Looking for a little advice...before surgery i didnt think about asking asking as i thought i would have had a 6 week check up...well i have a 11 week check up was 9 weeks then got cancelled..so i thought i would see someone to tell me i was fit for driving...did call hospital..waited so long on the phone for the person not to listen properly and returned my call that i couldnt take leave a message and just couldnt be bothered calling back...can my doctor confirm it with me...i honestly feel fine the now after only 3 1/2 weeks was thinking about making an appointment at just over 5 weeks..i can move my leg better than i have been able to in along time..still do what i have been told..steps ect..i cant believe the diffrence...getting up with no pain other than my back being stiff from lying on my back.
Hi Leanne. I am in the same position as you and just 3 weeks post op with follow up appt not until 14 weeks !! My other half has a hospital procedure when I'll be 5.5 weeks post op and as he won't be able to drive home I was going to. I have read that if you are able to walk unaided and do an emergency stop you are ok. It was also suggested that we drive a very short journey first to check we are ok and no after effects. Hope this helps but waiting to hear advice from others on here too.
Personally I wouldn't drive until I was signed off from the doctors because it can invalidate your insurance. Also although you feel fine today you might not tomorrow, after 3 hips I can honestly say the one piece of advice i will always give is to follow the 6 wk recovery rules no matter how you feel.
Can you not ask your GP to chase the 6wk check up for you?
The advice my doctor gave me was, if you feel fine enough to be able to drive AND you are no longer taking any narcotic pain killers, then you should be fine. Their advice was to just drive around an empty parking lot or open space a little just to be sure you are comfortable. I'm 4 weeks post op and have no issues driving whatsoever. It will vary from person to person though. I've not heard anything about having to get written clearance from your doctor but that may also vary from area to area, country to country.
Is your car automatic or manual shift? Where do you live and which hip were you operated on?
I think with automatic, you are able to drive after 2 weeks (if clear headed ) -
With first THR my PT cleared me (so to speak) for driving - I was 5 weeks post-op at that time - we practiced getting in and out of the car (is more challenging han actually driving) and moving my feet from one pedat to the other --- also practiced emergency stop !!
With 2nd hip it was different as I did not have PT at that time - My 6 weeks appointment was also cancelled and put 4 weeks further, 10 weeks post-op ... I asked the secretary if what I sould do about clearance for drinving --
I was then told that the surgeon will lift most restrictions at 6 weeks post-op, which includes driving, but that doesn't mean that he is the one who authorizes driving ...that would make the surgeon liable or something
So it is our own responsibility - if you feel good, are confident , go for it -
have someone with you the first time okay ...
watch the instruction on you tube how to get in and out of the car ... phew ... akward because I ahve a tiny, low seated , stick shift Fiat ...
I drove to my six week post op appointment and was fine, I'm 75 and wasn't going to let anything stop me having the freedom of driving. I told the surgeon that I'd driven and he wasn't too bothered, just as long as you feel safe in your own mind. My car is manual and I do find even now after six months that it is pretty painful if you are stuck in traffic and changing gear all the time.
It is difficult getting in and out of the car, a friend of mine raised the seat as high as it would go which was an improvement and it is difficult if somebody parks too close to your door.
As for back ache, I still sleep mostly on my back and you do ache as I don't think I move very much once I've gone to sleep.
Just hope everything is ok for you at your check up, keep up the good work.
If we think logically about it, so long as we are not on strong pain killers, our leg movements are far better soon operation than before. Now our mobility restrictions are just precautionary and can be monitored whereas before we didn't have good mobility and couldn't do a thing about it, but still drove !!!!!
One thing I neglected to mention is that I drive an automatic and I had my left hip replaced, so that certainly makes a difference! If you drive a manual shift you might still have some issues prior to 6 weeks. Same with driving an automatic if your right hip was replaced. Still, it depends on how you feel and remember...be honest with yourself.
Sorry to put a downer on things but I strongly advise you to talk to your insurance company. If they are happy to cover you then there is no problem.
