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Do You Still Drive A Car?
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭

I'm curious about the number of Parkinson's patients that can still drive their cars.

posted July 30, 2023
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A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I was diagnosed March 2023, I’m 59 and I’m still driving! I hope to many more years, we’ll just have to see how it goes!😀

posted July 30, 2023
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I still drive, but only as much as is required. I typically have several appointments with medical professionals every month. I've went to physical therapy every Wednesday for the last year. I have twelve doctors on my current care team and usually have at least one appointment every week with one of them.
I've had Epidural injections, Sacroiliac joint injections, MRI'S, X-Rays and a variety of other procedures in the last six months, so it's become a full time job just driving to doctor's.
How is my driving? Well that's a debatable subject. To be honest, it's about half as good as it was twenty years ago. I realize it and take extra time when behind the wheel. I have a garage full of Harley touring bike and logged over 900,000 miles on a street bike in my life. I got a class A commercial license when I was 18. I only drove a semi for a couple years when younger, but I kept the endorsement for 45 years. When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, I walked into the DMV and told the clerk to remove the CDL endorsement. I kept my driver's and motorcycle endorsement, but have not moved my bikes out of my garage since my balance issues started in 2017. They're all kept licensed, insured, but I just don't feel confident enough to ride them any longer. My wife and I use to enjoy going on long trips on them. She keeps saying I should just sell them, but I laugh and say they're all paid for and they're gonna stay right where they're at! LOL
I'm aware that my driving skills are not as good as they once was, but they're still above average.
When they fall to a point that I no longer feel safe, then I will stop driving of my own accord.

posted July 31, 2023
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Yes of course I drive, I drive all over the place! In fact when hitch hikers
see me approaching they stop and pretend they're just looking at the scenery 😁😁😁 Not really, I stopped a while ago. As I ploughed through front gardens "I'm taking a short cut" didn't wash with my family 😁

posted July 31, 2023
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Yes

posted September 5, 2023
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

SusieQ3,I have extreme sciatic pain, some days are better,than others!On those days I take a muscle relaxer,which can cause drozzines,on those days I don’t drive.Also, I run errands,doctor appts, ect during the day,late evening! I’ve had 3 accidents in 2 months, but only one was my fault! Living in a college town, you have to be extra careful! My kids want me to stop driving, right now I don’t want to, I said if I had another accident, and it was my fault, I would stop driving? The last 2 cars I had was coupes, this one is 4 door!Kids are a little more at ease with me driving now! I miss not driving long distances, but haven’t in the past 3 years!
Insurance premiums are a deterrent!!
Gale

posted July 30, 2023

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