FAQ - How soon before I can drive a car?
This is a difficult one! Recovery is a slow incremental process. One does not go to bed one night and wake up the next day 'able to drive'. There is also the question of when the lower limb reflexes return to near normal, making it safe to drive a car. Research and experience would say that the average time to be safe to drive a car after hip surgery is around 6 weeks. The other variables are that individuals differ in their recovery speed and the left side is not as vital as the right, in terms of controlling the vehicle's pedals. Resurfacing patients seem more confident earlier in the recovery process, so there is a difference from this perspective as well. Patients who have had the LEFT hip resurfaced can therefore drive as soon as they can sit comfortably in a car which has an automatic gearbox. Total hip replacement patients should generally wait 6 weeks to drive a car whatever side has been operated, to minimise the risk of dislocation.
Patients who have had a RIGHT hip resurfacing should normally wait 6 weeks to drive a car. This period can be shortened if your surgeon feels you are making an above average recovery. Your surgeon may ask your physiotherapist to comment when coming to this conclusion.