But what if you had an accident and hadn't been cleared to drive by your consultant? You could find your self having no insurance cover.
My insurance was happy as long as the consultant was happy, and it was eight weeks before he cleared me; I saw him at six weeks but when he examined me he said I needed two more weeks. It was a blow but better than having an accident and finding I was driving uninsured.
Hi Leanne - you will get many different replies on this issue. My experience was that I asked my insurance company and they were not in the least interested in my hip replacement. My consultant wasn't interested in whether and when I drove. I drove to my six week check up because I felt I was safe and up to it. He signed off my sick note and I returned to work the next day. I drive an automatic but because it was the right hip it made no difference to how soon I got back to driving. I think even if it had been my left I would still not have hurried things because my thigh felt uncomfortable and rather painful just sitting in a car seat earlier than 6 weeks. Best wishes sylvia
Usually restrictions are lifted at 8 weeks, with no complications. However it really depends on your leg and hip strength and which hip it was if you are driving an automatic. My neighbor tried driving to the hairdresser, a very short distance at exactly 9 weeks, it had been her right hip and she drove an automatic. It sounded safe as she would not be driving over 35mph and about ½ mile. Well she ran into a truck in the parking lot as it was pulling out fast and she could not get her right leg to the brake fast enough. Nobody was hurt, but since she hit the back of them it was counted against her insurance. Now if it was your left hip and you drive an automatic it should be no problem. My doctor told me I could drive with my left hip replacement at 3 weeks, but I was not ready to get in and out of car and do walking once I got somewhere. I waited the full 8 weeks. You can never drive on pain meds either and because of an inflammation of my IT band, I had to take narcotics longer so could not drive. If it is your right hip, I would suggest someone taking you to practice using brakes in a parking lot somewhere.Practice hitting your brakes fast as that is the hardest. Good luck.
I will call my insurance and try ask my doctor...I don't mind waiting well can't wait to get out and about but want to make sure I am legal ...my leg is far stronger now than before ...I am still only 34 have 4 children so I can't be lazy...I work from home so I am back at that ...and don't need any pain relief...I honestly was so worried about this operation can't believe how happy I am with the results..
If I have to wait that's what I will do...I just want to know who can confirm I can so that I don't do anything illegal ...No I have asked for it to get changed but no luck
Good to hear it's going well. My whole experience has been much better than I imagined it would be. Would highly recommend as being out of major pain all day every day is wonderful.
I would just think someone would have to give the go ahead...I will speak with my insurance and doctor...I only took strong pain killers for 2 days then just paracetamol and ibuprofen...don't take anything now 😊...I drive a manual and it was my right hip...my leg was a lot weaker before the operation and drove myself to the hospital for the operation
I drive a manual and it's my right hip...my insurance wasn't bothered... I would just like a medical professional to say yes it's strong enough just not sure if a doctor can do the test though...I was so scared of the recovery and honestly nobody would know I had surgery I can walk around normal ..no crutches or pain medication...it's starting to sink in that it's actually worked and I don't have that nagging pain...how's yourself doing?? Leanne
I'm certainly not the norm; but I believe in telling it like it is. On each of my THRs, spent one full day and 2 nights, so probably in the hospital about 35 hours. Only used the pain pump twice during the first 12 hours and no drugs after that. Checked out of hospital and wife drove around the corner, then I took over and been driving every since. ---Just be sure that you are drug free before doing such a thing. Both of my surgeons pushed the concept of doing virtually anything you felt like doing, and to listen to your body. On the way home from the first THR, we stopped at SAM'S Club and did a little shopping. I used a walker, no wheel chairs for me. As I said, I'm not the norm (almost 82 years old and still going). Good luck with your THR.
Hi i had a hip rep on 7th july x i too felt i could drive 3 weeks after but for insurance you cant drive till 6 weeks later . If you were to have an accident then they would throw the book at you !! Im now back to driving and working full time . Hope this helps x take care