I can relate to your anxiety about driving. I've can still remember the day that I got back in the car to drive 2 years ago. I asked my husband
which of the neighbor's houses that he wanted me to hit, just in case I couldn't stop the car :-)
It is a really strange feeling to drive without feeling your feet. I was surprised how my mind took over, even if I couldn't feel the pedals. A
friend of mine has MS and I asked how she was able to cope since she is a single mom and has no one to take her to work on those days when she is
having problems with her feet, but is not bad enough to stay home. Her response was: you just do what you have to do. She says there are days when
the right leg doesn't work, so she uses her left leg for the gas and break.
I was always really concerned about driving in traffic. I wondered if I would be able to stop if traffic in front of me suddenly stopped. On my
second day driving to work, it happened. Traffic suddenly stopped in front of me, and I was able to stop. This was a real confidence builder. I
knew from that day on, that as long as I stayed alert and allowed extra distance in front of me, that I would be able to react to changing traffic.
Good luck on your driving, we'll be waiting to hear how you did.
LRM593(AT)aol.com wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> I went back to work this week after being out 9 weeks since my onset of TM
> and boy was it great to get back to work. Everyone welcomed me with open
> arms and was very accommodating. Initially am going back part-time, as I'm
> still going to PT through next week (insurance coverage ends, and Physical
> Therapist ready to discharge me anyway) and until I regain more of my
> strength. A few of the days this week I put in almost a full day, mainly
> because I'm not driving yet and had to wait for a ride, not to mention
> everything I had to get caught up on. I'm the Benefits Coordinator/Human
> Resource Rep. for a jewelry company. The funniest thing happened when I
> returned on Monday. A supervisor brought in a sign (they had just made using
> one of those permanent magic markers that smell!) that said WELCOME BACK
> LYNN! WE ALL MISSED YOU! They proceeded to hang it on the wall in back of
> me. Shortly after I had to tell my boss we needed to move it somewhere else
> as it was making me sick. He said "oh great- she comes back to work after 9
> weeks and goes home sick from her WELCOME BACK sign!!!" Needless to say, we
> put it on the door of the office!!!
>
> This weekend, my boyfriend might take me in a parking lot and have me
> attempt take over the wheel - I'm fearful but will give it a shot! Are any
> of you driving and how long was it for you to drive again and how was it?
> Because my right leg is affected, I'm fearful I won't have a quick enough
> reflex if I had to stop short, although I have regained a good part of my
> strength back.My Physical Therapist feels I'm ready. I'll let you know how I
> make out!!!
>
> I was also wondering, have any of you applied for Handicap Parking Permits?
> I applied when I was getting released from Rehab and got denied. Of course
> they didn't give me a reason, just information on how to file for an appeal,
> which I'm in the process of doing and have a Hearing this Tuesday. Don't
> look forward to the hearing but would be helpful if I got the permit. I'm
> not the type to abuse the system. Hopefully, I'll only need it temporarily.
>
> Hope everyone has a good weekend!
> Lynn