Charcot Foot & Driving

[Bracknell Bob]

I have Charcot Foot & have had my foot in a cast for 12 months now, I now have orthopedic shoes which have been made & I am breaking them in slowly. I have not driven for over a year now & I am nervous about driving again. Has anyone been through this am I over worrying this, do I need to advise the DVLA? My medical team have not mentioned it & I have mentioned to them on several occasions that I want to be able to drive again. Thank you for your help in advance, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Bracknell Bob

Our resident Charcot guru @Flower may know about the intricacies of the DVLA, but do nag your medical team for clarity too - they will know the specifics of your case and will be able to advise about your fitness to drive. Frustrating that you have asked already and they don’t seem to have answered properly. Sometimes you do have to be very blunt and insist on a straight answer.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Bracknell Bob

Sorry that you haven’t been able to get straight answers from your team. Do keep asking until you have the answers you need.

I was very nervous when I drove for the first time as lockdown eased, especially as we had changed car, and I realised I didn’t know how to start it. Nowhere for the key, just a button labelled Stop/Start

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

especially as we had changed car, and I realised I didn’t know how to start it. Nowhere for the key, just a button labelled Stop/Start

😱 😱 😱

You are living in the FUTURE!

Mine still has a handle on the front to crank it 😛

 

[trophywench]

😱 😱 😱

You are living in the FUTURE!

Mine still has a handle on the front to crank it 😛

And I therefore think your bum is on fire .....

 

[Flower]

Hello and welcome @Bracknell Bob

Has your ankle been damaged by Charcot or is it in the foot? Have you got flexibility in your ankle and sufficient feeling in your foot to know how much pressure you’re putting through your foot? I would contact DVLA & let your insurance company know that you have Charcot foot and are wearing customised shoes & also ask for written confirmation from your hospital team that they consider you fit to drive so that all bases are covered.

It is quite a rare complication and having just checked there doesn’t seem to be specific advice about driving with Charcot foot.

I’ve lived with Charcot foot in casts for years but can’t help you with driving as I’d already had my driving licence revoked due to sight loss when Charcot foot started.

I hope you can get some answers the Diabetes UK helpline might be able to advise you https://www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/helpline

I hope you can get the situation sorted and can get back to driving. Best Wishes.

 

[Bracknell Bob]

Thank you flower for your help, it is very much appreciated, I will check with my medical team again, my GP was not helpful as they originally diagnosed it as an Edema. I did look on the DVLA site but there is nothing mentioned thank you once again for your help. Take care Bob

 

[mikeyB]

If you think about using car pedals, you need more or less full flexion and rotation in the ankle. It depends largely on which side is affected (or both). If you have limited or absent movement of the ankle, then you are a bit stuck. However, there are several companies who will convert your car to hand controls. This is much easier in an automatic, so you may have to think about that. The actual conversion to hand control is then easy, with a hand control to pull back for braking and pushing forward for accelerating (or vice versa, can't remember). Expect to pay up to around a £1000, but then you are as free as a bird. The advantage of such conversions is that anyone can drive the car, ignoring the adaptations.

Of course, this all depends on how long you expect to be limited. But know that whatever happens, you can still drive. I don't know how far you can walk, but all this stuff is easier on Motability. I can't drive for different reasons, but I get full PIP mobility, and use it to lease my mobility scooter. I know about these car adaptations because of their regular magazine.

 

[Bracknell Bob]

If you think about using car pedals, you need more or less full flexion and rotation in the ankle. It depends largely on which side is affected (or both). If you have limited or absent movement of the ankle, then you are a bit stuck. However, there are several companies who will convert your car to hand controls. This is much easier in an automatic, so you may have to think about that. The actual conversion to hand control is then easy, with a hand control to pull back for braking and pushing forward for accelerating (or vice versa, can't remember). Expect to pay up to around a £1000, but then you are as free as a bird. The advantage of such conversions is that anyone can drive the car, ignoring the adaptations.

Of course, this all depends on how long you expect to be limited. But know that whatever happens, you can still drive. I don't know how far you can walk, but all this stuff is easier on Motability. I can't drive for different reasons, but I get full PIP mobility, and use it to lease my mobility scooter. I know about these car adaptations because of their regular magazine.

Thank you for your help, greatly appreciated, I will look into this further. I am due reconstructive surgery on Charcot but post surgery I am not too sure what my foot will be like, it also depends on the Back Log due to Covid -19 too. My Charcot is on my right foot, I also drive an automatic too so it is great to know that there are possibilities to drive still as I am also primary carer for my 85 year old mother too.