I can still drive, & need to - for work service calls. I have to go to my customers who have problems to be fixed in their homes or businesses. I can still drive a ways, Yesterday I drove 2-1/2 hrs (about 200 miles) to my youngest's college to see him for the day, have dinner, & drove back last nite. My wife drove down, I drove back.
It was a tiring day, but I still can do it, when necessary.
My #2 son is a quadriplegic. There's a site for those who have spine injuries and are paras or quads- its called the CareCure Community and has a lot of info regarding hand controls for driving, and where to get them . The site is at :
http://sci.rutgers.edu/
I'm sure you can get quality info there.

You might ask in the Stroke Forum too. I'm sure they have issues that come up.

So far I don't have issues with driving unless it might be vision related. I know my limits there. I no longer drive at night. I could drive to the hospital in an emergency if it were necessary, but I would never just go out to drive unless it were absolutely necessary after dark. I drive only early in the day and problems with driving are strictly related to how much it hurts to sit that particular morning. I do a lot of shifting around in my car seat. I did find a tailbone cut out pillow that helps a lot.

When we went to Mayo, I had some issues with balance, but they seem to have come and gone. Perhaps my inner ear? Who knows. I've worked hard on nutrition.

Check with Spinal Disorders, Stroke Forums to see if they have more info. Wish I had something to tell you.

Billye

for feedback folks - i talked to the dmv - i have to go in - they have a special disablity area - but it is their discretion wether or not they will make me take a driving test based on my medical condition, and can require doc statement.... my car isnt even registered for street right now (too expensive to just have it sit there and pay for insurance) i'm going to have to play it by ear..... based on doc statment if required, my answers to whatever they decide to ask me (they supposedly have a disablity specialist in the office) - i'll just have see what happens... at least handicap sticker is fine - it is permanent and goes with me - not the car - so i dont have to worry about that.....

ss - i get my groceries delivered thank goodness! its very inexpensive actually when you consider how much ensure, cat litter, etc. weighs, and the store actually stocks up on my brand of ensure... the guys even put the stuff in the kitchen for me.... so thats a plus of living in la i guess!

(heyjoe - shows you the diff in the states - here in calif handicap sticker is just a form from the dmv (state) and if your doc states you are not expected to recover - they just mail a new card every two years)

will check out the other forums mentioned too - nothing to loose right?

In MD, you have to have tags that have the international wheelchair icon on it,
or a rear view mirror hanging card that is specifically handicap.
That comes with the issue of tags from the Dept of Motor Vehicles (state).
My son has not gone far enough in his therapy (less than 2 yrs post, injury-broken neck C-5) to consider him being able to drive a wheelchair equipped van with hand controls.
He doesn't have enough return in his hands, yet.
But many with his degree of severity of spinal cord injury, do drive.
The website I mentioned above is a fountain of information.

Bob:

How is your son doing?? From your post, I gather he is getting some feeling back in his hands?? That is great news.

Just wanted to ask about your son. Didn't want to hijack this thread.

Take care,

Melody

P.S. Kmeb: you have people who come in and put your ensure away for you?? That is the coolest thing I have ever heard of.

Here in Brooklyn, NY, thank god I know the grocery store delivery guy. I just about let him in my front door. Even if I have 3 boxes, no one comes into my house. Unfortunatley, I used to let them come in (in my former apartment), the next day, someone came up and stole my bike from in front of my door.

It took years for me to be able to let a delivery man near my home.

But my delivery guy is cool. I'm trying to imagine me letting him in my kitchen and putting my food away. lol

It is a service I dont know what I would do without - done by a national grocery chain and I order on-line - but tracked down the local store so they carry what I need...., (I tried at first to do shopping and then get a couple blocks home in the wheelchair - but it was ridiculous - stuff falling everywhere and weighed ton!)..... they have been delivering in this area for about 5 years, I was one of the first customers, and even met with their marketing rep who was starting up the program who came out to the house and asked about specific needs and potential customers, etc...

I've had different delivery guys - but they are all great - friendly, and trustworthy... they also know my health situation and make sure they never short me on anything - or substitute since my diet is so limited - they are great and will call me that AM as they are filling the order if there is a problem...

I encourage anyone who cant get to store and if there is such a service available - to utilize.... can preserve your strength for more important things!

Kmeb:

I am utterly joyous for you. How nice that you have nice trustworthy people to do this for you.

One less load off of your mind, right?

There are probably services like that in my area. Thankfully I dont' need this, and hopefully I won't for a long time to come. I have a neighbor around the corner who is about 89. Most of the people in my neighborhood have lived in the same house for 60 years or more. The lady across the street is 99 and still goes shopping with her pushcart. Can you believe that??

Well, the 89 year old has Meals on Wheels delivered every day. Others do also. I think this is a very good idea. But I've read in the newspaper today, where they are changing the serving meals to the elderly. They want to substitute what they do now, and have them get frozen meals every day that they can pop in their microwave.

My god, can you imagine when the only meal you get a day is the one that Meals on Wheels delivers?

And they want to change the type of meal that they are delivering??

Good grief!!

P.S. And this is interesting. Among the people in my neighborhood over the age of 55 or so, NO ONE DRIVES OR OWNS A CAR. We either walk to get what we want, or have it delivered.

I have a license. My PN hasn't affected my driving other than over long distances I can become a bit uncomfortable just from sitting that long in the same position.

If I thought my PN would affect my ability to drive safely I wouldn't drive. But because of all the garbage one has to go through to get a license (Thank you Homeland Security ) I won't let mine lapse, ever. They'll get it back from me when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.

i try everywhere for grocery divery in columbia they use to have one that did. if you paid 50 dollars but got the blues in columbia mo they went out
of buiness..oh does any body have a good birthday present idea,for my
grandson that's not from china,india ect. something that's green. sorry
for butting in karen.
hugs to all sue

How old is your grandson? Books!! I'm a book fanatic so I always think of books. Most of my kids are readers too so that's easy for me.

Video games?