I have a question for anyone who has experienced what I am about to have done.
Next year I am going to have an operation on my neck.
Basically three discs are being removed and will have a bone fusion in their place from my hip.
I have three prolapsed discs which are causing me severe pain and with the DVLA the way they are, I was just wondering if they’d take my licence away afterwards.
The thought of the operation is driving me nuts as it is.
Thanks.
After all the hassle I went through when I informed DVLA of a medical condition I would think twice about informing them. I had my license revoked for 2 months for a minor condition whilst they “Investigated”. It took numerous letters from my GP and even a consultant to get DVLA to reinstate my license. All because I was too honest and informed DVLA! In the meantime I was off the road and it was only because I had a good gaffer who kept me busy in the yard that I had an income!
As said id hesitate to let them know!
My father has had this operation along with other work to his neck, arms and spine, not once has he been told to inform the dvla or the dvla informed on his behalf. He found he could drive an automatic within a week. The hard bit is your not allowed to lift more than the weight of a kettle for a good time. Good luck with everything and keep smiling.
Getting in and out of the cab is a massive effort and getting bounced around in a quarry all day is just agony.
So I am just a little worried that my specialist would say pack it in.
Once again thanks a lot.
Getting in and out of the cab is a massive effort and getting bounced around in a quarry all day is just agony.
So I am just a little worried that my specialist would say pack it in.
Once again thanks a lot.
ckm1981:
Legally unless a medical professional tells you to inform the DVLA then you don’t have to.
DO NOT inform them unless specifically told to do so.
100% This!!!
I’ve been dealing with the dvla medical department for 5 months now since having a fall and ending up with some serious head injuries. Finally at the end of August I got the all clear from my neuro consultant and 2 weeks later was told by dvla medical dept that I could return to driving both cars and lgvs as my licences were no longer revoked.
I was over the moon and returned to work and was loving it, 2 weeks later the dvla medical dept overruled my neuro consultants opinion and have unbelievably revoked both my licences again
My dealings with them since have proved them to be useless and very unhelpful to the point I have even managed to now get my MP involved who seems to be showing a keen interest in my case. We’ll see?
Getting in and out of the cab is a massive effort and getting bounced around in a quarry all day is just agony.
So I am just a little worried that my specialist would say pack it in.
Once again thanks a lot.
I’ve had major spinal surgery including a bone graft from my hip to replace some vertebrae and a nice big metal contraption holding me together, had 6 months off work, although my surgeon said I should have a year. He never once mentioned informing the DVLA and he knew what my occupation was.
Feel you pain as I have a fractured back prolapsed disc crumpling disc as well as a couple other thing have had injections in my back to help although it does you still get a lot of pain
If I were you dont tell them unless you have to I had a lot of dealings with DVLA medical section a few years ago they had my licence for over 16 mth most of the time for no reason just because they could even though my Dr said I was fine had 2 consultants say I was fine
Good luck with the op but maybe think about a different driving job
Know a driver who wife had a similar op to you although she dont drive he may be able to say from the other side
ckm1981:
Legally unless a medical professional tells you to inform the DVLA then you don’t have to.
DO NOT inform them unless specifically told to do so.
100% This!!!
I’ve been dealing with the dvla medical department for 5 months now since having a fall and ending up with some serious head injuries. Finally at the end of August I got the all clear from my neuro consultant and 2 weeks later was told by dvla medical dept that I could return to driving both cars and lgvs as my licences were no longer revoked.
I was over the moon and returned to work and was loving it, 2 weeks later the dvla medical dept overruled my neuro consultants opinion and have unbelievably revoked both my licences again
My dealings with them since have proved them to be useless and very unhelpful to the point I have even managed to now get my MP involved who seems to be showing a keen interest in my case. We’ll see?
That ■■■■■ big time!
I’ve just got my licence back after a battle. It got revoked in 2012 after my 45 yr medical. Previous year I got ill with bibasal pneumonia and clots in lungs while staying in hospital with my daughter who was ill. During investigations a CT scan shows that I have a PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) which is a hole between left and right side of heart, but this was just an incidental finding and is something that 1 in 5 people have. My notes clearly showed it was “asymptomatic” meaning there are no symptoms resulting from it. I got treated for the pneumonia and clots and after a couple of days I was sent on my merry way. I had further tests over following months including a catheterised cardiac angiogram and various “stress” and “exertion” tests to confirm that zero risk from the PFO. All good, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I’m 5’10" and 80kg fit and healthy outdoor worker and only problem I ever had was this one incident.
