Due to my spine deformities I have stenosis were my nerves are trapped in several places, so I have constant pins and needles in my legs arms and feet.
The pads of my hands get numb after a while when driving, as do my soles of my feet and toes.
pot holes and speed bumps really jar my bones so much so that I can black out from nerve pain.
I have a heart condition caused by it being crushed by my ribs, so no more surgery for me.
As you can imagine it’s not easy managing a normal life and like many we are still grateful that mobility is here so at least I can nominate drivers with just a phone call and still be able to get out of the house and visit siblings and grandkids.@chrisk Many years ago one of the old 3 wheel mobility cars suddenly stopped in front of me, it was in town so no way to pass. After a couple of minutes later the driver empties a bottle of yellow liquid out the window then drives off.
I don’t endorse that sort of thing myself but at least my disability allows me to get out of the car and dump my waste down a convenient drain. ?
With shops toilets being closed at the moment or restricted I found to my horror the week before last that my urinal leaks a little bit after having no where to dump its contents so took it home to empty, thankfully its only a couple of drops but at least I know now.
Saintsman that made me laugh
, if youv got to go youv got to go
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