Hi there has anyone started driving again and how long did it take?
Hi and welcome! A lot depends on the severity of your stroke and any issues you are dealing with as a result i.e., vision, concentration etc. Normally, the consultant advices you on how soon you can drive and whether or not you have to inform DVLA. I had a blood clot on the right hand middle of my brain which affected my left side. I was told not to inform DVLA but I had to inform my insurance company. I was told I would be fit to drive after a month which I was. Everyone is different though so basically, if you are cleared to drive by your GP but feel you need more time, then only you can make that decision. Some health authorities offer free driving lessons if you feel you need them.
Thanks and good luck to you did you have to retake your test?
hi there has anyone ahead physio in the community or gone privatre after Dischargedfrom hospital? Any views or thoughts would be gratefully received
Hello and welcome to the forum.
We are all different. However, to show one side of the driving situation, I will tell you that every stroke survivor must abstain from driving for one month. After that its your resposibility to ensure you are safe to drive. You do not at this stage need to tell the DVLA. I told them and they said thank you, but no need to tell us. More surprisingly the insurance company said thank you but we dont need to know. And my premium did not rise.
So I started driving after one month. That was in 2016.Three years on, I appreciate the freedom of popping to the shops etc, but still do not feel my concentration will last more than thirty minutes. So its all and only local stuff.
My GP was attentive but said he didnt need to take any action.
Things are totally different for HGV etc. I am just a domestic, non working group.
So, just like many parts of our recovery, its down to us.
One aside that caught me out; I dont drive many miles at all. And my car tyres have deep treads left. However, they can disintegrate after a few years, becoming very dangerous. Inspection by the garage revealed the extent of the problem. They are not cheap tyres.
Best wishes
Colin
Yes I had physio. It was provided to me, daily for 3 days in the hospital then in my home, 5 days a week for six weeks. Part of the free NHS "early discharge" package. In my opinion, for my situation, that was more than adequate. I had started off 90% paralysed but got moving within a few days.
What I really needed (and didnt know I needed) was to have a little physio every month. I have been so occupied with getting cognitive issues, and other problems, sorted that I rather ignored that I would need regular physio. I find the support for after care is hopeless. Very good for a few weeks, then nothing. We are all different and I guess that none of us need the same after care so its impossible to cover it.
I do have private monthly relaxation classes and that helps a lot with cognitive issues. These are group sessions, provided in my village Church for free. I guess that weekly exercises for the elderly would be good. Keep us using all the joints and all the muscles.
Colin
No I didn't. If you have a normal car licence, I think you only need to re-take your test if your licence is revoked by DVLA. Your consultant will tell you if you have to inform them. I was offered a few 'confidence building' free lessons with an instructor but I declined as the stress of having to travel on the bus to the lessons which were miles away from where I lived and having to drive a car I wasn't famililar with in unfamiliar territory was too much. I went out on my own and drove around my local streets first and then gradually built up to town driving, parking etc and can now do motorway driving but not for long distances as the dreaded fatigue kicks in. I am 18 months post stroke and can only still do about 1 hr motorway driving round trip. I am slowly building this up as time goes by as I love driving and love going off for the day.
My insurance company's reaction to having a stroke was indifferent. Very much a case of 'thank you. We'll make a note of that'. When I asked if my premium would increase I was told thousands of people have strokes evey year and as long as you are cleared by your consultant and GP to drive, they are happy to let you. My premium didn't rise at renewal and I am still insured with them. My insurers are Admiral. Hope that helps.
Thanks Colin and well done on getting back behind the wheel yes I’m realising that stroke recovery and healing is very individual but it’s nice to hear other people’s experiences asa guide
Hi
Once you have been given the all clear, its up to you. I found my confidence had gone and it took me quite a while to get behind the wheel again, but once I did it, it was like falling off a bike. I too only do local journeys as you do get tired quicker. I also changed to an automatic which was great, no having to think about when to change gear!! Good luck.
Hi there I received home physio from the team who looked after me in hospital. It finished after 6 months of treatment but I can request more if I need it. Is that available to you still?
