[Erin524]

Friday I went and got my AFO (Ankle, Foot Orthotic) adjusted, so now it's not in a fixed-cant-move-the-foot position. The orthotist put springs in the hinge and unlocked the hinge so that now there's some dorsiflexion in the brace and I can walk more normally now...

The orthotist also said I could drive again, even while wearing the AFO. So, today my dad took me up to a parking lot and had me do stop-starts to make sure I could make the car move, and most importantly, make the car stop.

I decided not to go out onto the busy streets then because I was a bit of a chicken about it. Kind of scared to drive on the streets...until my dad took me and my mom out for dinner, and he drove, and I got carsick in the back of the car. (not that sick, just dizzy and queasy) When we left the restaurant, I decided I didnt want to risk getting more than just queasy riding home, so I told my dad I was going to drive.

My fear of upchucking on the upholstery overrode my fear of driving. I can drive again. (yay!) I wont be driving more than a mile or two at a time. I noticed my foot, even in the AFO, was getting really tired having to control the accelerator and brake. So, I guess I wont be going to the yarn store by myself for awhile (it's 5mi away) but I think I'm going to drive myself to physical therapy tomorrow.

My dad is thrilled, my mom...not so much. She's really really really really angry that I can drive and she cant. (she hasnt driven for 10yrs, and we're not letting her drive. She's not safe) She's the one who quit driving 10yrs ago, but she doesnt remember that. She thinks we're the ones keeping her from driving (well, we are now that she doesnt remember she cant drive)

Hope my mom stops yelling at me for being able to drive again. It's like she'd only be happy if I were so sick again that I couldnt drive or barely even walk. I guess she's jealous. (kind of understandable. I was really peeved that I couldnt drive for the past five months. She hasnt driven for 10yrs)

Before that flare hit me, I was driving my mom and dad everywhere. Anywhere they wanted to go. My dad was happy with that because his ankle hurts all the time, and knowing that his ankle is so sore that he can barely walk, he probably should not have been driving either. (he's got edema in his leg and his ankle is always sore from that)

I'm just happy that I can drive again. I've been going insane being trapped in the house all the time, and anytime I wanted to go anywhere I'd have to have my dad drive me...which meant that my mom *always* had to go with us whenever I wanted to go somewhere. (that made Xmas shopping for her really difficult) Hopefully I wont have another flare like that for awhile, and that soon I'll be able to chuck the AFO altogether (I cant drive my own car with the AFO. My car is a stick, and it was suggested that I drive automatic if I can)

[SallyC]

Great news Erin..

[Dejibo]

I am hoping that when/if the rest of my vision comes back I too can drive. i have missed it so much.

dont worry about mom, just do what is right for you.

[Erin524]

I hope your vision comes back all the way Dej!

When I had optic neuritis in 2006, it took over a year for mine to resolve. I still have vision strangeness sometimes. (double vision when I turn my head a certain way) I try to ignore it, but I'm always terrified the vision stuff will come back.

[ANNagain]

Hey Erin,

Glad things are progressing in a good way. R you still doing the pool and other PT?
ANN

[Erin524]

I'm out of the pool and on dry land now.

Doing regular PT, and they have me doing a treadmill (yay!) Did 4 minutes on that today...which was about a minute longer than they were planning on me doing.

and I drove to PT all by myself, so I'm happy. I dont mind the AFO as much now that they've given it some dorsiflexion and it's not in a fixed position any more.