My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Seniors
Healthy living can help you age well and maintain your mental agility, physical strength, and overall vitality. It's never too late to begin taking better care of yourself. We offer resources and information especially for older adults.
Driver Safety
Getting older may affect your ability to drive safely. Conditions that can affect your memory like dementia or stroke, combined with slower reflexes, can make routine driving more of a problem.
As we get older, we can take simple steps to prevent collisions and help ensure our comfort and safety on the road.
Vision, hearing, and driving
It is important to be able to see other cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians and to hear sirens, spoken directions, and emergency information. Common eye conditions that affect a person's ability to drive safely include:
- Cataracts that cloud vision and make it more difficult to see signs, cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Colors can appear faded, and objects can appear blurry at night or in the bright light of approaching car headlights or bright sun.
- Macular degeneration reduces the sharpness of your vision and can make it more difficult to see clearly.
- Glaucoma can make it difficult to see things like bicyclists, pedestrians, or other cars and objects outside of your central vision.
Be sure to have your vision and hearing checked every 2 years or sooner if you notice a change in your vision or hearing.
Medication side effects
It is also important to be aware of any medication side effects, like drowsiness or mental confusion, that might affect your ability to drive safely. Talk with us about any possible side effects from the medications that you are taking.
Senior driving skills and safety
The Department of Motor Vehicles offers a Mature Driver Improvement Course for people over the age of 55. The course is approximately 7 hours long and costs $30. Once you complete the course, you will receive a certificate that you can take to your automobile insurer for a reduction in your insurance premium.
You may also request a copy of the booklet Senior Guide for Safe Driving, from your local DMV or read it on their website at www.dmv.ca.gov
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.