[Kit Poeppelmeyer]

I have peripheral neuropathy and cannot use foot control in driving. I am having trouble learning to use hand controls. does anyone else have or had this problem. i must learn to drive.

[Kit Poeppelmeyer]

i posted that the hand controld scare me but must learn to use them. My husband has just been dianosed with terminal lung cancer, we arw senior citizens but i an scared to death. can anyone tell me about driving with the hand controls

[Kit Poeppelmeyer]

My husband is starting radiation for lung cancer today. His life expectancy will depend on raditiojn and cemo. But it is limited. Added to this is the fact that i have no feeling in my feet and gave up driving. i now have hand controls installed in my car. i am scared a lot when trying to learn to 8se them. hasw anyone been in this situation. has anyone any suggestion on what i can do,

[Jomar]

Is there a empty parking lot or very low use street nearby that you could practice on. Maybe brands of the controls are different also, what type do you have?

I found some videos on youtube about using hand controls -
http://www.google.com/search?q=using...vgc&hl=en&aq=f

But I think after you get the basics down, practice is what will make you more comfortable using them.

I added to your thread title so more will know what you need help with.

You're really getting it with both barrels, aren't you? I hope you have a good relationship with & faith in your husband's doctors. All of you will need to have the best of relationships to work out & work for his best interests.

I'm guessing here that perhaps Periferal Neuropathy is what's robbed your feet of feeling, but if I'm wrong please post back & straighten me out. If it is PN, here's a link to the NT Forum: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

You can find lots of good information here in links & sticky notes. You might find familiar stories in the posts, & you can start threads of you own in any of the forums, e.g., ask how to get used to auto hand controls. Perhaps the most valuable thing here, tho, is the one-on-one peer support that let's you know--always--that you're not alone. Ask questions, tell us what you need, vent if you need to (we've got a great emoticon for that)--we will hang in with you throughout this & be there for/with you in any way we can.

Take good care, and keep coming back.

[Jomar]

Kit-
I merged your threads here in the New Members forum into one -so all replies will be in one place for you.

[Darlene]

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

There are great number and caring fellow members here to assist you. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around, please keep us up to date. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

[(Broken Wings)]

Hi, and welcome

SO sorry you and hubby are having these challenges so late in your lives, with much demands on you both.

You do have reason to be concerned with hand controls. Do you have the knob on the steering wheel. They are a little dangerous to operate, actually coined as the "suicide knobs" so do be carefel with sleeves.

We have the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation here in Ky. They do have a dpt that trains people to drive with hand controls. You do need training, so your instinct is correct.

I would also mention they have like the meditaxi that can transport patients to and from doctor and treatments. Please check with the Senior Citizens in your area. They do have programs that may help you and hubby with your needs.

I hope you do find some peace today...