driving difficulty

[bairdy]

hi
has anyone noticed any difficulty in theire driving???????
i have noticed that my control of the pedals have become a little irratic especialy in heavy traffic!!
ie instead of touching the brake im hitting it to hard and causing the car to jerk to a sudden stop.
as though not thinking properly and changing gears has become a little erratic  !! cant explain it but it just feels just differant.
any thoughts or is it just me ?????
regards bairdy

[donthaveaclue]

WELL, I RECENTLY TURNED INTO ONE WAY TRAFFIC GOING THE WRONG WAY. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE HUGE INTERSECTIONS THAT HAVE THE WHITE STRIPED LANES TO FOLLOW WHEN U ARE TURNING.  MY VISION DECIDED TO BLUR WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO, I FOLLOWED THE WRONG STRIPES.  THANK GOD IT WASN'T A BUSY DAY AND I HAD AN EMPTY LANE TO DRIVE IN UNTIL I COULD GET PAST THE MEDIAN AND BACK ON MY SIDE OF THE STREET.

ALSO, I HAVE NOTICED FOR A LONG TIME THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING BY ME IN DIFFERENT LANES ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY GO WAY OUT AWAY FROM ME AS THEY GO BY, LIKE I'M WEAVING OR SOMETHING.  I DON'T THINK I'M WEAVING AT ALL.

[bairdy]

bump

[jujuminx]

Not yet!  

Sounds like yes, it probably is MS related but I am not even dx yet so take my opinion with that in mind.

Julie

[RedFlame]

I have experienced some of the things that you list.  I tend to know that I shouldn't drive on those days though.  I am fortunate that I have family who will pick up things for me.

Just be careful where you mention this.  Your license can be revoked.  

Red

[Audrey_M]

Driving is where I am the most handicapped.

It can be due to one or a combination of problems:

Being lightheaded

Blurred or double vision

Weakness in the legs

Hyperreflexia when applying feet to pedals

Like Red said, be very careful where you mention this and recognize when you are not safe to drive. I have turned around and gone back home more times than I care to count.

[jensequitur]

I've stopped driving unless it's absolutely necessary.  Cognitive problems are the biggest reason.  I don't make decisions as well or as quickly as I used to.  I also almost always have some problem with the right leg - either spasticity or weakness - that keeps me from reliably reaching the pedal.

[Quixotic1]

Wow, this is a conversation with a lot of fear and dread for all of us.  Driving, especially but not only a stick shift, takes a lot of good coordination and good reflexes.  You describe a loss of the ability to fine tune your muscular effort.  This is common in MS.

There are studies out there which all show that a large percentage of MS drivers have impaired reflexes.  Since this is already known, this implies some real legal liability for us should we have an accident.

It goes without saying that we should optimize our driving by any means that makes us safer.  Some of these optimatization might include:

Driving only while well-rested.

Driving only in good light.

Avoiding to the extent possible congested traffic.

If the left leg is weak, moving to a car with automatic transmission.

If the right leg is weak (like mine) getting hand controls for the car.  This cost me about $900 and I had to be re-evaluated to get my driver's license.

If there is weakness in the arms, get a steering wheel knob to make for easier turning.  these are illegal in some states unless prescribed by a doc and okayed by the DMV.

Stop driving - Man, this is tough!  I stopped driving for more than a year before I finally had the hand controls put on.

We all really need to look deep into ourselves to make sure we are safe on the roads.

I hope others will chime in with what they do to handle their problems.

Good luck,

Quix

[GrannyJo6]

Determining whether I could drive after my latest exacerbation was one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I really couldn't drive for at least 3 months. It was hard to deal with, as I had to rely on others to get me where I needed to go. Now I won't drive in the dark or on the freeway and try to stick close to home where it is only a few miles to the grocery store, mall, and work. Being able to drive again gave me a real boost emotionally. I know that if I were told I needed to stop permanently, it would be extremely hard, but I also know nothing about MS is easy!

[supermum_ms]

I'm not driving, I really really want my freedom back!!!!!!!

Sight issues makes driving an issue for me, I dont have the same visual spacial skills i use to have. I did trade in my big 4WD for a little sports convertible, i just stopped being able to park the big one, struggled getting in or out of it and judging the space whilst driving was pretty scary sometimes.

I also find that my feet dont react on que, sometimes dont react at all and preasure of the pedals isn't the same, i'm either too hard or too soft. I startle way too easy, which seems to happen more often than not, other cars just joining the road, approaching an intersection basically anything coming towards me, and i jump but theres nothing logical to make me jump.

Cognitive skills are affected by the multi tasking of driving, visual stimuli and audio throws in enough distractions too, they all help to get me fuddled. I have an automatic but nothing is auto about driving, I have to think through ever step and its exhausting. There isn't anyone that wants me driving, i want to but i have to give in on this one because i do know that firstly its not safe and secondly i might get stuck once i've reached my destination and not have the wetheral to get home again.

One day!!!

Cheers......JJ

[bairdy]

hi folks
wow cant believe it thought it was just me being silly!!
but i can relate to all your posts i will have to make sure i take a long look at driving long term .
and i will try not to drive when i notice the things iv talked about .
thanks a lot for the heads up folks just reminds me im not on my own and there is allways someone here to ask in times of trouble
thaks again
bairdy x

[RedFlame]

This has been a sobering thread.   I wrote down some of the things that have happened while driving in the past couple of months.

