Driving After Knee Replacement Surgery

Driving after Knee Replacement Surgery New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Blog Driving after Knee Replacement Surgery

• 
• Tweet

"When can I drive again?" It is a common question for anyone considering knee replacement.

The simple answer is: 4 weeks

Regaining the ability to drive is an important step to resuming your normal life, getting out of the house, and making future appointments for your knee. Most people can return to driving a car by 4 weeks following knee replacement, and scientific studies looking at reflexes and response times have confirmed this. It really comes down to reacting safely to a situation on the road; braking or accelerating.

But, the exact time is individualized and depends on which knee was replaced, medications being taken, and other mobility factors.

Things to consider:

1. DO NOT drive when taking strong pain medication.
2. Make sure you feel safe getting in and out of your car. You need good knee motion to get in and out of the car.
3. If your left knee was replaced AND you are driving an automatic, you can probably drive by 2 weeks.

Focus hard on your postoperative exercises so that you are ready to get behind the wheel when the time comes.

For any questions regarding knee replacement, contact the team at New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine.

Author Creighton C. Tubb, MD Hip & Knee Replacement Surgery; New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, New Braunfels, Texas

You Might Also Enjoy...

4 Signs You Might Benefit From Knee Replacement Surgery

You’ve been hobbling around on achy knees for some time now, and you’re wondering whether you should consider knee replacement surgery. Here, we look at some signs that point in this direction.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Why Ultrasound Guidance Is Changing Treatment Outcomes

Diagnosing and treating carpal tunnel syndrome — which affects up to 10 million Americans at any given time — is more effective and easier on the patient than ever thanks to the power of ultrasound.

Living With Knee Arthritis in Winter: Pain Management and Mobility Tips From Orthopedic Experts

Hundreds of millions of people around the world are hobbled to varying degrees by knee pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Here are some best practices for managing the pain and preserving mobility.

Shoulder Arthroplasty Recovery: Tips to Regain Strength and Range of Motion Faster

Your shoulder got to the point where replacement made the most sense. With that decision behind you, you want to look ahead to learn what you can do to quickly regain the use of a shoulder that’s stronger and moves better. Here are our recovery tips.

Healing Faster With PRP Therapy

Most people want to get to the other side of an injury as quickly as possible, but you can’t just will your body’s healing system to work on your schedule. With the help of PRP therapy, we can move things along.

You Don’t Have to Play Tennis to Get Tennis Elbow

About half of tennis players will have issues with tennis elbow, but this overuse injury also can develop in people who don’t frequent the courts. Here’s a quick look at tennis elbow — from risk factors to solutions. ×