Cindy,

For years I drove a car like any able-bodied person does, and I have
spasticity in my legs.  However the spasticity grew worse in the mid-80s and
I bought hand controls for the car (I don't have any spasticity in my arms).
I don't think I'd go back to "normal" driving because the hand controls are
easier for me to use and I have better control of the car which of course,
is much safer.

            Kathy S.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Mallory" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 5:50 AM
Subject: Re: Drugs....


> In a message dated 11/6/01 11:40:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << I can tell you guys that Drugs Are It at U-M Hospital.  When I moved to
>  Michigan, the first thing these people wanted to do is shove baclofen
down
>  my throat because they wanted to "control" my spasticity.  God forbid we
>  should be the least bit spastic.  Das ist verboten, ja!  It's as if
>  spasticity is an evil, bad thing.
>   >>
> My 10 yo son gets the same treatment and he is very mild spastic, but I
> refuse all meds. He's not in pain so why try to correct something that
isn't
> a problem.
>
> My question to all who have spastic legs: Do you drive a typical car or
use
> hand controls? My older children drive so my son talks about it a lot.
> However one doesn't know when a spastic episode may occur. I have seen
this
> occur when my son gets scared or has just exercised a lot by riding a bike
or
> running. The last time was about a month ago when he got scared of a mean
dog
> coming close to him and the anxiety was too much. I shooed the dog away
but
> his leg went crazy. Do any of you experience this and how does it affect
your
> driving?               Cindy