Now that you’ve sorted getting into your car with ease and made adjustments to ensure you can sit and drive comfortably, it’s time to consider some of the other challenges that may be presented in your journey to work.
Solution
When preparing for your journey to work, think about:
How long will you be driving?
Be sure to give yourself plenty of time before you need to set off to make sure you can get yourself comfortable in the driving seat without having to rush.
You should also calculate your journey time before you set off and allow extra time for comfort breaks in case you need to stop at any point to move around and loosen up stiff joints.
Where will you park your car?
Is there assigned parking at your place of work, or is it first come, first served? If so, it’s a good plan to try and get to work a little bit early to make sure you can get a parking spot that’s close by.
If the car park has disabled bays, consider applying for a Blue Badge so that you can make use of them.
If you have to park your car off-site, where will it be? Be sure to consider the length of the walk from your car to your work building when making your journey preparations, and make sure the walk is achievable without putting yourself under too much strain.
Wherever you park, be sure to give yourself enough space to easily access your car. If you’ll need to fully open your door to get in and out comfortably, try to park in a space that won’t restrict you. If you’ll be unloading any specialist equipment or a wheelchair, try to avoid parking in a space that restricts access to your boot.
Visit Versus Arthritis website for more information on driving with rheumatoid arthritis.
