How soon after a hip replacement operation can one travel by car?

The ruling I was given was not to drive for 6 weeks till 1st outpatient appointment after opp. AND not to be sat in a car for more than 30 mins in 1st 6-8 weeks.

Its easier to set the seat back and lean it down to maintain the not less than 90 degrees angle.

I see nothing wrong with breaking the journey up with breaks but it will depend a lot on the patient.

Dont for get if you move her to a different part of the country you have to get her back for wound checks, out patient appointments etc

Im 65 had right THR 9 weeks ago yesterday and can only manage 45 mins in car before I have to get out and walk about.  

Hi, I am seven weeks post Op on Monday after second week I was in and out of our car with no problems, just have the seat adjusted backwards so easier to swing legs in and the back of the chair adjusted to a more laid back, if I go on two hour journey it may be better to have a break half way so the she can have a walk and stretch those legs, good luck

She musn't raise her knees above hips so angle is less than 90degrees....I travelled by car from hospital after 3 days. Just a firm cushion on the seat and if you search the internet for post THR information theres a picture of how to get in and out of a car. Its OK though she'll ll be fine with the front seat pushed right back. If he puts a plastic bin bag on the seat it makes it easier to swivel round too. Plenty of tips on thos forum for lots of other things too!,

When I had any of my hip replacements ( 3in total) I live 30 mile away from where it was done and was collected by car when sent home and it was a strugle, but must admit the most recent was 2months ago and still find it painful and uncomfortable to travel that far now. I think it will be different for everyone just like healing is. You must also remember that getting in and out the car will be difficult I am only 43 and struggled. I know mine was not a run of the mill operation but it will still be difficult.

You can travel as soon as you get out from hospital. Needs to have raised seat in the car -that's a deal breaker & yes need to sit at no more than 90 deg. Angle.

i used foam cushion or two to sit on & cushion at my back, although most cars today have adjusted backs so you pick your setting.  Need to get into the car bottom first then gently swing legs in, knees should not be above hips !

The rule at my hospital was not less than 90, so the seat back was tilted backwards. There are instructions on getting into the car in the booklet I was given - the first time isn't easy.  Get the seat right back and get in from the road not the pavement so that the drop isn't so great.  Getting out without leaning forwards is also tricky the first time.

So you would probably need to break the journey with a gap of at least 20 min. The questions therefore  are

1. When could Mum cope with getting into and out of the car 2 or 3 times in close succession.

2. At the break, can Mum walk to shelter (don't forget she can't get blue badge for temporary disability)

3. At the shelter are the seats high enough for Mum to sit on safely (height of seat depends on height of Mum).

4. Is there a loo of appropriate height (the disabled loo in one of my local shopping centres is far too low for immediate post THR unless you are of very restricted growth!)

I think your friend should contact the hospital for advice - she will have to have her post-op check somewhere as well. In addition she may need wound care and possibly extra pain relief so it would be worth your friend talking to his GP before transporting Mum.

Friend will also need to check chair heights, bed height and loo height in his house and also decide on how Mum is going to manage washing etc in his house as well as hers.

Planning is all at this stage.

The other possibility is to book her into a Care Home which offers convalescent care - some BUPA ones do but not all. The problem then is whether the Care Home will urge independence on Mum or make her more dependent. I used this option but I am younger and strong minded enough to take the support I needed and not the maximum on offer.  It isn't a cheap option but can work out - it did for me and I went back after my TKR.

Hope all goes well.

Hi

A lot depends on the type of car

They are very stict about the 90 degree angle

I wasnt allowed to drive until after the 6 weeks but was in my husbands car from day one......with the nurse showing me how to get in and keep the degree correct

and also if the car was suitable

Love

Eileen

Peter, as you will read, most of the advice here is somewhat similar, plastic bag, cushion, seat set back and back of seat slanted....as pointed out there are lots of video's on youtube that are worth watching...the one thing my doctor said he has seen more times than he would like to is when the person getting into the car tries to grab onto the door, not realizing it will swing back at them...it sounds like common sense not to grab it but when you are stressed about trying something new you have a tendency to forget the obvious!  After her surgery you should check here for some other good advice and support.  Patricia

Hi, Full marks to your friend for pondering this problem in advance of his mum's op! I am a 67 year old with an 89 year old mum.  My mum is relatively fit but struggles to get into our Honda Civic, mainly due to her lack of "spring". I had my THR just under 3 weeks' ago and came out of hospital after 3 days! I doubt if she will be out so quickly!  Even so, I found it difficult, at 5'5" to maneouvre my right leg into the car.  My husband, at 5'10" also found it difficult when I picked him up from hospital after his THR 2 years' ago and eventually had to slide himself across the back seat and travel home with his legs up on the back seat. Neither of us carries too much excess weight and I think this could be another issue. 

Our journey from hospital to home takes 20 mins.  I was very nervous of what would happen if my husband had to brake quickly as my leg was well up under the well of the car.

It might be an idea for your friend to practise getting his mother into the car, following all of the guidance, before she has her op, to give him an idea of how easy/difficult he thinks it will be.

I consider I am making very good progress but I'm still not sure if I could face a 1.5 - 2 hour car journey!  It's all very well to suggest regular breaks after, say, 30 minutes but I would think she will find it very tiring and painful having to get in and out of the car to stretch her legs! I suspect he will need someone else to help too.

Sorry to sound negative!  If push came to shove, I could probably make this journey but I doubt if my mother could in the same situation.

Don't know because of her age.  But it was explained to me by the doctor when sitting as long as her knee is below her hip it's fine.   Ideally a car with an adjustable front set tilted forward 

Hi Peter

The other thing {for anyone} to think about is to tie a loop onto the door {not sure what your car is but there will something to attach it to. so that the person doesnt have to lean out to close the door. I found this handy when I started back as the driver.....I know I didnt have to stick to the 990 degree rule then but it was handy to have a loop tied on the inside of the car that I could just hold and pull it closed without leaning out to get the door if that makes sense

Love

Eileen

Thanks for all your replies. As it stands, I'm not sure what will best. I think I'll have to wait and see what the specialist says and see how she is.

I would follow the surgeons advice. How will you move the patient from hospital to home?  Modern cars seats are usually able to be adjusted to a 90 % angle anyway.  However it's up to you how you make the patient sit at a 90% angle. A journey of 1.5 - 2 hrs shouldn't be a problem at all. I have now  had both hips replaced, LTHR 5 months ago and RTHR 5 weeks ago, 2.5 weeks after RTHR I drove from UK to southern Spain (24hrs in total) very easy and with out any problems.  (I'm 57)