I have had cars 'around' me stop/turn/avoid me in some way.  The only way I know is that they honk and flip me off.  so I think "where in the world did you come from and why are you mad at me".  

Last week when the light was yellow I floored the pedal and put peoples lives in jeaopardy becuase the light turned red.  deptth perception.  Scared my sister half to death.

I caught myself flying down our gravel road at 55 mph--you don't have any grip on the road at this speed.  

I also caught myself driving on the wrong side of the road.  

I have to take a look at this and ask for help.  Living out in the boonies makes this difficult becuase I don't have access to public transportation.  

I can't bear the thought of hurting another human being.  It is selfish for me to drive when I could endanger others.  Telling my doctor that my driving is "OK" is a lie!  Driving is a priviledge.  

Today I hate this disease even more

Red

[Mike_Shuswap]

I was orderred "no driving" by my  GP over 18 months ago when they thought I had a brain tumor.

Once they determined it was a demyilinating disease, he still orderred no driving.

Finally, after my asking him at every appt, my doc said ok to drive when I feel safe to do so, but only local and not for work (my job involves driving about 1000 + kms per week)

Even now that I am dx'd with MS, he's sticking to that order. I can't argue this due to cog issues, and the fact that quite often I would be a danger on the road.

I've made some very poor judgement calls while driving, even when I feel safe to drive. The locals would preffer he orderred no local driving...;)

I'm lucky my wife is able to drive wherever I need to go. I'd have to move into town if I was single just to have access to a reasonable transit system.

Nope, it's not just you and you are not being silly. i think the driving

[Mike_Shuswap]

issue affects lots of us folks.

How the heck did I manage to post like this...2 posts?

I don't think I should drive to the store today.....

Mike

[RedFlame]

Mike, I have no clue what you are talking about----maybe I shouldn't drive today either;-)

I guess I don't have to worry about how I will afford a van conversion I can use to lift me and a power chair.

Red

[figuerpa]

Mike,

I am sorry you are going through this. It is important you make sure you are very careful while driving. I would hate to hear that you were in an accident, or something.

I have the problem of vetigo while driving. I feel like I am in a video game and everything around me is moving and I am sitting still. I only drive when it is necessary due to the muscle spasms that seem to come whenever they want to.

Good luck and please do be careful
Paula

[Zacksmomi]

I ask myself all the time if I should be driving, then I see the things other people on the road do and convince myself that I soooo deserve a license more than them.  

I have been told by Drs that if I were in an accident, I could be liable due to my list of meds and my condition.  So be careful.  

D

[Sparkysarah]

In England we ahve to inform the DVLA when we have been dx'd with MS and they check with your GP. I have been issued with a temporary licence for 3 years and will then be reviewwed. I have no problem driving at the moment although when I was in bad relapse I was too tired to drive.

Sarah

[Quixotic1]

For people who have sapasticity or difficulty turning their necks or vertigo which has a component of motion sensitivity - consider making sure that your rearview mirror is large enough and that you have adequate side view mirrors.

When I got my new license, the examiner told me that he could restrict me to a car with sideview mirrors on both sides.  That way I wouldn't be held accountable for swinging my head around to check traffic before changing position.  I monitor traffic around me all the time using my mirrors.

My license requires:

corrective lenses

hand controls

turning knob

side view mirrors.


Quix

[RedFlame]

This has been an educational thread for me.  I didn't know that there could be requirements like those that Quix mentioned.  

Perhaps being honest with my doctor won't necessarily require a full revocation

thanks.    Red

[Quixotic1]

Since I am known for my typos, I just wanted to say that I like the new symptom we have - that of sapasticity.  It sounds very dire, doesn't it?  Or maybe it conveys the vision of stiff morons.

Q

[Zacksmomi]

LOL!! I want to know how many saw Quix's error the first time cuz I had to go back and find it :).
I too appreciate the info about restrictions and controls.  Things to think about.  

D

[supermum_ms]

One of the good things Quix about being a tad dyslexic-ish now, is that i dont see the spelling mistakes most of the time. I had to read reread and reread your last post to try and work out what the heck you were on about lol Sapasticity = stiff morons ROFL

Cheers.....JJ

[lovemy6monkeys]

Great thread!!

I have stopped night driving, unless I am driving on an expressway. I live kind of far out, and all shopping is done 2 towns over. Luckily, it is right up the expressway, and all stores are just one turn off of there, so I'm comfortable doing that at night. But, if I were to go someplace I'm unfamiliar with, or someplace taking the country roads, I would not drive.

Also, this latest vertigo has stopped me from driving a few times. If it is just the low-grade dizziness, I'm ok to drive. If it is anymore than that, I don't drive. If I'm not sure, I watch my kids run back & forth or spin around in front of me, and if I feel like I'm going to tip over I don't drove :-)
~Jess

[Sparkysarah]

I also agree with Jess, very interesting thread so thanks Bairdy for starting i!

Quix ...had you also mentioned veartigo and seansitvity I doubt many of us wd have noticed.

My previous post was full of typos...but we all get the gist of things.

Sarah