Hi CZ, Great and importand question.
Driving is important to all of us and at the expense of hurting others or ourself. I take Vicodin, which is quick acting. But I Take two at a time and my Dr. says I must wait 4 hours before driving. I never break that direction. Like others have said, it's a drag waiting for others. My husband and daughter are really good, taking me to Dr. I don't get out a lot,just because of the pain and how I feel. But, yes, certain meds are the same thing as drinking and driving. Jail would make having RSD even a lot worse! My girlfriend and her husband are coming tomorrow for 10 day visit, they come everyother year. She is an alcohol and drug couselor, I'm sure she would agree with all of the above.
Take care all and be safe. loretta

tiffany
i wanted to welcome you !!! sorry got caught up in the conversation LOL
welcome again to our group!!!

carrie

Yes it is illegal to drive on the meds that half of us are on. I try to explain that to my H time after time. My primarey covers his ears when I mention it, my pharmasist warned me not to carry any meds with me while I am driving and that yes I could be arrested for DUI. During my last physical I asked my primary how bad was the eye dilating, he told me that there was not much difference, busted. I have to wear sunglasses on even cloudy days because of the dilation problems. The last long term meds really effected my driving to the point I did not feel safe so I had a driver until they changed my meds. I don't fall asleep on this med, but still the eyes give it away. My husband lost his license for a year so I have to drive until he gets them back in DEC 2009, then he is going to be doing the driving. I pray nothing happens. I live in the country and I go to get groceries on the least traved day of the week and I do it after 9am and before noon. I have to do the pain center once a month and I do those appointments at 10:00am. I realize that will not protect me but I do the best I can. I will even go and get a girlfriend to drive me to the pain center a LOT of the time. Be careful all I realize that a lot of us have H that don't understand or help, I thank goodness for my one and only friend.
Take Care and wear your seatbelts!
tjbird

I'm the same way. I have a friend who drives me, not because I can't, it's really because I'm paying wifey (who gets spousal support when they're 54+y.o?) out of my disability. So, I can't afford insurance!
(She's got a brand new Car, and drives all around seeing her boyfriend(s), and going to work). Cool, huh?
Think WC is tuff?
Try WC! (Women's Club). Sorry...

I'm NOT trying to pick anyone out of the crowd here.
You Must ask your Doctor, or, just stay quiet really, unless and until, your Doctor (who's writing the 'scripts), says: "You should not be Driving", then, that's in his/her notes.
Something happens, (Not a fender bender, something where You Hurt Someone innocent), they're lawyer will dig into your docs notes. This is Called "Discoverable". Anything you write down, is "Discoverable". Maybe, for those who aren't too legally minded should google "discoverable".

If your Doc "tells you that", S/he's helping you with pain, but, putting the Liability of Driving, ON YOU!
It's a fine line.
"maybe you didn't hear him/her say that?"
If S/he gives it to you in writting, DON'T DRIVE!
EVER!

If, perchance, a pedestrian walks out in front of you, (Say, someone who is suicidal "see the other forum") but, even if they are suicidal, and their family doesn't know that, and that person steps in front of your car, (think you luck is bad so far?) The families attorney, will dig into YOUR well.
You have a lawsuit? Guess what? That's gonna get "attached". You won't be able to touch it, until they get their paws on it! And, just maybe, they'll get MORE than you!
If your doc said "no driving", even just to cover his/her own tail, YOUR tail is now cooked, and On the Line!

Remember, Insurance is like anything else. You get what you pay for, Never More, sometimes less.

Any Questions?

Pete
asb

(If you have a question, DON'T Turn the key!).

I agree with those who say: "ask your doctor." We all have a different combination of drugs and are reacting differently to them. Most people are shocked when they hear what I am taking because I don't appear to be "high."

I have a Commercial Driver's License (yeah, big trucks - scary, huh?) and so am subject to random drug tests. The first time I was selected, I told my boss that I would probably flunk because of my meds. To my surprise, the test came back clean.

I don't really drive trucks anymore, but keep up the license because it is required for my job. I need to be able to drive in an emergency. But I feel completely safe driving most of the time. If I feel "knocked out," I ask for a ride from someone. I usually have quite a long warning period if that is going to happen.

Mike

Here is a link to some information regarding Driving Under the Influence in Florida.... hope this helps.

http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/Drugs%20...lcohol/DUI.htm


Medicines effect all of us differently... please check with your prescribing physician.

Yes I agree with you Pete that we all have responsibilities to ourselves and others when we use our licenses and drive. It must be used wisely!

I think ones driving abilities with RSD is a very individual thing...dependent on what medications you are on or not on.

The only time I have been told by my doctor that I can't drive is on the day of my my lidocaine infusions. Since I only take oxycontin on an as needed basis, basically for high pain level days I adjust accordingly, just 5 mg of the stuff knocks me out so I'm not going anywhere but to bed when I am on that. There is a warning on the information that comes with my Tylenol 3 not to operate heavy machinery and I won't take that either if I need to drive anywhere. There are times when I simply have to reschedule things or get my husband to drive if I can't bear the pain and need extra help.

I have friends here who take many meds daily for their RSD and do not drive at all for that reason. Mostly they are dependent on our door to door bus service for people with disabilities, but they can only use that for appointments, not for grocery shopping or personal stuff. I try to help them out when I can.

I guess there is one good side to being allergic to most of the RSD meds, at least I can drive without a worry of being under the influence and getting sued for that.

MsL

In this state (Indiana) it's against the law to drive in an impaired condition. While this never seems to apply to age or stupidity it does apply to sleepiness or any condition or medication that might affect your ability to drive. You should try a new medication before you attempt to drive under its influence. You should also never suggest there was a problem with your condition if you're pulled over or have an accident.

I've been on a large number of medications and none except methadone really had any effect on my percieved ability to drive. So I simply didn't take the methadone and then drive. It's not that I was stoned, sleepy, or distracted on methadone so much as I just didn't feel fully in control and didn't take things as seriously as usual. I've never driven like my day depended on it; I drive like my life depends on it.

But you're not going to get charged in this state for anything like this if you can act straight and pass a breathalyzer unless you suggest it wasn't your fault because you were stoned or under the influence of an overriding condition.

I'm not as competent a driver as I once was because of the RSD but I've simply adjusted by being more cautious and leaving more room. I might be less likely to have an accident now. I'm sure I'm far less likely to have or cause a serious accident than I was.

Hi Pete - I'm just taking a lunch break from working in my gardens and saw your post -

I was that suicidal person that was having a really bad day, and never thought of what repercussions my actions would have had on the driver of whatever vehicle I just decided to jump in front of. Wow. WC, combined with days of terrible head pain, had truly pushed me totally over the edge.

Something needs to done about the WC system. I'm amazed that they are able to find so many truly evil people to work it. When I am through with devoting my energy towards getting myself better and my kids settled, I think I will attempt to get more involved on a state level to prevent what has happened to me from happening to other innocent folks.