Think positive
Be patient
Think back to when you first learnt to drive - it may have been the same, though perhaps in your youth you may not have noticed the discomfort, aches and pains.
You will be fine - stay relaxed.
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You are correct it is very much like driving from the beginning learning a new form of car control and familiar with the position of use which in both cases is uncomfortable
May be it will not be so bad hoping the assessment is kindly to my challenges
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Don’t forget that was the 1st time you have driven an adapted car . It will get easier & this is a huge step forward as you didn’t think you would ever drive again. Good luck for your next lesson.
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Now on my third lesson with five more booked in the run up to the assessment on the 12 th November.
It’s no cheap but if the result is achieved so worth every penny.
The third outing was so much better and I’m improving each time I drive.
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Glad things are going well with your lessons.
I have everything crossed that your assessment goes well .
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Great news @mrfrederickson about your driving lessons, just wondering are you going through the exceptional cases route, and do you still have hemonopia? Or did your eyesight return, sorry if you have already said this somewhere, im in a similar situation. Hoping to return to driving one day.
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Thanks Elle, I’m finding that the steering ball and command gadget is not comfortable for me driving and has a tendency to to make me pulll to the right side of the road as this is my only functional arm, constantly correcting my left gap to the curb or parked cars is a learning curve that I’m in at present so improvement is seen with each outing and lesson leading to me doing twenty mile round trip and a roundabout. Hopefully the assessment is kindly to neon November. From what I’ve experienced the outcome will be renewed license or have more lessons and try again, the instructor has not indicated I’d be unfit to drive on the road only that I need more practice to master one hand driving which is much improved when I used my arm and hand directly on the steering wheel rather than on the steering ball gadget and controller of left side options like indicator and horn etc.
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Hi Elle, I’ve now had four lessons with my disability driving instructor and feel far more confident than I did prior to them and ready for my assessments next week on Wednesday.
Still room to improve but at least I’m not getting into a vehicle code after five years of being a passenger.
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Good luck for your assessment Mark, Glad you are feeling more confident now.
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Thanks Mrs5k I’m still aprehensive as the car in the assessments will not be the Same car so small adjustments on the day seat adjustments are key to comfortable driving and god visibility
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All the luck in the world Mark! I still haven’t got the confidence to apply for exceptional circumstances yet nearly five years on. I still have hemonopia vision in left half of each eye missing, you sound like you are doing great, keep going 
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Thanks Elle, I’m saddened to hear your vision hasn’t improved as mine did under similar circumstances timescales.
I proactive ly did vision strengthening computer exercises and had independent peripheral vision tests at spec savers each year comparing each years results and noticing the field was improving then I noticed I was aware of my vision improvements on the left side my weak side and felt it was worth getting my vision retested after five years by the nhs ophthalmology department and based on that applied for my license renewal that brought about a full dvla field test and the last part being the assessment that will be completed next week.
Take care.Mark
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I’ve been thrown a curve ball,
My assessment has been postponed until January next year due to staff sickness.
Not happy as all my lessons were taken in a pattern to get me set for that date in November only to find it’s now six or eight weeks away.
I’m just so lucky i guess
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I’m sorry to hear this Mark.
What is that phrase, It never rains, but it pours? Or is it that it never rains in Southern California?
I am sure it will all work out right in the end 
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I’m sure it will get sorted next year I just didn’t want to have too long between my lesson sets and the assessment. Next year I’ll get it sorted
Thanks for the interest in my plight
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That’s such a shame. Sickness can’t be helped though. Grrrrr.
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Es agreed but very frustrated that I cannot get closure.
On the flip side I took my wife out to lunch, walked badly in and out had a fabulous meal and followed up by going for a dog walk on my scooter.
As I’m all to often guilty of raising bad news , I ca say today irrespective of ongoing discomfort in my left side I had a good time celebrating my progress and being able to take the assessment albeit next year and proving changes are taking place are happening to me so a time to celebrate and thank my wife for her love and support.
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Glad you had a good day. I am sure your wife will have enjoyed your time out together & what sounds like a lovely lunch.
You are definitely progressing in the right direction. Keep smiling x
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Always and to add to it the pain clinic has put me back on pregabeline for six weeks to see if it reduces my symptoms.
The problem was my physio put me on it from the outset when I never had pain so unless I try it again we will never know if it was masking pain and I only had pain after becoming used to it. I’m not looking forward to coming off it last time was ghastly, not a nice drug.
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It’s a shame you have had to go back on pregabalin. Hopefully with it only being for a short period of time you won’t have the same issues coming off it again. At least it will give you an idea as to whether it was actually helping or not. Here’s your pain improving over the coming days.
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