Driving with Numb Feet.

Good morning, David (@davidpn)

Your post hit home. I have idiopathic PN, and in the past two years, I've been involved as the driver in two auto accidents; in both instances, my right foot either pressed or clipped the accelerator instead of the brake. The second of these accidents was only last February when I rear-ended a city bus, thinking I was pressing the brake but instead was pressing the accelerator. Fortunately, other than a little whiplash, I was uninjured. In the aftermath of each accident, I asked myself: Did my PN cause this? As a result of an EMG, my neurologist tells me that my PN is still localized in my feet, but if I've lost sensation in my feet, it's not something I'm acutely aware of. The bottoms of both feet have what I've always thought of as "extra tough skin," resulting from years of long-distance running. Until my PN diagnosis, I'd never considered my feet as being worryingly numb, just "hardened." My PN diagnosis has me wondering …

Thanks for this topic!
Ray (@ray666)

It would be worth it to go online and find the website for your car make, look for "Accessibility" tab, then look for "Hand Controls". If no luck, stop in at the dealership and they will know. Lots of people with lower body issues drive with hand controls, no big deal. I checked into my make, Nissan, they even offer a discount. I'm still OK, but realize I'm "getting there"

Same thing here. Crocs Walu shoe is a good shoe for driving with our condition. Tight fit with interior upward nubs that stimulate the bottom of the foot..About 40 dollars. Also I drive w/o socks. I've tried a lot of shoes,, I swear by them.

Hi Ray- same problem here, I bit the bullet and bought a 2021 used car, with all the safety features- automatic forward and backward braking, auto-hold (a godsend at red lights), camera alerts for pedestrians, etc. My 2012 Sentra was purring along at 166,000 miles, planned to keep it, but PN had other ideas.

Hi Dave - Skechers still work for me; however, I'm not sure any shoe would help with numb feet and feeling the car pedals, especially the brake. I have had scary moments where I re-visit why I thought my foot was on the accelerator when it was on the brake, or when I thought my foot was on center of brake but it was sliding off the left. I realized I had to stop moving in my seat and focus on keeping my seat & sitting position the same to help the inadvertent shift in feet. I am fortunate that my brain knows and has trained me to lift my foot and flex my ankles for my legs to know where they are and feel the pressure my feet are exerting. I know my reflexes are slow. My doctors can't even get reflexes from knees and elbows. So for safety, I only drive in daylight so I can use vision a bit to help add checks, and I try hard to avoid rush hour traffic. It's hard enough protecting ourselves and others through our handicaps, but we have the added pressure of needing agility for all of the road ragers and impaired drivers. I hope I know when to say when.... and plan to explore John's suggestion of hand controls if it gets to that point.

Hi David,
My feet are pretty numb and I drive. I do not think I’m dangerous to others. I think there are many things going on when we drive besides what is being felt by the bottoms of our feet. I have to really pay close attention and be vigilant even when I’m stopped at a light because I could unknowingly ease off pressure on the brakes and roll into someone. I watch carefully when I’m driving and part of it is not only using my eyes but also my body remembers how much pressure to apply to brakes or gas. I seem to be able to stop and go pretty well. I should have added that years ago I learned to drive with 2 feet, one for each pedal. Not great if one is driving automatic but its helpful now

Hi Kathy

I find paying close attention and being vigilant somewhat exhausting. I worry about hitting the brake, applying the right pressure and having my foot not slip off. Glad you found a way for it to work for you.

Thanks.

Yes driving is a big issue. I have an automatic vehicle with good separation between brake and accelerator pedals so I just know where the pedals are. I use shoes with a good grip to avoid feet slipping off. Driving in stop start traffic is the challenge for me. I live in a regional area so traffic is not an issue generally.
In comments further down on this post leg tiredness is discussed. I believe this just goes with PN.

Hi, centre (@centre)

Your Sentra had many more features. My two accidents? Two different vehicles. In the first accident (almost three years ago), I went for the brake but clipped the accelerator and planted my 2017 Honda CR-V smack dab into a tree o a neighbor's front lawn. The Honda was a lost cause. Rather embarrassing, too, when my neighbor came out: "Ray, is that you?" LOL In the second accident, only last February, I butt-bumped a Denver bus with my 2021 Jeep Patriot. The Jeep Patriot is still running. Small victories, eh? 😀

Ray (@ray666)

Hi there, I’m new to this thread but your post interested me because my legs have been feeling more tired than usual. I’m pretty sure I have neuropathy In my feet (no pain but have numbness in both feet. - toes and pads of feet). I thought maybe it was from my cervical spine cause I have farominal stenosis in c-5, c-6 and c-7. But they’re telling me it would only affect my feet if it was stenosis in lumbar spine. I’ve started taking B-12 about 3 weeks ago. It’s probably psychosomatic but feel like it’s (numbness) improved a little.
I have noticed that my usual walk up a gradual hill is more difficult for me with my legs feeling tired and a little out of breath. Is this actually a symptom from neuropathy? I’m a 66 year old woman who has been pretty active most my life so any advice is appreciated!