Is anyone else nervous about driving after a month and a half. Especially in winter slippery roads kind of weather. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this or not but I am not a fan of driving in the winter. Now after my TKR my Physio guy says I can drive now and my husband and some friends think I should be driving BUT, I am nervous that my knee is not ready and I sure don't want to damage it in any way because I don't want to go through this again with this knee. Bad enough that I have to have the other one done sometime this year.
Bev
I feel exactly the same, Its 5 weeks since my TKR and I have 2 weeks before I see the surgeon and get the go ahead to drive, but changed to automatic 4 weeks before my op, so I am really worried too. My concentration isnt the best I find I am continually wondering off in my head. Lack of sleep and pains in the evening are not helping either
Bev I live in the states, I had my left knee replaced three weeks ago Monday. They said that I could drive. I have driven a couple of times. I have an automatic. I do live in South Carolina, so no snow. I think if I lived in the north where there may be a chance of getting stranded, I would not drive. Use your best judgment if you are nervous. You may want to wait until good weather. Mark
I wouldn't drive in snowy, icy conditions whether I just had a TKR or not. I drove after 3 weeks because I hated relying on my husband just to drive me to therapy three times a week. I had good flexion and very little pain, and the therapy place was very close to home. I waited six weeks before driving a longer distance. If you're not confident yet then ask your husband to drive you. But if you can walk without a cane, do stairs up and down and aren't drugged on pain medicine, there probably won't be any issue with driving now.
Thanks Jemma
You have done well. I couldn't even think of driving after three weeks. I had way too much pain and swelling at that time. Good for you.
I guess I have to pick a time during the day that has less traffic and just go for a short jaunt to build up my confidence
Yes I can relate to the lack of sleep. I find nights difficult still. Although I took a sleeping pill for the first time last night and it did help. But I was kind of groggy this morning. I am not used to sleeping pills.
I live in southern Alberta. Just above Montana. We are having fairly nice weather right now but it is supposed to rain and then at night it goes below freezing. It is the icy conditions that I am nervous about. Just a confidence thing I guess. I just have to get over it.
Thanks Mark. Yes it is the confidence issue. I just have to work up to it. I wouldn't worry about getting stranded because I won't be venturing very far at first anyway. Ha ha ha. I will let my husband do the long distance driving that is for sure.
One of the real areas of concern when out driving in bad weather is the simple act of getting out of the vehicle. You never can tell what's immediately under foot as you make contact with the ground. A little ice or snow or even just a couple of drops of oil and when all your weight is on the lead foot, you can be in trouble. Take time and look at the ground before leaving the vehicle
Driving for me was very scary and I have never driven in the snow. My advice is to take it slow. After the first couple of times I was fine and had my conference back.
I had my right legTKR March last year, I was told by my surgeon that I could not drive for at least 12 weeks. I took his advice though. I drive an automatic and at 13 weeks i started driving but even then could only do short distances as my leg used to feel stiff, when kept in the same position. Saying this I had a friend who had his left knee done and also drove an automatic and he was back driving at five weeks, but as he pointed out he did not have to use his right leg. Also as you say it is not the ideal time of year with ice etc. So if I was you I would not rush it - hope this helps
Thank you. Yes it is my right knee as well. I am at seven weeks post surgery and yes my knee is stiff and still a little swollen. I guess it will just take time and confidence and just short trips at first.
Yes I think you are right thanks a little at a time. Slow but sure.
Yes thanks that is so important. I have been using my cane going to physio so once I am finished with my cane I will have to be extra careful getting out of the car.
I feel the same way and mine is my left knee. I am 6 weeks post surgery and am still having my husband drive me to pt. I live in Massachusetts and we are experiencing ice and snow.
I would advise you to listen to yourself, especially w/ a right knee. I say, better safe than sorry. Others can't tell you what they think you can do. You will drive when your body tells you you are ready. We women are not used to relying on anyone but we need to learn. Good luck and I hope this message helps.
I was a bit nervous. I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it is a pretty big vehicle to climb UP INTO for starters. Also, I hadn't driven much recently. Also, with all the snow...well, I just was a bit nervous.
I drove to my hair appointment and prayed as I drove. It helped a lot.
I feel more confident now.
Sending prayers of confidence and courage to you tonight!
Well thanks so much. Yes you are getting blasted with weather lately I have to get used to the idea of getting behind the wheel again Just have to build a little confidence. Good luck and stay warm.
Thank you Cheryl. My daughter has the same vehicle so I know what you mean. Yes I agree when I am ready I will have to grit my teeth, say a prayer and go for it. Lol
Sometimes necessity outweighs lack of confidence. My wife can no longer drive as she is in the advanced stage of Parkinson's disease. For a short time we had some help like meals on wheels and different friends taking us to Dr's appointments but that gets old quick. In March of '15 I had to have the prosthesis completely removed , the knee flused and closed up, immobilized and no weight bering , 8 weeks of antibiotic infusion then after nearly 4 months reopened. The new prosthesis was installed, again immobilized and 25% weight bearing. All of this time I was bouncing around on a walker trying to regain strength and take care of her. Cooking was very difficult even though I'm better than average with My culinary skills. Most of the time I was o.k.ed to drive but tring to get my walker in the car while not bending my leg or put weight on it was difficult.. What it proves is that some times we can do things out of necessity we didn't think was possible.we have deep cleaning help come in every other week and all of the hardware is done by outside services. I do all of the cokking, shopping, errands, Bill paying and decision-making regarding finances as her mind just can't process that stuff any more. The big difference......everything is done at an unbeli e veably slow and steady pace. No rushing, no hurrying and absolutely no looking back and 22nd guessing anything. We have 4 kids. 9 grandkids + a new step grandson and 9 great grandkids. She keeps all the birtdays listed so everyone gets cards and gifts but instead of shopping the grands and great Grande get gift cards and cash. The kids still get gifts but everything is ordered hi a the internet. So, life gets back to normal eventually however; it,s a different normal than the one you left behind with the tkr. Sorry b t o borevyou withball the personel crap but every once in awhile the brain like the body needs a good cleaning out. Stay safe.....stay warm and dry
I too am having trouble sleeping. I have always been a good sleeper so this is a new experience for me. I took NyQuil last nite because I had it in the house and just needed to sleep. I too, felt groggy this morning. I'm going to try to sleep tonite , but will take it again if needed.
aside from the pain and the aches, does anyone have an explanation for the sleep problems? I would have thought that we would be so tired from the trauma to our bodies, that sleep would come easy.
ALSO, I am confused by the info that I'm hearing about staple! Are you in the states? I had internal dissolving stitches and haven't had to have anything removed. I take it that things are done differently elsewhere .
so sorry to hear of the discomfort that the staples have caused🙁
Last night I actually slept for 6 hours in one go, the best I have slept since the op, dont expect it will last but trying lots of different things including omega 3, herbel sleeping tablet, my husband massaging of my leg before I go to sleep, also put my leg on a heated wheat pack and sleep on a pile of pillows. I only woke once last night and massaged arnica gel into the back of the knee and over and around the scar. Not sure if it was just luck or if one or a combination of them helped.