Peoples with fibromyalgia cannot walk, drive or bike very far without pain. Getting a ride is mostly not an easy task for Fibro community. Driving requires person to sit in a fixed position and move in some specific ways that may worsen the pain.
When you are suffering from fibromyalgia, travel is also daunting and common triggers for a fibro. It is good to know whats makes the driving and traveling such a common trigger for Fibro.
Experts figure out that less sleep, poor sleep quality and frequent insomnia complaints are associated with fibromyalgia. Well its explains of the car crashes because sleep issues can be dangerous for drivers.
On interview with some fibromyalgia Patient they said that they sometimes forget where they were or where they were going. And that’s the terrible thing you can imagine it too. Few have also told that they can’t sit for too long as there back, knee or butt start hurting .If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, you can relate it too. And driving with fibromyalgia become worst if you get aches in hand and fingers.
Few Factors that play role in making driving and traveling problematic:
Noise Sensitivity
Fibromyalgia patients are sensitive to noise and has a big impact on lot of patients. We experience high sensitivity to noise, light, touch, smell and temperature. All these factors play role in increasing our pain, nausea, dizziness, trembling, looming panic attack and cause headaches and make us feel exhausted.
Distraction
In driving Distraction is a lethal weapon that can take your life and result in serious type of accident. Being Fibromyalgia patient I am not good at focusing, so smallest noise will divert my attentions and I lose my focus, that’s may be because I am also suffering from anxiety and sudden noise like horns make me flinch. It became really frustrating in driving as you’re trying to take control of your condition instead of focusing on road.
Brain Fog or Fibro Fog
Brain fog, or cognitive troubles linked with fibromyalgia, can make it difficult for Fibro effected driver to pay attention to the road. Person goes into some abstract state. They lost their focus and goes into some other world. This can make situation worst and dangerous not only for yourself, but other drivers also.
Person get into short term memory lose state and forget the routes or destination. Many time the forget where they were going or what currently they are doing, they suddenly stop the car in the middle of the road or do some weird things.
Another things they faced in this state that they were unable to grasp the new information, they were not in that state of mind in which that they can handle multiple information at same time. Like if there were multiple directions given on the road they were failed to get that. They become easily distracted.
Vision Problems
Fibromyalgia affects the human nervous system and NS can affect one’s vision too. In other words Eyes problem with fibro patients are linked to the nervous system. Person eyes may get blurred or experienced impaired vision. Mostly these problems triggers in night while driving in dark. Effected Person feel their eyes paining to see road signs,board or Cat-ions.
Leg Pain
Sitting for extended periods in driving, travelling or like in cleaning activities can exacerbate and trigger Fibromyalgia Leg Pain. The interesting fact about fibro leg pain is that it doesn’t matter that you sitting, lying down or standing at somewher its still hurts your leg badly. So in driving or travelling leg pain are often reported by patient. Many time Pain is so swear that you can’t move the leg. In Driving if you were not able to move your legs around the accelerator or gear or brakes, then you better knows what will be the conscious es.
Proposed Solutions
For Safe driving with Fibromyalgia, you should consider these tips and make some adjustment in your driving.Get a Good Night’s Sleep for better driving and avoiding sleepiness in driving.
- Take rest and drive in intervals. If you were on long drive, take regular breaks to get out, do stretching and relax your body, eyes and brain for a while.
- Before Drive, make Sure You’re Comfortable with your seat.
- Adjust your sitting posture correct (sit straight as you sit in front of desk).
- Get some cushions or back support for adjustment.
- I found meditation to be its solution as we learned to keep focus and block out the external noises.
- Wear sunglasses while driving.
- Ear plugs and listening music while driving helps in fights with noise.
- Consistent Deep breathing during driving helps you to get through sensory overload caused by light and noise.
- While straightening the leg, Pull your foots up toward your chest
- Walk on your heels until the cramp eases off.
- Keep your eyes clean with water,don’t let them dry,.
- Use drops for dry eyes.
