Driving with Juvenile Arthritis

wakram14

Hi

Hope you are all well

I am new to this forum , as I was doing some research online and came across this site.

I've had juvenile arthritis for nearly 10 years , am 23 now and got it at a very early age, I had a right total hip replacement 5 years ago and still causes problems with my walking.

Along with this, I have auto immune hepatitis , Lupus SLE, Leukopenia , all diagnosed 15 years ago now when , anaemia , and juvenile arthritis

I've been driving past 4 years and with my arthritis in my knees and ankles is making it harder for me to drive with comfort now , I can drive for 10 minutes before my joints keep locking in place and it scares me.

I just wanted to know if anyone has joined the motability scheme before having the similar problem and if you had any tips or advice for better comfort when driving ??

Thank you for your time

Waqas

stickywicket

Hi Wakas and welcome. You sound to have a lot going on there. I don't drive any more but I used to drive Motability cars and you can get them adapted in all sorts of ways. I think your best bet would be to get in touch with them. I had an automatic with the brake and accelerator reversed and also a pull on / push off handbrake. But there are lots more things can be done. You can always ask for nothing. Good luck!

wakram14

stickywicket wrote:

Hi Wakas and welcome. You sound to have a lot going on there. I don't drive any more but I used to drive Motability cars and you can get them adapted in all sorts of ways. I think your best bet would be to get in touch with them. I had an automatic with the brake and accelerator reversed and also a pull on / push off handbrake. But there are lots more things can be done. You can always ask for nothing. Good luck!

Thank you for responding, I do appreciate you taking your time out to write back

I wasn't too sure if i was eligible for it , I rang them and they told me to apply for DLA and they will take it from their. They did tell me all the different things they can offer me , to make it easier.

I hope I get accepted on to the scheme, sounds like I will benefit a lot from it

Thanks again for your reply

kathe

So sorry to hear that. I olso have juvenil artherit, i'm 27 :-)
I youst bout a care that is Automatic, and that helps me a loot.
I don't have to drive whit a stik and My anckels and knees get more rest ..
Good luck..

dreamdaisy

I qualify for the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA but I have yet to go down the Motability route because I don't drive enough miles to make it worthwhile (I now do about 750 miles per year, mostly trips to the hospital and back!) You have to pay for the car with a hefty whack of the DLA and I prefer to use my money for massages and other stuff I need. I don't know if one can access Motability without receiving DLA, the CAB could help with that. I wish you well and I hope you can find a solution to this problem. DD

wakram14

dreamdaisy wrote:

I qualify for the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA but I have yet to go down the Motability route because I don't drive enough miles to make it worthwhile (I now do about 750 miles per year, mostly trips to the hospital and back!) You have to pay for the car with a hefty whack of the DLA and I prefer to use my money for massages and other stuff I need. I don't know if one can access Motability without receiving DLA, the CAB could help with that. I wish you well and I hope you can find a solution to this problem. DD

Thanks for your comment

I have applied for the DLA , so if I get accepted for the higher rate for the mobility component, am I right in saying the money will go straight to my car ?? and I won't have to pay anything ??

I drive quite a lot , as I see specialists all over the UK every other month , so will deffo consider an automatic and see what happens next if they do accept my application.

Thanks again

dreamdaisy

The choice of car is bewildering, some take a portion of your DLA, others the whole lot. Your insurance and maintenance is covered for three years then the car is renewed: all you have to do is pay for fuel. There may be a financial penalty when the original car is returned if its suffered some form of damage - as I said I don't know much about this. I also don't know how this applies if you only qualify for lower rate mobility - there must be info somewhere on the web. DD

stickywicket

When I first got Motability cars I gave them my Higher Rate Mobility Allowance and got a new car for 3 years with all servicing free. Some, bigger cars required a lump sum in advance also. After 3 years I had to change it. By the time of my last one I was able to use the Mobility Allowance to buy it off them but the servicing was then not free.

All adaptions had to be paid for. Though they say some help is available I never got any. If you like your current car, or if you can't get Higher Rate Mob Allowance, why not just find your nearest garage where they provide adaptions and ask them to do it?