me time Mind over motors Getting behind the wheel is second nature to many people but, if you have arthritis, you might need to take extra care Words: Victoria Goldman Expand HIdE eing able to drive can help you stay independent. However, your arthritis symptoms may sometimes affect your safety and comfort, and make it difficult for you to perform simple tasks, such as turning on the car engine, changing gear, or reversing into a parking space. In a US survey in 2012, 70 per cent of people with chronic pain reported that their symptoms pain, fatigue, reduced mobility, stiffness and/or weakness limited their driving in some way. More recently, in January 2014, German researchers revealed that osteoarthritis of the hip or knee may make it harder for someone to perform an emergency stop. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make yourself more secure in the driving seat. Get comfortable According to Andy Lord, spokesman for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), a comfortable driving position depends on many factors, including your posture and arthritis symptoms. If you get stuck in the same position for too long, this could worsen joint pain and stiffness, he says. If your car seat is too reclined, you have to push yourself forward to reach the steering wheel; if it is too far forward, you will be squashed against it. Neither scenario will make driving a comfortable experience. The CSPs leaflet Drive Clear of Pain (available to download for free from www.csp.org.uk) is aimed at commercial drivers, but the advice on a comfortable car set-up is relevant to everyone. Its important to minimise the strain on your joints, so speak to your physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist especially if you are struggling to get in and out of the car, or to use the driving controls. If you find it hard to hold the pump trigger when re-fuelling your car, a new device called the Pump Pal (9.99) may help. Its a c-shaped ring that clips over the pump trigger, holding it in place. Find it at www.pumppal.co.uk. Car adaptations, such as hand controls or an electronic accelerator, could improve your driving experience. The Forum of Mobility Centres (www. mobility-centres.org.uk or 0800 559 3636) can give you some one-to-one advice. If you have neck arthritis, panoramic mirrors may make it easier to see around corners, says Andy Lord. If you have hand arthritis, look at the size of the steering wheel, as a chunkier one can be more supportive. If you decide to change your car, go for a test drive on one of your worst days, not when your symptoms are reasonably good. If you cant get in and out of a car easily, choose one with a high seat, so that you can sit down and swivel round. The Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (www. rica.org.uk) which produces a booklet on motoring with arthritis can help you find the right car to match your needs. adapt yoUr car check your medicines Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair your ability to drive safely. Some may cause drowsiness or affect your vision, while others may reduce your reaction times or concentration. I take naproxen, tramadol and gabapentin daily, says Melanie Ruse, 53, from Suffolk, who has osteoarthritis in her hips and lower back, as well as fibromyalgia. A combination of a lack of sleep and gabapentin means I can be groggy in the mornings. Its only after several cups of coffee that I feel its safe for me to drive usually after around 11am. To check whether your medicines could affect your ability to drive, speak to your GP or pharmacist. This is particularly important if you are on any new tablets, says community pharmacist Sultan Dajani. For a short time, some medicines may cause drowsiness and affect coordination. On 2 March 2015, new driving laws are coming into force, making it illegal to drive, attempt to drive, or be in charge of a vehicle with certain medicines in your body above specified levels, even if your driving isnt impaired. The medicines include some for severe pain (for example, morphine) and anxiety or sleep problems (diazepam and clonazepam). The specified limits are generally well above the normal dose range, but if you take particularly high doses you could be affected. tell the authorities You must notify the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) if you havea notifiable medical condition which is anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. You should also tell the agency if your condition has worsened since yougot your driving licence and inform your insurance company. You can be fined up to 1,000 if you dont tellthe DVLA, and you may be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident as a result of your condition. Even if your arthritis symptoms dont affect your driving significantly to start with, you need to protect yourself, says Helen Dolphin, director of policy and campaigns at Disabled Motoring UK. As long as the arthritis is noted on your records, no authorities can say you didnt tell them if an accident occurs. Many people with arthritis are entitled to a Blue Badge, which gives access to parking concessions. This can be a lifeline if you struggle to carry heavy bags from the shops to your car. You automatically qualify if you are on certain disability benefits, but you can see if you are eligible by contacting your local social services. Blue badges are not given based on individual health conditions, but rather on how the condition affects you. I have just got my Blue Badge not because I cant walk far, but because I need plenty of room to open the car doors, so can swivel in, says Ruse. Many people with arthritis are entitled to a Blue Badge "