So 2 years after having an emergency spinal op, having a big chunk of my L2/L3 lumbar disc ground off before it paralysed me, and given the “it’s all sorted, good to go” by the specialist after the op my back is knackered again. It’s probably going to take a fair while to get a MRI to see what’s going on and it’s a notifiable problem. I’ve already phoned work and given them the bad news right in the middle of the busiest time of the year where I’m at when the agency is already short of drivers but at least the “don’t worry about it, get yourself sorted” without any sighing or moaning was nice to hear. So my question is that if you notify DVLA and they remove your entitlement can you get it back when your condition improves? After two ops and over 20 years of grief a smart person would take the hint and not even bother but part of me hopes I can go back in the future, even just to do a day here and there to scratch the itch.
There’s a long list of diseases and medical conditions on the DVLA website (somewhere), if your condition is not covered there, then you’d need to look at liaising directly with DVLA medical section to see what they want in the way of medical certification to say you can get your entitlements back or, they may say no. Just need to be prepared for either answer unfortunately.
I was paralysed from the waist down for 5 days in 2005 with a, cancer related, spinal cord compression & notified DVLA. I was back driving after 2 years but had annual medicals for the next 5 if memory serves. Dealing with the DVLA medical section was a bit of a trial but got there in the end with the help of my consultant, company doctor & my GP.
It’s difficult but not impossible if you can show you can operate the vehicle safely.
Good luck.
DVLA Medical Checklist: Check if a health condition affects your driving: Find your condition on the A to Z list - GOV.UK
Around 4 years ago I was diagnosed with a “left branch bundle block” (usually associated with having suffered a heart attack), as I hadn’t suffered a heart attack I saw no need to inform DVLA untill my cardiologist pointed out that LBBB was in fact on the list of notifiable conditions, so I informed them. They did not revoke my licence but said that I should only continue to drive if my doctor was prepared to say I was fit, which of course he wasn’t prepared to do. It took around 6 months and many tests (some done at the request of DVLA) to get back to work but the DVLA did not at any time suspend or revoke my licence.
My licence goes through the medical dept at the DVLA, because I have had a heart murmur since birth. I have no restrictions on my licence, and have passed the medical every time since I was 45. Although small fry compared to some conditions, I would rather they know than keep it from them and have major repercussions afterwards.
Ken.
I wouldnt worry about the agency.Its about what you want ,if you decide to continue driving lorries
Wiretwister:
I was paralysed from the waist down for 5 days in 2005 with a, cancer related, spinal cord compression & notified DVLA. I was back driving after 2 years but had annual medicals for the next 5 if memory serves. Dealing with the DVLA medical section was a bit of a trial but got there in the end with the help of my consultant, company doctor & my GP.It’s difficult but not impossible if you can show you can operate the vehicle safely.
Good luck.
Ah this is very relevant as it’s spinal chord compression, it’s just figuring out now whether it’s a bulging disc again or its the disc moving about as they had to remove so much of it they did say it can float around a bit and I may need another op if it caused significant problems. Not paralysed thankfully although have limited functionality and feeling in my left leg - good job trucks are autos now. 
Methinks I should take the hint my back has been trying to get me to take notice of the last 20 odd years and go do something else for a living.
Conor:
Wiretwister:
Methinks I should take the hint my back has been trying to get me to take notice of the last 20 odd years and go do something else for a living.
We might not agree on many things, but that sounds spot on advice - for once I can say without doubt, Conor knows best! Now I need a lay down! 
I would say since you’ve not had an actual doagnosis, personally I wouldn’t be notifying them right now as long as you are not intending to drive trucks before a proper full diagnosis. They are more worried about you being safe on roads than anything.
But yeah driving might not be the best idea as you really don’t want to do any more damage. This is likely your body saying something is seriously wrong and you need to take notice now.
On DVLA - I know someone who reapplied for their licence in March after single medical episode and last week finally was told you need another medical. That is how slow DVLA medical are currently!
I’ve a heart murmur , informed by doctor at hospital , notes were then passed to doctors , no mention was made of informing dvla , actually the doctors have never mentioned heart murmur to me
And doctors did inform me I was ok to continue to drive with type 2 diabetis so I’d of thought they’d of informed me of any need to inform dvla , or informed them themselves
I’ve a appointment with specialist apparently ( postponed x2 ) so I’ll see if they mention anything
They don’t tell you not to drive dozy, the reponsibility to inform DVLA is on the licence holder.
Conor:
They don’t tell you not to drive dozy, the reponsibility to inform DVLA is on the licence holder.
Oh right , I assumed doctors / hospital would inform you if you couldn’t drive / should inform dvla
I also believe that any serious condition or whats on the DVLA watch list…and that your doctor or hospital consultant knows about will notify the DVLA automatically as a duty of care…that’s what I was told anyway.
truckyboy:
I also believe that any serious condition or whats on the DVLA watch list…and that your doctor or hospital consultant knows about will notify the DVLA automatically as a duty of care…that’s what I was told anyway.
Not sure this is true, it wasn’t when I had my episode. My doctors strongly advised me to tell DVLA but I would have thought there would be some patient/doctor confidentiality issues with doctors telling anyone without permission or court order.
assets.publishing.service.gov.u … _Final.pdf
Thought I had posted this before but here is the latest version. Similar to the link posted above by whisperingsmith but maybe a slightly easier to read format.
last summer i woke up with double vision , ended up at the hospital for a round of tests nothing found. I carried on driving ,lord knows how seeing 2 cars coming instead of 1 it righted itself after 6 weeks by that time id almost lost my working confidence , i now think id pulled an eye muscle possibly squinting in sunlight.i didnt drive at night tho likely impossible with double vision
I had diabetis review on Friday , asked nurse , she didn’t know about informing dvla of heart murmur but said she’d find out for me , did repeat at moment I’m fine to carry on driving with diabetis , but would find out if I should notify anyone
Conor:
Methinks I should take the hint my back has been trying to get me to take notice of the last 20 odd years and go do something else for a living.
Although the industry has long since gone, one of the local towns was a mining community. You’d easily spot all the retired miners, as most couldn’t stand up straight and had contorted bodies from years of working in cramped tunnels.
Sometimes you have to make decisions based on your health and well being.
dozy:
I had diabetis review on Friday , asked nurse , she didn’t know about informing dvla of heart murmur but said she’d find out for me , did repeat at moment I’m fine to carry on driving with diabetis , but would find out if I should notify anyone
AFAIK, if diabetes is treated with medication then it’s notifiable.
Acorn:
dozy:
I had diabetis review on Friday , asked nurse , she didn’t know about informing dvla of heart murmur but said she’d find out for me , did repeat at moment I’m fine to carry on driving with diabetis , but would find out if I should notify anyoneAFAIK, if diabetes is treated with medication then it’s notifiable.
Clicking through, if diabetes is controlled by diet, no need to inform DVLA.
Insulin or tablets, read the details on site.
Don’t take any chances. Check and double check.