Thinking ahead to 2 weeks time and my check up . Want to drive again but very nervous . How did anyone else find it ?
like riding a bike, Mary. Glorious!
Thank you
I drove for the first time yesterday. I am 6 weeks post op THR right hip from the back. I felt wonderful.....
I am 4 weeks post op today and am in more pain than I was before . Hoping its muscle etc but am worried about driving . Thanks
left or right hip? Question is: can you get in and out of drivers side comfortably??? I wouldn't drive alone for the first few times just in case you are unable to get back in after doctor's appointment. This happened to a friend of mine. Her issue wasn't moving her foot to drive, she got in the car fine, went to store, but once she was done shopping, could not get back in the car to drive home due to swelling. Do yourself a favor, and bring another driver with you just in case..... baby steps..... Wishing you a speedy recovery. Ginny USA
Don't worry Mary. I drove after 4 weeks, right THR. No problem. Make sure your car seat is high enough to avoid bending your leg too much. Getting out of the car seemed more difficult than getting in. Best of luck.
Hi
In the UK {or in this end anyway} its illegal to drive again until you've had your 6 week check up with the consultant.....you wouldnt be covered by your insurance if anything happened but once you get the go ahead......that will be great.
Got to admit i was nervous....I suppose it depends what your driving was like before...if you were a very confident driver I dont see any problems. I didnt sit my test until I was in my late 40's
I got into the car {on my own} after the 6 weeks and drove to our loval store, into the car park around it and home again I did that about 3 times that day.....next day I went a good bit further and then the following day I went to a meeting about 6 miles away. Doesnt sound much but gradually from there my confide3nce built up
Love
Eileen UK
Thanks Eileen I am sure I will be ok it will be soooo good to be independent again .
Hi Mary
Its fantastic to be independent again.....especially me since I'm now on crutches permanently. OK I cant walk very far but i can put the crutches in the back of the car and go......I wonder what sort of life I would have if I hadnt been nagged into learning to drive even if it was quite late.
I have a husband but i dont want to have to ask him to take me everywhere.
Love
Eileen UK
independent, that is something I am looking forward to 
my only worry is shoveling.... no teenagers on my road .... and this winter just will not let up I still have about 3 weeks before going back to work.... so maybe we will get a thaw hoping I can talk the plow guy into doing a bit of shoveling
Just make sure you don't do any shovelling ! Good luck
I checked with my insurance co about driving before 6 weeks & they said there were no conditions applicable to hip or knee operations. Their guidance was if the specialist said you were not fit to drive ,then if you had an accident they would not pay out. That is different to being illegal to drive.
Hi
Has the consultant said you ARE fit to drive......ours dont until they see you at the 6 week visit and then they will let the insurance company know or they may say.....its OK you can drive and not get in touch with insurance but if they havent said youCANT drive after your visit the insurance company accept that its OK
The other thing is are you fit to do an emergency stop? I dont mean you in particular but thats one of the things the consultants want to know. I've had both hips done and they were just the same with the right one as the left one.
Love
Eileen UK
My consultant physio said are you driving ( this was the 7th week) I said yes. She said thats fine. No mention was ever made about insurance co & she certainly did not know who mine was.
Hi
No mine didnt know who mine was either because I didnt drive before the 6 weeks was up and when I went for the visit he said I think you can drive now.....nothing more or less. I'm no worse a driver now than i was before the THR
The 2nd THR....I rang the insurance company because 4 weeks into my recovery I fractured my greater trochanter bone and was on crutches.......when it got to about 7 or 8 weeks and I was still on crutches ...I rang the insurance company to check incase something did happen and i wasnt insured, if your not insured its illegal to drive without it. Like you say they said it was up to the consultant. If he said I could drive then I could but if he said I couldnt and anything happened I would definitely not be insured.
So thats my story and thank goodness he said yes because that was 14 months ago and I'm still on crutches and will be permanently
Cant walk far but have car will travel
Love
Eileen UK
Hi Eileen I wish you all the very best & many happy years of safe driving. Dave
Thanks Dave
Love
Eileen UK