Driving

[sunshine210 13]

A question I forgot to ask and I'm trying to plan for post-surgery. How soon after surgery are we allowed to drive? Obviously it would be once we are off pain meds but when is that usually?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

A question I forgot to ask and I'm trying to plan for post-surgery. How soon after surgery are we allowed to drive? Obviously it would be once we are off pain meds but when is that usually?

Depends on your doctor. I was never on any pain meds. I had no pain. At my 2 week post op my doctor cleared me to drive. I've heard of some people not being cleared until 6 weeks.

[Elode 8,093]

@@sunshine210 I was driving after 1 week. Wasn't in any pain and I wasn't taking any narcotics. I felt fine to drive.

[Quest4TheNewMe 225]

I am being discharged today and asked about driving. I was told to think of the narcotic pain meds as alcohol. If I take those meds, no driving until the effects have worn off. If I'm not taking those meds, I'm clear to drive.

[DylanRae 71]

The only real restriction my doc has given me is that when I'm discharged, I can't drive myself. They will not release me to public transportation. And I have to have full supervision the first 24 hours home. Most people in my program (from the same doc) don't use narcotics after they returned home. But of course if you do use it then don't drive. Otherwise as long as you can move, twist, and do other things without any pain, driving is fine.

[nursmate2 40]

My doc said no driving for 48 hours after general anesthesia and 8 hours after last pain mess.

[nikki9 70]

My doctor's office says 2 weeks. I thought it was because of pain meds which I had stopped when I got out of the hospital. Come to find out it was because they don't want you using your abs. Go figure.

After I wad told that I realized how much I actually use my abs when I drive. Never thought of it.

[angierue 214]

I had surgery on a Tuesday, was driving on Friday. As long as I wasn't on the narcotics, it was all good. I had no restrictions other than dietary post-op.

[JenWith 96]

I was told pretty much the same as others. If on pain meds, no driving. I wasn't feeling up to driving for about a week. My incisions were a bit tender and getting in and out from behind the steering wheel, I didn't want to deal with. I did drive myself to my first follow up doc appointment with un-tied sneakers. You forget how much you bend to do things when you really can't.

[angierue 214]

Jen, that's why my shoes stay tied. Lol! It's much easier to slip them on than try to tie them. :-)