If you see videos on YouTube of cars being driven backwards uncontrollably or moving in either direction when the car when intended to go in one direction only. These are mostly due to us old folks with lower extremity PN in that we cannot feel the pedal so we don’t know which pedal our foot is on. And when we press down to stop the car movement we get more confused in the fact that the car isn’t stopping and we press harder on the wrong pedal unfortunately. These are becoming more common and we need to keep checking on ourselves so we don’t end up in the news.
Neuropathy and older age in general certainly can affect our driving and we most certainly owe it to society, our families, and selves to gauge our abilities fairly and safely and not taking risks we should know better than taking. After all, we’re needing our reflexes to also defend against sharing the roads with chemically impaired drivers and the cell phone preoccupied drivers. Most of my scary moments have been due to people running lights or stop signs, or cutting me off on interstates, and they don’t realize they did it to somebody with slower reflexes and they’re lucky (or we both are) that I was able to react and skid the car just right not to hit them or others. Of course, I pay for it later with my sore pedal knee and leg it caused. Anyway, we have to be smart and honest with ourselves in assessing our ability to do at least what we should be able to control when driving.
I ran across this post wondering if others with neuropathy were experiencing similar problems. Mine isn't quite what others are describing.
My left leg is terribly damaged, I could never drive a stick shift again.
I have terrible fasciculations that feel stronger as soon as I get behind the wheel. Then when I stop to get out my legs feel extremely heavy, I'm used to the burning pain,thankful for cruise control.
I do experience tremors as well and have found vibrations calm them, so when I drive the tremors are calm,and the legs feel worse. And I'm aware that pressure on my feet sets off the tremors, and heat sets off spasms.
But when driving I can't seem to explain the weakness, heavy feeling. But I do wonder if the vibration from the vehicle causes it, because I experience it in a sedan and my SUV.
I have similar but not as bad. Try compression socks and there is a natural supplement that has shown to be beneficial to circulation in legs. PM me as I hesitate to name specific companies
Mine gets worse whenever I'm not up and about, walking or running. The morning is the worst. I drive about 5 hours regularly - just the last few months my feet and legs have been getting numb and painful after about an hour so I make a pit stop, hobble around until the stiffness is gone, then get back on the road. I don't know why, I just know that it does. My neurologist said that it's Restless Leg Syndrome which quite a few of us seem to have.
Welcome @maxmagee, I'm sorry to hear you are having pain in your legs at night. Can you share a little more about your diagnosis and any treatments you have tried? Have you been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy?
@ssheid I have no medical training or background but I do have small fiber PN and it's always worse when driving for me. I think it's because you are sitting in a sometimes less than comfortable position and maybe longer than you would normally sit. Also I'm sure each of us are a little different in how driving impacts us. How is your neuropathy worse? more pain?
My pn is very mild. It wasn't bothering me much at all. Then I had to make an 8 hour drive with 3 hours of it stop and go around Chicago. I DID stop every 3 hours for a half-hour or so. I was ok when driving. But I went to bed and woke up several times with pain and foot cramps, which hadn't happened in months. I continued to have some pain for 5 days afterward. I think it was the 3 hours of stop and go that did it.
It’s pretty obvious that your feet didn’t want to go to Chicago. They were happy just staying home, being elevated on the recliner and watching TV. Also the next time you go to Shitcago you might want to get a bulletproof vest. Barefoot at home is the best.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Neuropathy and older age in general certainly can affect our driving and we most certainly owe it to society, our families, and selves to gauge our abilities fairly and safely and not taking risks we should know better than taking. After all, we’re needing our reflexes to also defend against sharing the roads with chemically impaired drivers and the cell phone preoccupied drivers. Most of my scary moments have been due to people running lights or stop signs, or cutting me off on interstates, and they don’t realize they did it to somebody with slower reflexes and they’re lucky (or we both are) that I was able to react and skid the car just right not to hit them or others. Of course, I pay for it later with my sore pedal knee and leg it caused. Anyway, we have to be smart and honest with ourselves in assessing our ability to do at least what we should be able to control when driving.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsI ran across this post wondering if others with neuropathy were experiencing similar problems. Mine isn't quite what others are describing.
My left leg is terribly damaged, I could never drive a stick shift again.
I have terrible fasciculations that feel stronger as soon as I get behind the wheel. Then when I stop to get out my legs feel extremely heavy, I'm used to the burning pain,thankful for cruise control.
I do experience tremors as well and have found vibrations calm them, so when I drive the tremors are calm,and the legs feel worse. And I'm aware that pressure on my feet sets off the tremors, and heat sets off spasms.
But when driving I can't seem to explain the weakness, heavy feeling. But I do wonder if the vibration from the vehicle causes it, because I experience it in a sedan and my SUV.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI've researched supplements known to help PN. R-Alpha Lipoic Acid is the one I see most often. Is this the one you're speaking of? Thanks.
I woke up during the night my legs were painf and i had to grab my came o was spe weel and wobbly what would help to get them back to my norma.?????
Welcome @maxmagee, I'm sorry to hear you are having pain in your legs at night. Can you share a little more about your diagnosis and any treatments you have tried? Have you been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy?
My pn is very mild. It wasn't bothering me much at all. Then I had to make an 8 hour drive with 3 hours of it stop and go around Chicago. I DID stop every 3 hours for a half-hour or so. I was ok when driving. But I went to bed and woke up several times with pain and foot cramps, which hadn't happened in months. I continued to have some pain for 5 days afterward. I think it was the 3 hours of stop and go that did it.
It’s pretty obvious that your feet didn’t want to go to Chicago. They were happy just staying home, being elevated on the recliner and watching TV. Also the next time you go to Shitcago you might want to get a bulletproof vest. Barefoot at home is the best.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction