How long after a Hip replacement before back behind wheel

[Lordglenmorangie]

Hi,it looks like I need a Hip replacement.how long before I can get behind the wheel of a manual or auto box ? Any experience or advice from members appreciated

[The_Doc]

Six weeks is the general rule.
And if you're in anything sporty with bucket seats I'd leave it twice this long personally.
Getting in and out of a Lambo in the early phases risks dislocation.

=bad

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hip-replacement/reco...

Ask your surgeon for his or her rule, but expect the above

[Lordglenmorangie]

Cheers, I have a 997 Turbo, could be a problem.

[The Leaper]

Wife has had 3 hip ops. She drives a Ford Fiesta, manual. It took her maybe 8 weeks before she was back to driving.

BTW, I have had two total knee replacement ops. I have a LR DS auto. It took me longer to be able to get back to driving, maybe 3 months. I think this longer period is recommended by the medics/physios too.

R.

[stevethegreek]

Mine was around 3 months (996 here).

[numtumfutunch]

If you drive an auto and its a left hip replacement I imagine things are a lot more relaxed

Right side and you need to convince the DVLA and your insurance that you can mash the brake pedal in an emergency if required

I have extensive knowledge of the DVLA medical team and quick communications isnt a term Id associate with them

Good luck

[The_Doc]

You won't need to talk to the DVLA:

https://www.gov.uk/surgery-and-driving

amd knee replacement is sometimes quicker to get back driving:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knee-replacement/rec...

And you can dislocate you left hip replacement just as easily as your right side getting out of a very low sporty car.

[Lordglenmorangie]

Many thanks for the information

[The Leaper]

numtumfutunch said:

If you drive an auto and its a left hip replacement I imagine things are a lot more relaxed

Right side and you need to convince the DVLA and your insurance that you can mash the brake pedal in an emergency if required

I have extensive knowledge of the DVLA medical team and quick communications isnt a term Id associate with them

Good luck

As The Doc says, neither hip replacements, nor knees, are reportable to the DVLA. My wife and I did not do so. We did tell the insurers who simply made a note.

R.

[Lordglenmorangie]

Many thanks to all your comments, it's very helpful.

[Autopilot]

I'm 6 weeks post-op for total left hip replacement. Rule of thumb is circa 6 weeks without driving. My daily driver is an automatic Ford Ranger, easy to get in and out of and my left leg is just a passenger. I started driving at just under 5 weeks.

I was off all meds at day 10, off crutches as I started week 4 and also sleeping reasonably well at this point. I mention these as it's not all about the ability to do an emergency stop, it's also about being alert enough to be safe to drive and being comfortable. The side bolsters of the seat in a 5 Series runs at exactly the same shape and height as the incision made for the 'posterior approach' to hip replacement. I only went in my dads car (the 5 series) a relatively small number of times but I really didn't enjoy that and had to use a cushion. I was able to sleep on my operated side yet a 5 series seat caused me problems!

While it's routine surgery, it's major surgery so don't underestimate fatigue!!

[Lordglenmorangie]

Thank you

[tr7v8]

Wife has had both hips done. At the time was driving a Mk1 MX5 (Eunos) started driving with both at around 7-8 week mark.
Two things made a big difference. The first was using our private physio weekly. She made massive progress with him & he also put her mind at ease as regards progress. The second was a "turntable" that sits on the seat so you get your bum in, then swivel on the base to get your legs in. It was around £25 from Amazon & was a vast help in both her car & even our 4 x 4.

[Lordglenmorangie]

Thank you

[rdjohn]

The_Doc said:

Six weeks is the general rule.
And if you're in anything sporty with bucket seats I'd leave it twice this long personally.
Getting in and out of a Lambo in the early phases risks dislocation.

=bad

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hip-replacement/reco...

Ask your surgeon for his or her rule, but expect the above

Hope you don't mind me asking a question off thread. I live near Manchester and there is a prominent surgeon recommending robot assistance. What is your view on this?

Does cycling fall into the 6-week rule? Being stuck at home will be hard for me.

Thanks for your advice.

[The_Doc]

In my honest opinion, robot adds nothing yet.
Great marketing tool.
Might develop into something miraculous, but experience is the key in hip replacement, without a robot. Volume.
It almost certainly won't make your good hip surgeon better.

https://www.boa.ac.uk/asset/794587FB-203F-4E48-990...

Cycling: ask your particular surgeon.

Edited by The_Doc on Thursday 1st May 07:07

[Lordglenmorangie]

Thank you

[Matt_N]

rdjohn said:

Hope you don't mind me asking a question off thread. I live near Manchester and there is a prominent surgeon recommending robot assistance. What is your view on this?

Does cycling fall into the 6-week rule? Being stuck at home will be hard for me.

Thanks for your advice.

I am having a hip replacement in June and although specifics are not certain, my surgeon (Nuffield) has suggested I should be able to use a spin bike from about week 6. Note spin bike not a proper bike, due to not having to swing your leg up and over a saddle.

I am 43 yrs old and the surgeon has said activity is normally resumed around week 8 but he thinks I should be ok at week 6.

I’ve gone from 100+ miles a week on my road to nothing for the last 12 months as I just can’t do it at the moment.

[rdjohn]

The_Doc said:

In my honest opinion, robot adds nothing yet.
Great marketing tool.
Might develop into something miraculous, but experience is the key in hip replacement, without a robot. Volume.
It almost certainly won't make your good hip surgeon better.

https://www.boa.ac.uk/asset/794587FB-203F-4E48-990...

Cycling: ask your particular surgeon.

Edited by The_Doc on Thursday 1st May 07:07

Thank you so much, for your advice. The report is interesting, suggesting little to no clinical advantage with robotics.

Top Doctors suggest that he has 15-years experience and has done 2000 non-assisted procedures before, and 1200 assisted since 2022. This is about 50/50 hips and knees.

I have now booked to have it done in a couple of weeks time as i have been told that if I have a Cortisone injection, 3-months will need to pass.

Its looking like it is going to be a very poor summer.

Yours, and patient’s views have made these very interesting threads. Thanks

[Autopilot]

rdjohn said:

Hope you don't mind me asking a question off thread. I live near Manchester and there is a prominent surgeon recommending robot assistance. What is your view on this?

Does cycling fall into the 6-week rule? Being stuck at home will be hard for me.

Thanks for your advice.

As The_Doc says, ask your surgeon. I asked my surgeon at my 6 week review and he said a definite no! He said a static bike is ok but stay off the road for 3 months.

With regards to robot assistance, there was a discussion on one of the Hip Replacement Forums about the MAKO robotic assistant and most gave it praise and said it was 'more accurate'.

My surgeon told me about the various approaches of which he does use the MAKO robotic assistant but said he was using this on me - https://www.coringroup.com/assets/File-uploads/OPT...

His rationale was because of my age (VERY active under 50's) and my desired outcomes after surgery of which he alluded to the fact the OPS would be better for me and provide a better long term result.