Handicapped placard
 

I still have a temp. It's about to expire, and I wonder if I should just bit the bullet for the permanent or just keep renewing lol. I'm only 38, so I'm hesitant, but I really can't walk long distances. Anyway, just wondered if anyone else faced this.

They are going to grant me a temp one. Is it costly? What do you mean should I just bite the bullet for the permanent?
take care,

Get the permanent one. I am only 28 and i hate that I need one...but I do. I figure that if I ever don't need it then I just won't use it. Simple enough, right? It's important to take care of yourself and do what you need to make your life just a little easier (goodness knows it is hard enough with RSD).

Get the permanent one. No charge in MN for getting one, (lasts 5 years I think, then must be renewed) but regulations/cost may vary state to state.

If you need it, you need it. Walking can be difficult for many of us with CRPS.

I don't have one for myself, but I did get one for my 89 year old mother who lives in a nursing home and it is an absolute godsend when I have to take her anywhere!!

Take care of yourself.

It was the best decision
 

I too was about your age when I got my permanent plates. Honestly I cried as I looked at them because I felt like, yep.. it’s official, I am disabled and I’m not even 40 yet (at that time). However, It was the best decision, and I am grateful for it. You can also keep a plaque as well so if you’re in someone else’s car, you can retain the access. There should not be an increase in cost to register your vehicle at your normal renewal time, just a new plate.

On a humorous note, my husband says he married me for my parking. :rolleyes:

Dear tkayewade
 

Truely if you have trouble walking, there is a time and place for the placard. I would go ahead and do this, for those times, such as some event, where walking would hurt. I don't use mine just to run to the store. I am 60. However if I went to a concert, half a mile away, this was a good idea, (or state fair). It is not your age, but the conditions you have that warrent using this card. ginnie

I got mine this year and I am 38 also. I took the paper into my dr asking for the renewal of my temp but he just filled it out for the perm one. I cried all the way home. I don't use it all the time but when I need it I need it. Also, I live near Sun City (55 and over city). Many times the spots are already all taken when I go to use it. But it is nice to have on those bad days. Hang in there.

If it makes you feel any better, I am 24 with a permanent. I didnt want it at first, but realized that I need it with the RSD in my ankle. I cant walk more then 20 feet without having to grab on my husband to take the weight off, thinking they may relieve some of the pain.

I have had the paperwork in my glove box for my perm handicap placard for months. Hard to bring yourself to get it done at a young age. But, I think of all the times that it could be useful and it makes me want to do it. At this point, anything that makes living with our disease a little easier to me seems worth it. (regardless of age)

not sure we want to advertise anything while the car is in motion
 

Not sure that permanent plates are such a good idea, in fact, a doctor of mine counsels strongly against it based on up-close-and-personal experience of one of his patients: a 72 year-old white haired lady.

Essentially, she was stopped for some sort of a moving violation and the officer spotted just her permanent plaque sitting on the seat next to her - not even a permanent license plate - and immediately began interrogating her as to all meds she was on. Turns out she was on a small dose of a benzodiazepine, which medical studies show can cause impairment, but unlike the case of alcohol neither public nor private money has apparently been made available to establish a safe level in terms of blood concentrations, whether (unlike alcohol) it's deleterious effects can be safely off-set through the use of "wakefulness drug," etc., and as a result a policeman is allowed to presume that a driver who commits a moving offense while using a benzodiazepine is DWI.

And in the case of this grandmother, because of quotas, a DWI looks good on the arresting officer's stats - whether or not it results in a conviction - the lady was handcuffed and jailed overnight until a judge threw out the charge at her arrangement the next morning!!! (And this in Deep-Blue Los Angeles County.)

So here's the practice point: IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY MEDICATION LABEL TO WARN USE OF ITS POSSIBLE EFFECT WHILE DRIVING OR "USING HEAVY EQUIPMENT, ALWAYS PUT YOUR PLACARD IN AN ENCLOSED COMPARTMENT - NOT THE DOOR WELL - WHICH YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO OPEN IF CALLED UPON TO PRODUCE YOUR LICENSE, REGISTRATION, PROOF OF INSURANCE, ETC.

At least that was the advice I got from my psycho-pharmacologist, and when I took it to my pain doc, he said that while he hadn't considered the issue but it appeared to be sound advice.

For what it's worth . . .

Mike