Driving with Numb Feet.

Posted by davidpn @davidpn, Jul 25, 2023

Over the past year the numbness in my feet has increased and at times I find my foot slipping off the brake. I’ve kept my driving to less than 2 miles and this might occur about once per drive.

My license is due for renewal and the medical form filled out three years ago (numbness not as bad) is due to be resubmitted. I can’t lie to doctors and pretend everything is okay but I do have a question.

Can any one recommend a shoe, currently using skechers which has helped with walking, that might help this problem.

Thanks much.

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@rkjb1951

I have aftermarket brake pedal cover, issues with intalling gas pedal cover. So far. It does help with my foot slipping off the brake. Only happened occasionally. Once at the wrong time is too much. At times .ore problems for a second transitioning from brake to gas. When possible, I give my self more space between me and the car in front of me.

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Interesting discussion. A question about these aftermarket pedal covers: Are they obtainable for specific vehicles; in other words, I have a 2017 Jeep Patriot; I would feel more comfortable giving one of these covers a try if I knew it was made especially to fit a 2017 Jeep Patriot pedal.

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I found mine on Amazon for a 14 camry. If / when I get my old truck fixed. I might put a set of pedals on it. But it's 30 yrs maybe hard to find. old. Hope your able to find some for your jeep. I saw some universal fit pedals, but stayed away from those.

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This may have been suggested, not sure. I have numbness and to drastically reduce the possibility of hitting someone in front of you at a red light or stop sign, put your vehicle in neutral. If you are having difficulty, also consider having hand controls installed by the dealership.

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So far I seem to be ok. Hand controls may be in my future at some point.

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"...numbness in feet while driving...striking the wrong pedal because you can't feel it with your foot...
Sure, get shoes that might help and drive anyway while you are waiting to see if they do. Let's see, what else...Oh, yeah...move the seat closer because you know your foot slips off the gas pedal."

WHAT are you thinking?????

I haven't driven in ten years because I had noticed some of these "concerns." A good friend of mine was in a serious accident because of these "concerns." He hit a car and was hospitalized for several weeks. He was in rehab for several months after. Oh and least I forget...there was a child in a car seat in the car he hit. The child died.

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I don’t think we are saying we are unable to drive - folks here want to know how to make driving safer for everyone and are being proactive about sharing tips to help. There are many folks with handicaps who drive. If your vision is not 20/20, you get glasses! There are tools and methods to help! You may have a heart or seizure history, and something COULD happen. Some folks can’t hear well and drive anyway though they can’t hear emergency vehicles. Folks of any age (but most likely older) have slower reflexes or may get confused. True, every single driver out there should know “when to say when” because it’s just become unfair to drive. But to say we’re incapable and shouldn’t be driving is not a universal judgment to make here about people with PN. Bad things can happen even when people think they’re “perfect”. There would be very few drivers on the road if we weeded out everyone who carries a little bit of risk. I think it’s great people on here are being conscientious about reaching out to see how to make necessary driving safer for what they might be able to control.

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@dbeshears1

I don’t think we are saying we are unable to drive - folks here want to know how to make driving safer for everyone and are being proactive about sharing tips to help. There are many folks with handicaps who drive. If your vision is not 20/20, you get glasses! There are tools and methods to help! You may have a heart or seizure history, and something COULD happen. Some folks can’t hear well and drive anyway though they can’t hear emergency vehicles. Folks of any age (but most likely older) have slower reflexes or may get confused. True, every single driver out there should know “when to say when” because it’s just become unfair to drive. But to say we’re incapable and shouldn’t be driving is not a universal judgment to make here about people with PN. Bad things can happen even when people think they’re “perfect”. There would be very few drivers on the road if we weeded out everyone who carries a little bit of risk. I think it’s great people on here are being conscientious about reaching out to see how to make necessary driving safer for what they might be able to control.

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Excellent points, Debbie! And I might add that, around here, the drivers who may be among the most 'dangerous' are those with one hand on the wheel and the other hand on their smartphones, taking every opportunity to switch all attention from their primary job as a driver of a multi-ton machine to the 2"x2" screen on their 4 oz. machine. I suspect, for the most part, these people never give a second thought to what they might do to become better drivers. Scary out there, ain't it? ––Ray(@ray666)

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Putting car in neutral when stopping at traffic lights reduces stress of possibly slipping off break.

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@dbeshears1

I don’t think we are saying we are unable to drive - folks here want to know how to make driving safer for everyone and are being proactive about sharing tips to help. There are many folks with handicaps who drive. If your vision is not 20/20, you get glasses! There are tools and methods to help! You may have a heart or seizure history, and something COULD happen. Some folks can’t hear well and drive anyway though they can’t hear emergency vehicles. Folks of any age (but most likely older) have slower reflexes or may get confused. True, every single driver out there should know “when to say when” because it’s just become unfair to drive. But to say we’re incapable and shouldn’t be driving is not a universal judgment to make here about people with PN. Bad things can happen even when people think they’re “perfect”. There would be very few drivers on the road if we weeded out everyone who carries a little bit of risk. I think it’s great people on here are being conscientious about reaching out to see how to make necessary driving safer for what they might be able to control.

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Deb , good points. I have drop foot and need to wear AFO's. Much of the control of the feet comes from areas below the knee, or that's the way it feels. When I strapped these things on, I gained more confidence in driving. Yet, we all need to keep in mind that safety for ourselves and others is paramount.

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If you have a vision problem you can most likely fix the problem with glasses and don’t have to think about it every minute that you are driving. If you are hearing impaired it won’t affect how accurately you can use the foot pedals, which is minute by minute. Yes, you might miss Police sirens, but how often is that in comparison?
I’m not talking about health issues…or things that “may” happen. I’m concerned about how dangerously some people drive because they definitely don’t want to lose the privilege of driving. They are not ready yet to swallow their pride…I think that was the term that was used. And yes, that might be tough to some people. Some in this thread alluded to not reporting issues or Doctors not doing so. Someone had two accidents that he blamed on his PN. But he’s still driving and is a self proclaimed better driver.
I hope as some of you mentioned that you will stay off the highway. I wish I could guarantee that no on a side street will cause you to hit your brakes or do anything to cause you to move those numb feet quickly
And yes indeed, watch out for people on their cell phone…there should be a law.

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