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Driving 6 weeks post op

Posted , 9 users are following.

Amnesia3637
Amnesia3637

Hi All. Have been away from forum for a while and hoping you can, as usual, give me the advice I need. Seeing consultant tomorrow for 6 wk check R uncemented ceramic THR. Been doing absolutely great and am ready to do more now. Am really hoping I'll be told I can drive as on Monday week I want to drive about 100 miles to a friend's 60th. Obviously I won't be able to do that sort of distance straight off from tomorrow but if I have a week of doing progressively longer trips is there a chance I'll hold up long enough to do the journey?? Anyone else done this sort of thing? Have practised sitting in the car and pushing the pedals - a bit uncomfortable to lift foot to start with but got easier. Scar feels a bit tender but sports seat digs in just on wound site! Fairly sure I can't do hip any major damage but advise please. Obviously will listen to surgeon but you guys out there actually go through this physically -he hasn't. Huge thanks in advance as always.

1 like, 41 replies

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  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK Amnesia3637

    Posted

    Hi

    I was driving after 6 weeks but not far.....Make sure you can do an emergency stop...thats te main thing.

    I wont say anything about 100 miles sorry......I wouldnt chance it but thats just me. My car is to get me from A to B ....I dont "love" driving the way some people do. Its a means to an end for me LOL

    Get in touch with your OT.....you can self refer and ask about a cushion for your seat.  I've had one since I was first diagnosed and it has made a big difference. I can feel such a difference in that and sitting in the passenger seat in my husbands car and I'm not pushing pedals then LOL.

    Let us know what happens

    Love

    Eileen

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK martin98264

      Posted

      Martin.....the other name for that is DFS.....in other words....Dyslexic Finger Syndromebiggrincheesygrin

      I get it all the time wink

      Love

      Eileen

    • jeanp
      jeanp martin98264

      Posted

      Grudging sums it up perfectly for me, Martin!
    • Amnesia3637
      Amnesia3637 martin98264

      Posted

      I suspect your hip might hold large 'grudgings' after all its been put through!
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure martin98264

      Posted

      I hate auto spell too, on my IPad...I don't see well, a lot is blurry even though I can blow up the words. But in all honesty I make a lot of typing errors my fingers r curled up and frozen from psoriatic arthritis. So I use a stylus pen. I've gotten pretty good at it.  My pen doesn't always keep up with my mind and coordination is a bit funky..cheesygrin
  • crissy_wissy
    crissy_wissy Amnesia3637

    Posted

    Sit on a good thick cushion and use a plastic bin bag to swivel in and out....I drove round an empty car park first practising emergency stops....as long as you stop after a bit and move around you should be OK....good luck with your appointment...I had xrays taken at 6 weeks and all was well...I asked if I could keep the pic on my phone for airport security!!
    • Amnesia3637
      Amnesia3637 crissy_wissy

      Posted

      Oh good idea. Have got a foam seat pad which should do the trick and the plastic bag tip is great. Used that before the replacement on your say so as couldn't get in the car at all without it. Thanks!
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure crissy_wissy

      Posted

      Chrissy..

      I did order the swivel cushion u mentioned awhile back. The best thing I ever did. So YES to AMNESIA... Get one it's like those Lazy Susan's u put on the kitchen table...made for UR car lot less wear and tear gettin in and out of the car for sure..

       

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure crissy_wissy

      Posted

      Hi Crissy..

      i have a 4 wheel drive truck I have yo climb up in..use a step stool.. Once I get up to seat level it was a great help to just plop and spin. The truck has lots of leg room. Worked great.. 

      Sooy u went to so much trouble.. Now UR comfey that's all that counts.. Have a Great Day!

      THANKX ..biggrin

  • martin98264
    martin98264 Amnesia3637

    Posted

    Agree with Eileen, make sure you can transfer that right foot across from accelerator to brake at lightning speed for an emergency stop! It's vital! There's no rule about when you can drive, but going that far would be tough for me as I'm also at 6 weeks. Glad my 6 week meeting with surgeon a few days ago, all good but I too feel sore where the scar is when I sit in a seat that is shaped like a bucket seat, he said there will still be grudging underneath & that will go. Good luck
  • Paulus1949
    Paulus1949 Amnesia3637

    Posted

    Hi there.

    I couldn't drive any distance til around 8wks,when I drove 65mls,but with 3 hip stops on the way.

    My car has nice wide leather seats with loads of fine adjustments,ideal and ,almost like armchairs..but the wife's car has those bucket style ones which were quite uncomfortable to sit in,and tbh they still are even now..

    As we always say on here though every person recovers at a different rate,so you might be ok to drive?

    The main thing is to listen to your body,and if it's painful then don't drive,you might do more harm than good.

    You could always try and arrange to take a co-driver just in case.

     

    • Paulus1949
      Paulus1949 hope4cure

      Posted

      Yes..it's a no-brainer really.

      Anything could happen..from a puncture to a breakdown,unlikely..but I've learnt over the years to be ready for the unexpected..or maybe it's my OCD ha.

       

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