would give it a little longer - get on an exercise bike and get the foot going up and down as you pedal!
1 Like
I suffered with foot drop very early on in my problems. I drove automatic and as it was the left foot that flopped, I could carry on with my right foot operating the accelerator and brake as per normal.
But when moving the foot from one thing to t`other and having little strength in my thigh, I knew i was dangerous, so gave up there and then.
I`m still dangerous…but not on the main roads…only in the house…the walls and door bottoms show the evidence!
I got myself a wav recently. But Im not driving it......I sit in the back in my wheelie...access is up a short ramp. Ive got hubby and my carer doing the driving.
It means a bit more freedom to go further than hubby will go. Me and Bev even went to a show at night!!! I never go out at night…well I didnt, but I do now!
Those wavs you can drive from your wheelchair look fab, if you still want to drive.
I got my car, Billy, from a dealer who sells only ex-motability used cars. I thoroughly recommend him, if anyone wants his details.
My little Billy is 14, but is low mileage and has been well loved. He cost £2.5k.
pollsx
1 Like
Quite possibly the least useful advice on MS I’ve read all year.
3 Likes
I do exercises to compensate foot drop in my left foot. It’s a bit purple, but I can still drive a manual car.
Walking is still an issue though. The thigh muscles waste away after short distances & the dizzy ness takes over.
Stopping all medications, eating healthier & exercises turns things around, if you don’t let the muscles waste away too much.
The 2 advanced driving instructors gave me the okay after jumping through a few hoops, designed to make you fail. On bad days, I just look at my car & think. Where should I go tomorrow. If I rest enough & keep up the healthy routine. Each day I push further. The beast can chomp my ass. I can even put my wheelchair in the boot for long trips, when I know I’ll suffer. Common sense, keeps others safe from harm.
Terry
1 Like
Is it “foot drop” or “drop foot” ?
Phil Collins suffers from “drop foot”. Not through MS but a back operation.
The statement adds:
We unfortunately have to announce that Phil Collins’ performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London will be postponed tonight (June 8) and tomorrow (June 9). Phil suffers from ‘drop foot’ as a result of a back operation which makes it difficult to walk. He rose in the middle of the night to go to the toilet and slipped in his hotel room, hitting his head in the fall on a chair. He was taken to hospital where he had stitches for a severe gash on his head close to his eye and is recovering well. He will be kept under observation for 24 hours.
Nerves go down to the souls of your feet. Nerves stimulate muscles & send signals.
Once there is a traffic jam. A bypass is naturally or operationally set up. To continue the flow.
Imagine a traffic jam on a foot, permanently. Then it’s a dropped foot.
I doubt Phil Collins has MS, it’s probably due to the trauma of a severe head gash & It will heal.
It’s not an attack on the Myelin sheath. Permanent damage is caused & it’s guessed at if it will deteriorate.
It’s caused me to brake my big toe very often & I’m warned my foot might get chopped off, It’s got so bad.
Drag foot Terry
Hi Angela, check out the freedom staff , had mine about 3 months now and very easy to use and fit without any alterations to your car,cost me £175. good luck. Tony…
Angela,
a couple of years ago I had my automatic car converted to have a left foot accelerator as I could no longer drive with the right foot. The conversion cost less than £200 and has been so worth the money. Although, after 25 years of driving “normally”, driving with the left foot doing everything seriously messes with you head until you get used to it.
derek
1 Like
That weird limbo-land when all a person can do is wait and wonder how much function is going to return and how fast is just the pits. It is so hard to function with all that hope and fear swirling around, so much uncertainty, so few fixed points. For me, it always feels impossible to plan anything, settle to anything, resolve anything, or even give proper attention to anything. Horrid. I really feel for you. Hang on in there, and I hope that it all moves in the right direction as soon as possible.
Alison
1 Like
Update.
This has taken ages but I am finally seeing progress!
The driving assessment centre have been very slow getting back to me even with a date for an appointment and told me when I phoned today that the earliest is going to be October even if the driving OT can be persuaded to meet me without seeing a detailed medical report first… Which strikes me as a ridiculously long time to be off the road with apparently nowhere else to turn for help or advice. Ugh. All I want is to try a left-footed car to confirm this is what I need, so then I can get on with choosing my new wheels. I can’t help feeling it should be easier than this…
But a guy I met in hospital last week (he was having Tysabri, I was having Lemtrada…) gave me some ideas and after MANY phone calls today I finally had a breakthrough. I have tracked down a local disability driving instructor who can fit me in for a lesson in a left-footed car tomorrow!! Whoop! If all goes well it will be a massive step towards getting mobile again. Have not been able to drive for nearly three months so I can hardly wait! 
4 Likes
have fun and good luck
Mick
Excellent plan Angela. Well done for finding an alternative route. Don’t expect it to be immediately easy. But enjoy the experience. Good luck.
Sue
Hi, Nearly 2 years ago i had to give up driving due to my right foot being too numb to feel the pedal…was a scary drive home was crying all the way …could only 20mph…after a few weeks organised a test to see if i could use hand controls i passed the test but couldnt find a driving school who would give me lessons on hand controls motability would pay the 7 lessons i would need…where i live is the problem semi rural wales…i hardly go out now …changed my life…
How frustrating for you!
Is it worth organising a “holiday” to get something like an intensive course in a place where there is an instructor available? It’ll be a bit of a mammoth effort but worth to regain independence?
Hope you find a solution! x
Had a driving lesson yesterday with the left foot accelerator, which was a great success - need one or two more sessions I think but already starting to get the hang of it after just an hour and this is definitely the way forward.
So I’ve been out car shopping today, picked out a Fiesta and should get it modified and delivered within about a fortnight. So excited!! Already planning adventures
2 Likes
I’m so pleased to read that I had a left foot accelerator fitted to my car last year tried to get used to it on my own it felt quite strange and I must admit I lost my confidence so I think like you I am going to have some lessons to get me used to it and get myself driving again well done to you.
When l was first diagnosed with MS - l had to inform the DVLA - [GP’s insistance] DVLA were OK as long as they could contact GP for info. Car lnsurers also require you to notify them - and as long as DVLA are informed the only stipulation is that your car is adapted to your needs. Which obviously with right foot drop - means an automatic car. So for the last 35yrs l have driven an automatic-- and it does not make any difference to cost of policy.
l do get Motability allowance - and DLA - and free road tax. l do not use the motability allowance to finance my car as l find it more economical to buy my own car.
Foot drop was one of the first symptoms of my PPMS.
Angela,
glad to hear things are going well. As I mentioned above, I have had a left foot accelerator for a few years now and it’s fantastic. It did take a little while though to act without thinking regarding pedals etc. For the first few weeks, I didn’t take anyone in the car with me, drove very conservatively and concentrated like mad to ensure the feet were doing the right things and were hitting the right pedal at the right time. Thankfully now I just get in the car and drive and don’t think about it. It’s a great day when that happens.
derek
I had to stop driving over 2 years ago because i couldnt feel the pedal…was my right foot…
- Know your driving distance capabiity before footdrop kicks in. Avoid riush hour traffic, school drop off and pickup times. Busy roads mean excessive braking !!!