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Over the past few years my left knee has progressively gotten to a state where it can be rather painful just to bend. This hasn’t been anything even close to an issue while I’ve been driving EVs but the combination of driving my wife’s Old Ford and the entertainment I had with hire cars while mine was getting fixed has started me thinking.
It is possible that having to drive a manual car is going to have long term consequences, mostly being a combination of not operating the clutch fully and/or causing significant pain in my left leg.
I’m also concerned that the extra movement when driving a car that doesn’t have regen could cause similar issues for my right and already worse leg.
Is there wisdom in changing my licence to automatic to ensure that I can’t be forced into accepting a hire/courtesy car that could cause the above issues? Are there indirect consequences I’ve not thought about?
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
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Are you still of wprking age?
The only time I can think of where it would not benefit is for work purposes as many jobs want a full license which includes manual.
Courtesy cars there only responsibility is to provide like for like where possible.
So may be worth it for you.
Over the past few years my left knee has progressively gotten to a state where it can be rather painful just to bend. This hasn’t been anything even close to an issue while I’ve been driving EVs but the combination of driving my wife’s Old Ford and the entertainment I had with hire cars while mine was getting fixed has started me thinking. It is possible that having to drive a manual car is going to have long term consequences, mostly being a combination of not operating the clutch fully and/or causing significant pain in my left leg. I’m also concerned that the extra movement when driving a car that doesn’t have regen could cause similar issues for my right and already worse leg. Is there wisdom in changing my licence to automatic to ensure that I can’t be forced into accepting a hire/courtesy car that could cause the above issues? Are there indirect consequences I’ve not thought about?
What is the prognosis for your knee(s) Mark?
Having just endured a full right knee replacement due to similar sounding problems, might corrective knee surgery eventually help your problem? If so, your current issues might be classed as ‘temporary’ (I have been assured I can resume driving when my replaced knee resumes full movement – roughly 10 to 12 weeks with physio-masochism) so no need to inform the DVSA).
Also, the medical branch of the DVSA seem to work to their own slow timescales and can be somewhat ‘awkward’ at times apparently (although I have never had a problem).
As a left leg amputee using a prosthetic, the only problem I have found with having an auto only licence (which probably won’t affect you) is with certain agri-mechs, which are classed as a ‘automated manuals’ which I am not permitted to drive. Hence John Deere 6185’s etc are barred to me. However tractors etc with either a ‘full vario’, ‘command’ or full automatic gearbox are fine fortunately and are easily and safely driven ‘right leg only’.
I am not too sure how it might work should a courtesy/hire car be classed as an ‘automated manual.?
I personally wouldn’t go changing your license off your own say so. You never know what the future holds with surgery and its a damn site harder to get a full catagory licence back, than it is to have it taken away.
As for hire cars you tell them point blank you want an auto and stick to your guns. In anycase aren’t they easier to get hold of these days!
Are you still of wprking age? The only time I can think of where it would not benefit is for work purposes as many jobs want a full license which includes manual. Courtesy cars there only responsibility is to provide like for like where possible. So may be worth it for you.
Technically, of working age although spine issues are such that actually working isn’t possible.
@BigDave, thanks to our postcode lottery for orthopaedic surgery, I am unable to even get a consultation with someone. In Cornwall there is a maximum BMI, after which the advice is to lose weight. I fear the only way I can lose the weight to have both knees replaced is by exercising more, which requires having new knees.Whilst I am not going to sit here and claim losing weight is impossible, losing the degree of weight required just to get to see an orthopaedic surgeon would probably require surgery. Having seen what my wife has gone through having had such surgery, that’s not happening.
How is your progress? I guess the sadist is still working you over regularly?
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
How is your progress? I guess the sadist is still working you over regularly?
It is going quite well thanks Mark.
Very little pain now and the range of movement is getting a lot better. The twice-weekly physio is going well apart from the actual Physiotherapist who already thinks I should running be like Mo Farrah! Plus the hydrotherapy once per week really does help.
The main issue is balance between putting some weight on the knee and putting most weight on the prosthetic when for years I have been doing it the other way!
They reckon about 10 weeks until I can bin the crutches! My main frustration is not being allowed to drive at the moment, hence getting relegated to the office!
Sorry to hear orthopaedics are in such a state down near you. It is nearly as bad up here, hence going private.
I personally wouldn’t go changing your license off your own say so. You never know what the future holds with surgery and its a damn site harder to get a full catagory licence back, than it is to have it taken away. As for hire cars you tell them point blank you want an auto and stick to your guns. In anycase aren’t they easier to get hold of these days!
Thats my concern, although the realistic chance of me getting surgery is slim, mostly because I need to lose just over a third of my body weight just to see someone and be told to lose more. I’m not even sure there’s a decent chance of success then as the structures around the knee, especially my right one, are incredibly weak.
@BigDave that sounds like great progress, even if the sadist would want more. To be fair, every physio I know seems unimpressed with the pace of recovery unless you’ve worked too hard and they can moan about overdoing it. 😂I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Not wanting to overstep the mark as its none of my business, but are you eligible fow those weight loss tablets / injectons on the basis a ligter load on a knackered knee might bear some remidial comfort and becoming eligible in the future?
To further add, by having a auto only licence, you will not be legally allowed to move the wife’s car if she was ever unable to remove the car for whatever reason.
As for Motability, there are more ways to swing a cat to get an auto hire car over a manual, so don’t let that be the reason.
Yes, there’s a few reasons I would qualify but they only work while you’re taking them. My wife’s had them before surgery and you could very easily see the difference in appetite between injections and any time without (even after 2 days without).
I’m beginning to agree, whilst the other car isn’t really an issue there is the remote potential of being asked to move a car, whilst being unlikely, is worth considering.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
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