One of the most common questions we get asked by patients who will soon undergo a foot or ankle surgery is “When will I be able to drive after my operation?” It’s understandable that people want to know when they will be able to transport themselves again and for how long they may need to rely on others to get around, but it’s not always easy to provide them with a straight answer. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at when you may be able to drive again after foot or ankle surgery.
Driving After Foot Surgery
A number of different factors will determine when you may be able to get back behind the wheel after your operation. Here are the factors that need to be considered.
Effects Of Anesthesia/Pain Medications – If you underwent a foot surgery, there’s a good chance that you were given anesthesia or strong pain medications so that you were not in discomfort during the operation. The effects of these medications usually last for hours, so if you are having surgery on a outpatient basis, you are likely still effected by the medication when you are discharged, meaning driving would be unsafe and even illegal. The vast majority of foot and ankle procedures require you to be driven home by someone else.
Which Foot – You may be able to drive the next day if you are no longer under the influence of pain medications, the operation was on your left foot and you drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission. If you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission or surgery was performed on your right foot, you may need to wait weeks or months before you can drive again.
Immobility – Similarly, whether or not you foot is in a cast or a brace will also impact how soon you can drive. It may not be safe to drive if you are wearing a cast or are supposed to have limited or no weight bearing or stress on the foot.
Pain Tolerance – Finally, if everything else looks good, you will be cleared to drive so long as it is not painful to work the pedals in your vehicle. If accelerating or braking is causing pain in your surgically-addressed foot, driving may not yet be a safe action.
At the end of the day, when you can get back to driving after your surgical procedure will come down to your doctor. They will be able to give you the best advice in terms of when it is safe to drive again during your rehab. And while you may be legally allowed to drive so long as you are not under the influence of certain medications after your procedure, driving too early in the recovery process can put you at risk of a setback or even a failed surgery, so follow the advice of your treating surgeon. If you truly believe that you are ahead of schedule and that driving is safe, consult with your surgeon prior to getting behind the wheel.
