Question about Driving with PN
 

On tuesday my right ankle is getting braced, my left ankle has been braced since April for PN. I walk on crutches. Obviously having both feet braced will make driving difficult. I am looking into getting hand controls for my truck so that I can drive.

Does auto insurance ever cover this kind of expense, or medical insurance.
I have Geico for auto, and Premera Blue Cross for health. I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and had to deal with insurance companies. How much did they cover, what kind of paperwork was involved etc.

I realize everyones policies are different, but someones experience may help me head in the right direction as I navigate this mess. Thanks.

hi there

I guess whether or not you can drive a regular car depends on what sort of braces you wear. I have bilateral foot drop splints and can drive an automatic car. It does take a bit of adjustment - when I first got a splint on the foot I use for the accelerator I couldn't push down very well on the accelerator and crept home from the Orthotics centre very slowly. But, it was just a matter of adjusting where I place my foot, and pivoting my foot between accelerator and brake rather than lifting is across. My other foot I don't use at all. It's not possible to move my foot across from pedal to pedal as a splinted leg won't fit under the steering wheel, which is why I just pivot from my heel.

So, I wouldn't give up on driving a car with foot controls until you have a good experiment and see if you can do it. Also, ask your OT for advice about driving, she or he will be able to tell you whether or not others can drive with the sort of braces you are being fitted with.

I know where I live we have driver assessment places that can take you out in your car and work out what if any adaptations you need. It's a good place to start. I must get a knob on my steering wheel as one of my arms is too weak to hold the wheel and keeps falling off which is really annoying.

hth

raglet

I don't know if insurance covers auto modifications,
unless it possibly may be Rx'd from your doc.
Then your Med ins would cover some, or all, of it.
If you think you would need hand controls, the best place to get info
is from the hand control installers.
They have the ins. experience.

Hi there

I have been wondering how you are getting along with your driving now you have two AFO's. I'd love to hear how you are doing.

One of my AFO's has broken and I have to take it in tomorrow and have it repaired - they have said they will do it on the spot if I just turn up with it which is good. So i am in the opposite situation - trying to drive with only one AFO which aint so great.

hope your working it out with your driving

cheers

raglet

What are the benefits of braces?
 

I hope I don't sound too clueless but I'm interested in learning about what benefits you derive from the braces. Do they allow you to walk unaided? I use a walker since my legs are quite weak & I'm wondering if I would be a candidate for braces if they would permit me to move around without using a walker or wheelchair.

hi Antonina

No, I'm afraid that the AFO's don't get rid of the walker (I walk with a walker/ wheelchair too) but they do prevent me from tripping over my feet. I have a bilateral foot drop, which means that I cannot pick up feet up enough to clear the ground when I walk. They don't strengthen or support leg muscles in any way.

I know my left leg has started deteriorating further (actually I can no longer lift it up when I walk due to peripheral nerve damage in my hip) and I know that I am heading towards needing a brace that immobilises my knee on that side. It won't make the leg any stronger, but it will prevent the knee giving out.

If you want to find out whether there are any type of orthotics that could help you, get yourself referred to an OT.

hth
raglet