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Driving post surgery

Posted , 11 users are following.

gretchen_64518
gretchen_64518

Had the THR about two weeks ago

Doing great with a cane

Nearly pain free

Curious as to why I can't drive

What about using my non operated foot?

1 like, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • RichardKen
    RichardKen gretchen_64518

    Posted

    Dear Gretchen

    If you have an automatic and its not the leg you will be using I see no reason why not. I'm due to have a revision of my twenty year old hip next week and expect to be back driving in days rather than weeks. Time will tell!

    Cheers Richard

  • maree32074
    maree32074 gretchen_64518

    Posted

    Hi Gretchen

    Check with your surgeon first and also check with your insurance company as they may not pay out if you have an accident without surgeon agreeing you can drive.

     

  • vickie06043
    vickie06043 gretchen_64518

    Posted

    I would ask my orthopedic surgeon that question & follow his recommendation. .

    TC Vickie

    • gretchen_64518
      gretchen_64518 vickie06043

      Posted

      thank you for the feedback, I did ask him via a call to the office and his staff told me not to drive; I have my first followup next week and in the meantime Im just curious about the reasoning...I am not on pain meds and I can drive just fine with my left foot...is it bc shifting my body to use the left foot that might damage the new hip or something?

       

    • vickie06043
      vickie06043 gretchen_64518

      Posted

      Three weeks after surgery if anterior approach (front) 6 weeks if posterior aka back side. Also our bodies require time to heal...HTH

      Let us know how you do...

    • michael11283
      michael11283 gretchen_64518

      Posted

      Gretchen

      I think some surgeons tell you not to drive so they don't have a risk of being sued. Though some say "when you feel you can do an emergency stop go ahead" But it could just be caution that you don't damage the hip.

      Mike

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy gretchen_64518

      Posted

      Dear Gretchen, have I misunderstood you or are you saying you want to drive with your left foot?  I hate to say this, but in my opinion it sounds rather dangerous to me. If you have an automatic and had a replacement left hip that would be different, as you could then use your right foot. As the others say do not drive until you get the OK from your surgeon, as otherwise you will not be insured if you have an accident.
    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 gretchen_64518

      Posted

      Gretchen,

      If you have to use your left foot to drive, then you're not ready yet.  You don't want to cause injury to yourself or anyone else.

    • renee01952
      renee01952 gretchen_64518

      Posted

      hi gretchen, 

      i hope the responses gave you some explanations -

      my car is a low seated, tiny Fiat (in Holland) and it was/ still is challenging to get in and out - still have a cushion on car seat which makes the space between my now ample body and the steering wheel kind of narrow ....

      My PT was the one who told me that I am okay to drive after  she made me do an emergency stop and also excercises (knee lifts) - I waited until my 6weeks follow up appointment with surgeon to make sure the hardware was in place properly ..

      let s know how you are getting on, okay ...

      big warm hug

      renee

  • kristen888
    kristen888 gretchen_64518

    Posted

    Hi Gretchen,

    I was told that one of the main reasons is to prevent the hip from rotating inward when you turn to look over the left or right shoulder. Pruor to my surgery I could not abduct and I had to be extremely cauti5when turning to not "lock" my hip in an improper position.

    Be patient and allow your body the proper time to heal.

    Kristen

  • rose0000
    rose0000 gretchen_64518

    Posted

    I have an automatic car and drove three weeks post THP after checking with my insurance company. If you are not insured because they do not cover you until you get the six week go ahead from your consultant it is obviously a criminal offence.

    I only drove because I live in the country and had to get my children to school and back....I had very little choice. I would have preferred to have waited.  I would not describe it as comfortable either, and although I felt quite safe on the roads, ie not a danger to others, I did feel incredibly vulnerable myself. I was very worried about anyone jolting into me more than anything.

    You probably need to do a test run in a quiet area more than once, make sure your breaking is not impacted nor your reactions slower than usual. You need to test you can do an emergency stop properly...if you can do all those things and the insurance is okay - then perhaps consider it. By week four/five I was much more confident.

    I have a four by four so it was also hard getting in and out!! 

    Not sure I would recommend it if you can avoid it...

  • kimberley38758
    kimberley38758 gretchen_64518

    Posted

    Hi Gretchen,

    I drove myself to my appointments by the 2nd week post op.  The main thing is to use your best judgement.  If you feel sluggish due to medication, then don't drive.  I did well on the pain meds and they didn't affect my reaction time.  I also drove an automatic so only one foot was needed for the peddles.  You have to be able to pick your leg up (foot) to brake quickly if necessary.  Everyone heals at different rates, so there is not a 'one shoe fits all' answer.

    If you feel confident, then I say go for itsmile

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen kimberley38758

      Posted

      Dear Kimberley

      Good to hear positive things here especially as my twenty year old hip feels and sounds as if total failure is just days away. I'm booked in for the revision this Thursday but when I checked with my surgeons secretary they still had not received the necessary spare parts!

      Cheers Richard

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 RichardKen

      Posted

      Dear Richard,

      Keep your chin up.  I'm sure that you will hear from them shortly.  The good news is that with today's technology you should bounce back quickly after the surgery like most of us have done.  Wishing you the very best! 

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen kimberley38758

      Posted

      Dear Kimberley

      Mano thanks for support. I had hoped to hear today that they gave the parts so tomorrow being the last day before I make the difficult trip to the hospital I will ring,and hope to have positive news.

      This morning I opened a letter from my ankle surgeon regarding my other revision and he now thinks that a revision is not a good option as it would be quite an undertaking with an uncertain outcome and that a fusion could have an uncertain outcome. As you can imagine I'm feeling very deflated today.

      All the best. Richard

    • michael11283
      michael11283 RichardKen

      Posted

      Richard,

      What a pain. I hope you get good news today. The NHS is sometimes wonderful and sometimes not quite...

      Mike

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen michael11283

      Posted

      Dear Michael

      Thanks. I've now heard from the surgeons secretary that they have had a frantic time trying to source a range of parts to cover all possibilities and are going to have a "team" on hand from a specialist supply company during the surgery with the capability of modifying the parts if there is a matching issue.

      The surgeon carrying out the actual surgery is considered to be very experienced and as good as you can get so fingers and legs crossed!

      Off to buy my tickets later today ready for a horribly early start tomorrow morning.

      Cheers Richard

    • michael11283
      michael11283 RichardKen

      Posted

      Richard

      Good luck tomorrow. I'm off to see my surgeon on Monday and assuming he's happy that the infection has gone I can soon have a new hip!

      Mike

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen michael11283

      Posted

      Dear Michael

      Many thanks for your good wishes for tomorrow. I understand that I'm number three on the surgeons list.

      I hope everything goes well for you on Monday and that you are passed as fit for a new hip.

      Cheers Richard

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