Fast forward a few months to March 2012, medical time. All good, GP wrote on form about the PFO and that it is “asymptomatic”, sent all my medical notes off. Then shortly after I got the dreaded letter from DVLA revoking my LGV but saying I can still ride motorcycles and drive cars. It’s taken two years of chasing them and chasing my GP, and getting my GP to explain “asypmtomatic” and the fact that there’s no reason for me to not drive LGVs, to finally get my licence back.
Every time I phoned DVLA they would tell me they had written to my GP 4 weeks previously. So I’d phone my GP to chase and he’d say nothing received. Then, as if my magic, my GP would get a letter the following day that was dated just a short while before I’d called the DVLA! Also, when I phoned DVLA and asked why I hadn’t heard anything they would say something like “we sent you a letter two weeks ago”. A letter would then turn up the following day dated the day before I’d call them! There be something strange in Welsh water…
Steve66:
I have three prolapsed discs which are causing me severe pain and with the DVLA the way they are, I was just wondering if they’d take my licence away afterwards.
Whilst not in my neck what I have is similar but in the lumbar region. Still got my license and in fact I already had the problem with two of them before I got my provisional HGV and it didn’t stop that being issued.
Don’t know how you’re managing to do quarry work - I can’t. The type of work you do is what you’re going to have to seriously consider.
Im still trying to fathom out how a **non**-medically trained **lay person** behind a desk , can have more clear informed medical decision on whats best for a patient than a Fully trained experienced Medical careered Doctor Consultant , :question: :unamused: :open_mouth: Isnt the title Dr … before the Consultants name a clue …and the fact they work in / from a Hospital
jees, fukkerd up or what ?
Steve66:
I have a question for anyone who has experienced what I am about to have done.
Next year I am going to have an operation on my neck.
Basically three discs are being removed and will have a bone fusion in their place from my hip.
I have three prolapsed discs which are causing me severe pain and with the DVLA the way they are, I was just wondering if they’d take my licence away afterwards.
The thought of the operation is driving me nuts as it is.
Thanks.
I’ve merged your two topics into one. dd.
Simply ask your Surgeon he should be able to tell you if you can`t drive or if its a DVLA reporting condition
trux:
Im still trying to fathom out how a **non**-medically trained **lay person** behind a desk , can have more clear informed medical decision on whats best for a patient than a Fully trained experienced Medical careered Doctor Consultant , :question: :unamused: :open_mouth: Isnt the title Dr … before the Consultants name a clue …and the fact they work in / from a Hospital
jees, fukkerd up or what ?
Yep, its a disgrace and they just don’t care and have no concept on the effect their sometimes patheticd and misguided decisions have on someone s circumstances, look how they managed to ■■■■ Pete_M around for 2 and a half years
Here you have people according to qualified medical consultants who are fit, able and more than willing to work, but can’t because of poor decisions made by the so called dvla medical board!!! Who are these so called experts at dvla and what are their actual medical qualifications■■? I did phone dvla medical dept last Monday and asked to speak to Mr S Thomas as this is the guy that wrote to me revoking my licence. I was told by the person on the phone that MR Thomas is head of the medical dept at the dvla and that nobody can speak to him. WTF■■? This is “the system” and the idiots you are fighting and it stinks.
As a side note the letter from the dvla revoking my licences was dated the 19th of September, I did not get the letter until I returned home from the job I’d been working on in Munich until the 27th September
What makes this even worse is the letter stated the licences would be revoked as from the 20th September, so as the dvla just assumed I’d have access to this letter when it arrived I was driving around Europe and the UK for 7 days with no licences, thus no insurance
You’d think that if the dvla were going to do something as serious as revoking your licences on a set date, that they ■■■■ well 100% made sure you were aware of this, but no here is just another faceless goverment agency that just don’t care.
To be fair based on the last 5 months though its not just the dvla in my experiences that are this pathetic, it also just as bad when you are dealing with the local council, the housing people and the D.W.P they are all equally as bad as one another.
we have a driver where I work and he has 5 prolapsed discs which has been sorted but he is still in pain but he still has his licence and is still working
like it has been said in early reply don’t tell them anything unless you hve it in black and
white from a consultant that you must inform dvla of your condition doctors consultants are great
at there job but can give different views at times if its in black and white you have evidence
…and the fact they work in / from a Hospital 