When can I start driving?
February 13, 2010
I am @ 14 weeks post surgery now. I can walk in the clogs with a cane. I can walk without the cane, but with a pronounced limp so my PT told me to concentrate on walking right and use the cane for now.
I am very thankful for the many little things I can do on my own right now. The one thing I have not been allowed to do yet is driving. I was supposed to see the doc last week, but we got snowed in. So I would like to get an opinion from all of you, fellow ATR, as to how would I decide when it is time to start driving.
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1. dancingdoug | February 13th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Marina:
Driving is a decision that you have to make based on you own personal comfort level. From your description it would seem that you could safely drive. If you believe you could successfully stop your car in a panic situation, you are ready. If not, keep bugging your friends and family for a ride.
DD
2. GerryR | February 13th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
I agree with Doug. If you can walk without the cane, limp or no limp and believe you can stop the car in a panic stop, just do it. The only time anyone ever told me I couldn’t drive were the days I had surgery.
3. MaryK | February 13th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I started driving at 10 weeks. But it was only to work and back (4 miles each way) that first week. Now that I’ve been driving further, I do feel a little “discomfort” as they say with the prolonged tension of keeping my foot on the gas pedal, but if called upon I could slam on the brakes. Interestingly, it was my surgeon who told me when I could drive- not my PT. So go ahead and ask. I would think that you need to factor in snow and ice, too, where you live- that might delay things a bit. Don’t worry- you will get back in the driver’s seat!
4. marina | February 14th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Hi Marina, love your name :p
I started driving at week 11, a couple of days after I got rid of the boot actually. I do walk with a limp, but driving is more comfortable for me except from the brake maybe that is much harder. First 2 days I drove home to work and back but the distance is same as MaryK’s and yesterday I went further (appx 20kms totally, was tired when arrived home), driving pretty conservatively (around 80kms per hour) as I’m not sure that my foot will respond to a potential emergency situtation, fast. But I feel that it also makes me work that tendon almost same way with rubber band and that’s something! Just get in the car and check how you can get on with the brake and everything, before you go out on the streets. Good luck!
5. diane | February 14th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Hi Marina,
I started driving at week 11. I think the hardest part for me was actually driving that first time. I was scared and nervous and playing the what if’s in my head. I knew logically I had enough range of motion to break so i would suggest go somewhere close like going for a coffee somewhere close and then build on that it will start to build your confidence at least I found that for me it was more mental and anticipating something than actually doing it.