How do you know when you are able to drive?

[Carrie]

I have read you can drive again at four weeks, six weeks, or eight weeks. How do you know when you are able to drive again?

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Thanks.

 

[kfay]

My discharge papers had it written on them and the nurse told me as well. If your papers don't say anything about it, I would call the surgeon's office and ask. As others have pointed out, if you drive before you've been released and have a wreck, your insurance may not cover it.


Kim

 

[Mentu]

Carrie, when you should drive is a sort of movable feast but there are a few basic aspects to that determination mentioned by my surgeon. If one is still using narcotics for pain control the surgeon may want one to wait longer. Certainly, the major item is time for the wounds to heal. For an otherwise healthy person, the various incisions heal in about three weeks. The sternum and chest muscles take longer. That basic figure of 4 weeks gets you past the point when your incisions are less likely to weather getting bumped. The consequences of being in an auto accident during that time could be.....unpleasant. But you asked when can one drive. A person probably "can" drive even a few days after returning home; that doesn't mean that it is wise to do so. One is very tender during those early weeks and very easily fatigued so it is best to allow that healing time.

Once you start driving you will find the chest incision is likely to be touchy for quite sometime. I found it necessary to use a small puffy pillow to keep the shoulder strap from rubbing across my chest. This week, I am at 8 months post op and driving is still uncomfortable without the pillow.

I feel sure that you will receive a number of comments on this topic since driving is sort of the American emblem of adulthood.

Larry

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The usual recommendation is Not to Drive for 6 weeks. Some Surgeons will relent for "Limited Daytime Driving" after 4 weeks, primarily for the purpose of getting to Follow-Up appointments with them or other Doctors.

One Clue: If your sternum clicks or is very sore when you make a sharp turn or turn your head, it is "too soon".

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Lily]

Obey your surgeon's direction on this. My surgeon, I believe, was primarily concerned with a premature airbag deployment and the chaos that could cause within my body. He said eight weeks and I obeyed. Except for, we had wildfires here just about two weeks post-op and had to evacuate and I did have to drive one of our vehicles a few miles when we came back. I was cautious but it hurt.

 

[Philip B]

Driving?

Driving?

Six to eight weeks was what I was told, but I cheated.

-Philip

 

[Debbrn]

I was told 6 weeks for both of my adult surgeries.

Debbie

 

[Mileena46]

6 weeks, but I drove at 3......my surgeon knew and didn't complain over much. He said I could go back to work part time if someone drove me. I figured if I could work, I could drive myself there.

Mileena

 

[tobagotwo]

Be careful - your car insurance likely won't cover you if you haven't been cleared by the doctor. You could wind up to blame for an accident even if it wasn't actually your fault.

You can't turn that wheel hard and fast in an emergency, and you can't whip your head around to check that car that was in your blind spot. You're a danger to yourself and others if you start too soon.

Best wishes,

 

[Luana]

I was told I could drive 2 weeks after surgery, but didn't have a sternotomy. I did cheat and drove 2 days before the 2 weeks, but it was less than 3 miles from home.

 

[LisaD]

It has nothing to do with how you feel, it is a safety concern. The biggest concern with driving is whether your sternum has healed enough to hold up if you are in an accident. As a driver you sit far closer to the airbag, since on the driver side it is in the steering wheel and in the dash on the passenger side. If the airbag were to hit an unhealed sternum the results could be disasterous. No one plans to be in an accident, we cannot control everything that happens on the road. Best to wait until you have the go ahead that the sternum is solid and sit as a passenger with the seat as far back as it will go. Sorry to be so graphic, but the ER nurse in me says, don't take the chance.

 

[Guest]

Obey your surgeon's direction on this.

*grins*

I did ... to the letter.

My surgery was January 6, 2003. My discharge papers said no driving until February 10, 2003. So, what did I do? I went driving at 12:01a, February 10, 2003. My sister told me that if I wasn't back in a half hour, she was calling my cell and coming after me. She didn't have to do that .



Cort | 36.m.IL | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker * NoreastrTrekRT=Aug2010 *
MCs.Caprice | models.HO.legos.CHD.RadioShows | RTs.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I am tempted to keep the car in drive and leave it all behind" ... John Mayer ... 'Why Georgia Why'

 

[Luckyguy17]

yep, am 2 weeks post op and the loss of driving privileges is tougher every day, as feel wuite well.

But can also relate to wanting to distance the seatbelt from chest when in car, so tic/toc, looking forward to regaining this last step in full autonomy

Gil