Chris
I would not wait for physio in the community. After I was discharged from Rehab Unit, I waited 12 weeks for an outpatient physio appointment, which consisted of 6 45 minute appointments. It took 18 months to get any help from our Community Neuro Rehab Team. With the help of friends and family I was able to go down the road of private Neuro Physio and I am so glad I did, as it took forever to get help from theCommunity Team and all of my hardwork in the Rehab Unit would have gone to waste
Hi - I received no physio in hospital and there are no rehab facilities in our area. I was seen at home once a week for 3 weeks by an occupational therapist and that was it. I was referred for physio by my GP which took 7 months for the appointment to come through. When I went for the first appointment I was told I had been referred to the wrong department as I needed neurophysio and that would take another few months. I kicked off at the hospital because I had waited so long for that day so they went upstairs to the neuro physio and explained what had happened and they agreed to push me to the top of the list. Even so, I still had to wait a couple of months for that.
I am currently back on the waiting list for physio and the neurologist for an unrelated problem with my 'good' leg and the waiting list for that is also currently 7 months. I did pay to see a private physio for a couple of sessions but I found it was the same kind of treatment. Lots of talking and little hands on treatment and, of course, the mandatory handing out of a leaflet at the end. I have enough physio leaflets to set up a library! I am currently looking into treatment for physio with BUPA or Nuffield so hopefully that will be a bit more hands on.
Sorry to hear that your recovery has been unsupported by the very professionals that should have been helping you progress in your recovery. ???
But from your posts I know you have succeed almost in spite of these people. ??♀️?♀️?
Keeping my fingers crossed that they come up trumps for you this time ???
Thats terrible. The variation from area to area is huge. Colchester stroke unit had a team of five physios and at first all five tended me, getting me out of bed., on to my feet and walking a few steps. They saw and helped me all the time. Took me to the gym. Got me up and down stairs. Then of course the day when I had to get breakfast. A kitchen, well equiped, but just for the like of me to show I could get myself breakfast. They helped me wash and shave.
Then six weeks of getting everything I needed. At that time all help withdrawn and I was passed to the GPs who simply do not have the resourses we need.
Waiting seven weeks for an appointment is a long time, but seven months is ridiculous.
Many talked about getting diet right, but I havent had anyone who would really do that. Suggested that I had red meat or processed meat twice a month. I cant get down to twice a week !
Not only did Colchester get the physio right, they were perfect on the day the stroke bit me. Medic with me in 2 minutes, ambulance in 5 minutes. Straight in to resus, no waiting, and introduced to a dear little nurse who would stay with me until I went to the ward. She sat by the bed until the ward sister collected me. I think that was several hours.
One down side is that the stroke association do not cover my area. I am in Tendring, and about two hundred yards from the Colchester border. So we have a voluntary stroke group who are good.And the SA help me when needed, just no stroke groups available.
We are the cinderella disability group.
Spring starts tomorrow. All wil seem improved.
Best wishes
Colin
started again just recently. I am three years post stroke. it was two years before I felt able to ask for a referral to a driving assessment centre. I got the referral early last year via my Occupational therapist. I spent a lot of time during last year re learning to drive using an adapted car. I was able to get the money together to get my own car adapted only recently. but now all is good and I am on the road again. I can't use my left arm or hand so have a wheel mounted device. check out Lodgeson. it enables me to steer one handed and operate the indicators etc. I still need to get something to help with the handbrake. there is a specialist company called ergomobility who fit out all the cars at my nearest driveability centre. I would recommend them if you need adaptations. but would also suggest getting an assessment and refresher tuition with a driveability centre. look up RDAC to find what is local to you. my nearest one was not very local but they were very good and thorough. all depends on how the stroke has affected you. you may not need adaptations like I did. but you may need time for cognitive functions to recover if you were affected that way. I was to some extent. visual processing was slowed and decision making was slower. with retraining that has recovered quite well now.
whatever you do DVLA need to be informed. I didn't have any trouble with them at all in spite of having severe physical limitations.
It takes time mI still have to be very cautious as fatigue can restrict my ability to drive so I avoid it when in a heavy fatigue episode.
good luck take your time and I hope you can get back to it before too long
best wishes
Tony
I had an adaptation for the handbrake in my first car. Since then I have decided it is not necessary as I only use the handbrake when stationary, so it is safe to lean over and use my right hand.