How long before I can drive automatic car

Bones, joints and muscles
1

hello 3 weeks since tkr,

still very swollen, in a lot of pain, and still taking all the meds.

hiw long before I can drive my automatic car.

2

My doc and PT require 100 bend, leg press 60 pounds with my TKR knee, and be off prescription drugs, at least when I'm going to drive somewhere.

I'm not saying that's correct, but those were the requirements they gave me.

3

Best advice ask your doctor, for me had to be off all narcotic medicine, and able to push down hard on floor. Everyone is different

Good luck

4

Hi Alison,

i think this has been asked on the forum before and it was 6 weeks for most people.  I'm in Australia, automatic car and was told to wait till after the 6 week check up.  I'm still on strong drugs but am seasoned to them and they don't affect my driving.  Again though, your surgeon should have told you all this and different rules for different countries sometimes.  I had bilateral tkr's and could drive quite well even before 6 weeks but it has something to do with the insurance incase you have an accident.

hope alls going well for you.  Best wishes

Sue xx

5

Hello Sue.,

thanks for info, will check when I go after six weeks.

hope your doing well

6

Hi Alison, I had my TKR on May 12th I'm not really sure when I started to drive again but it was somewhere around 9 weeks. My doctor left it up to me, as long as I felt it was safe he had no problem. I started off slow just around the neighborhood for a few days and then across town to my PT appointments. I still use my left foot to apply the brakes even four months after surgery but I'm very comfortable doing that. The hardest part is still getting into and out of my wife's van or my Tahoe. 

7

Thank you for info.

wish you well.

8

Most likely depends what leg you had surgery in.  Left leg usually does not do anything and right leg you brake and push the gas.  I am in USA, is it the same in England?  I waited four weeks, however I had my left leg operated on.  I drive with my right leg.

Thank you,

Deborah Shooter.

9

I too am in USA. Like I said I've been using my left foot to brake. My surgery was on my right knee and just using my right foot for the gas has not been a problem. I wouldn't trust myself to be able to move my right foot fast enough to brake with it!! I had to wait at least 8-9 weeks just for the swelling to go down to even get into the front seat, very tough getting in and out of the van.

10

Thank you

11

Usually 6 weeks if you have had left knee tkr.