Oh, Eileen - I've been hoping to drive for several months now. . .but, from what I found out in my research, I'd have to enroll in an adaptive driving course at a local rehab institute before I can start driving; some others just went and started driving, but, check out some of the other topic discussions under our support group; I'm prtetty sdure this was already discussed.

It's been 4 years since my stroke and I still don't drive (don't know when I will)

My driver's license has been cancelled

I'm afraid that I'll kill myself or other people if I get behind the wheel!

I got back to driving after 1.5 years. My doctor never cancelled my license, but my spouse had me take an adapted driving assessmnt anyway to check my reaction times and have a driving test with a car with an auto matic transmission and a spinner knob on the steering wheel. I'm right handed - my good side so I would have to reach around the steering wheel to turn on the turn signals. That is the hardest thing to coordinate. I didn't have left neglect so that was not an issue. I've been driving for over a year now I do have to pay a lot more attention to what I am seeing, checking the mirrors constantly since blind spots are harder to see into. Backing up is something I try very hard not to do. One constant problem is where to put my spastic left arm, if I put it on the outside of my left leg , that pushes the leg into the steering wheel, I tried getting an arm rest to slide into the car window so I could rest my left arm on that. That didn't work because my arm muscles pulling down were too spastic and pulled the arm off of the arm rest. So I attached some velcro to the arm rest and velcroed my arm to it, still didn't work because then I pulled the arm rest out of the window. So it is possible but you may have to solve some problems on your own. You are limited in when you can change the radio/CD player, work on the defroster/heater. You basically have to wait until you are stopped to do anything else. There is no multitasking when driving, no drinking coffee, sodas, pop or eating snacks, even talking is sometimes too much.
Dean

Hi bigbeagle43,
I started driving after 3 months of intense PT and OT. I will honest I was very uneasy at first but it fell into place. I had my stroke 3 1/2 years ago. I lost feeling on the entire right side. I am right sided. I still have numbness on the right side. It helps this helps.You have to be patient and try not rush it until you feel emotionally and physically able. Talk to your Doctors.
Hugs Memieof3

Eileen,

I started driving again after about 6 months. My Dr. never cancelled anything and told me to drive when I felt comfortable. Once I felt I could focus enough and that I was physically able; I talked to my PT & OT. They helped me work on skills that would help me. I started off driving on side roads and worked up. I still have to be very careful at night switching the high-beams, but other than that I have adapted.
Just take your time. You'll get there!! One thing at a time!

Well, my experience with this is similar, but different. The strokes I had, brought on by my brain injury, caused me to become partially blind. That is the reason my drivers lisence was taken away. The doctors said it is never going to fix itself, but I remain hopeful and I know that I will be driving again someday. Here, in Canada they have a organization called "Community Therapists" that puts on programs to help people get driving again after a brain injury, or stroke or something else like that. Keep your hopes up and try to do some research. Good luck and God Bless.

well, i went to see my neurologist today and he said he didn't see any reason why i shouldn't be able to drive...yahoo! my left arm is pretty good, and since i would use my right leg for the gas and brake, as long as its an automatic car, it should be okay!

luckily, the stroke didn't affect my vision or thinking...so...he said to just start slowly, maybe an empty parking lot and then side streets at first...then later, when i am more comfortable, to then hit the freeways...but i think i'll wait a little while longer...have to get an automatic car (right now using my BIL's car, and wouldn't want to ding or crash his car!...wouldn't want to ding/crash at all!)...

thanks everybody!

Hi, Eileen: I NEVER had a license, but the HEAD of my support (former teacher, very bright), fought to keep her license after stroke; now types scrips in a pharmacy. SHE drives. Probably depends on where you live. In this, case; Massachuseets. Hope I've helped. Gene

i started driving after a year i paid for an assesment at banstead Motibility in the uk i now drive a automatic with a stearing aid, the motability cebtre advised i had a 2 hour lesson with bsm (driving school) just to be extra safe.. good luck

I was driving four weeks after my stroke. Basically, if your doctor says you can, and your insurance company says you can, and you feel that there is no problem, then go for it. In the uk , if after a month following the stroke, the doctor says you can't drive yet, then you have to inform the DVLA (driving authority) who may suspend your license

about four or five months I think...
I still use my left foot to brake, but my mama has never used her right goot to brake, so what is the diference?
they let people with no legs drive!
they make special adaptations for all kinds of people...why not me? I cannot drive a standard trandmission any more but at 41, why on earth would I want to???
I lost the desire for that 20 years ago..totally overrated....
I do NOT, however, drive long distances, as neuropathy problems start to bother me, and the right side does get to losing feeling after about 45 minutes or so. But I can still get around to the grocery store, and most of my daily errands with no problems.
If it ever does pose a threat...then I will stop and forfit my license with no question , before I endanger myself or others.

I was able to drive after about two months although I felt like driving sooner. I went to through Certified Driver Safety program intentionally because I wanted my family to have the confidence I would not be a safety issue to others including them or myself. It felt great to once again have that independence.

My driver's license was never suspended or cancelled.

It's been 6 years for me, and my doctor has given me an okay to drive again, but he believes i'll need some adjustments to the vehicle i'll be driving, as in the steering wheel; otherwise, he says my peripheralvision seems to be fine. My neurosurgeons cancelled my license back when my stroke happened. I'm jealous of other survivors who drive already. I'm not sure when i'll be able to do so again, but i sure would love to drive again; i really miss it. I'm right-handed, too, so i'm not sure why I'll need adjustments to my vehicle. But, whatever makes the DMV happy, i'll do, of course. It just doesn't make sense to me coz i can pretty much do everything with my right arm, as i've learned over the years. Good luck with this issue, Eileen!!! I'm totally with u on this!

my husband had his stroke 1/27/10. his left sidewas affected. he just started driving school this week and is doing great he will have six lessons. the driving schools work with the handicapped