Hiya
Just got back home from a short drive to the shop and I had a real scare when my right foot wouldn’t lift from the accelerator. I had to lift it by hand. It still feels a bit numb.
I’ve had drop foot in that foot for a couple of years but nothing like this.
Don’t think I will be driving again. Scared the life out of me.
Am waiting now for a call from my MS Nurse.
Hope you are all doing ok.
Shazzie xx
Hiya Shazzie
Jumping Jacks!. Glad you got home ok. Phew. That must have been so shocking. Its a shame when anyone decides to give up driving. How annoying for you.
For a short time I was without pain, and could use my legs and so on, I gave driving a little go, with my hubbie at my side. I was terrified!! It seemed that even without pain, or problems with legs and stomach, the cocktail of pills I was on left me too spaced out. I couldn’t concentrate properly, and everytyhing seems soooo fast out there!!. I felt like I was going to pass out from fear. Lucky for me I hadnt been driving long, so it wasnt such a heart breaking wrench to give it up.
Mind you Shazzie, you dont have to give up driving at all, if you can help it. They adapt cars now to suit people with many disabilities. In your case, instead of using foot pedals, you would have more hand controls. Kempf digital hand controls.
It might be an idea.
Almond xxx
Shazzi Exactly the same thing happened to me about 4 years ago. Drove my Mini slowly into my driveway (slight slope). Right foot refused to lift from accelerator to brake. Frightening ! Slowly bumped into garage . £1800 to repair Mini ! Didn’t drive Mini or at all for 3 months. No confidence. Finally went for an NHS driving assessment ( GP can organise ). Not a driving test, it’s an assessment to advise how to drive safely in control. Advised and trialled automatic car with hand controls. I then took a couple of hour lessons with BSM in automatic car with hand controls to gain confidence. I have been driving ever since. Hand controls became second nature within a few days. Don’t give up !
Ahhh. Thanks Almond and John. I must admit the first thing I said to hubby was. I am never driving again but after having an hour resting we are gonna think about hand controls.
At least I didn’t do any damage but it scared the life out of me. My right foot just wouldn’t move. I whizzed out of the shop parking space then I couldn’t stop cause my right foot was stuck on the accelerator. I used my handbrake in the end.
Thanks again for your advice and support I really appreciate it.
Shazzie xx
Hi Shazzie Same thing happened to me years ago. Pretty scary and I can understand you saying you don’t want to drive again… Don’t give up your independence though Shazz As John and almond owl suggested you can get hand controls fitted as I did and it really does become 2nd nature. It kept me at work for a further 4years. In the mean time have yourself a nice coffee and some chocs to recover!!! Linda x
hi shazzie
i had a scare very soon after my diagnosis. i was driving up our road and stopped at the traffic lights. all good until the lights changed to green. i just couldnt set off, revving like mad but going nowhere.
the man in the car behind me tapped on my window and told me that i was pressing my brake!
i was shaken up - what if i’d failed to stop?
so i went home, phoned DVLA voluntarily relinquished my licence.
two years later i got an automatic motability car and they sent my licence back straight away.
to be honest my original car was up for its MOT and i couldnt face the stress.
carole xx
Thanks Linda and Carole. It is really helping reading about other who have had the same thing happen.
I have never shot out of a parking space so fast. The poor dog is still in shock as he was in the car with me.
When I had to lift my leg off of the accelerator and put it on the brake to try and stop poor Charlie almost banged his nose on the windscreen. Not funny but it must have looked like I was a female boy racer!!
Thanks again for replying. I am feeling much better now.
Shazzie xx
Oh Shaz! That was an awful scare for you.
That`s what happened to me…I realised this was dangerous and had to give up driving. As hubby was available to drive me about, I didnt even consider hand controls.
BUT if you want to continue to drive, what about getting hand controls?
luv Polx
This happened to me too - one day, totally out of the blue I couldn’t get my foot from one pedal to the other except by using my hand to lift it. I stopped driving. I did have two lessons with hand controls but I’ve decided (for lots of reasons) that I’m not going that way and I can manage without driving.
Great I’m not the only one! 1 yr ago after driving an hour I went numb from the knee down in Right leg my foot wouldn’t lift it was very Scarry I was on the motorway maxing out, panic hit, then sensibility kicked in thank god, so managed to slow down and pull off the motorway whilst dead foot constantly on accelerator revving the engine out of the car and left foot on the clutch to minimise speed and lifted my leg with arm off accelerator once I was in the slow lane. This was before I was diagnosed. I refused to drive that distance ever again. Now I can only drive for 20 mins, if at my destination I need to walk then my ability to drive is 0.
Thanks Poll, Sewing Chick and Pollypocket,
Glad everyone who has had this happen to them have escaped being hurt.
It sounds like a lot of us have suffered this.
Think I will rest up for a few weeks before I decide what to do. Definitely gonna investigate hand controls.
Thanks again for replying. I really appreciate it.
Shazzie xx
good lass!
pollxx
Thanks Poll.
I’ve decided to go for the hand controls. I can’t bring myself to drive my car as it is. I feel really panicky about driving it again.
Thanks again for all your lovely replies.
Shazzie xx
Good luck.
Itll take some getting used to.......hand controls.........but youll be safer and more confident again, once you get the hang of it, it`ll become second nature.
Keeing mobile and getting around without having to rely on others is marvelous.
luv Pollx
I agree with all the others. My foot didn’t reach the brake so it all felt like slow motion the choice was either driving into a group of school children or a brick wall needless to say I chose the latter. The car was bruised but the children safe. A man came up to me and asked if I was okay, I was very shaken up, but from that point just decided it had to be hand controls. It took a few weeks to get used to them but I didn’t lose my independence. You can do it once you are over the shock. I use my left leg for the accelelarator and the right hand for the brake & indicator.
You will very soon get used to hand controls Shazzie. I drove my car from the garage with very little in the way of instructions…went into a car park 1st of all and next day drove to work 13 miles away. It becomes 2nd nature very quickly!! Linda x