When Can I Drive a Car After My Joint Replacement?

The Arthroplasty Society of Australia after careful review of the current literature recommends that driving is not recommenced for six weeks following total joint replacement. This is whether it is a right or left leg that has had the operation or a manual or automatic vehicle.

Reasons for this are numerous. Most patients underestimate the insult on the body that joint replacement causes. With blood loss, strong medications, fatigue and pain amongst other things, the ability to concentrate and react in an emergency situation are lower than normal. Little own the legal implications, could you forgive yourself if someone ran onto the road and you were too slow to put your foot on the brake?

Also consider that you are normally in a healing phase in the first six weeks and should therefore not be charging around no matter how good you feel. Think of it as an enforced rest break. Whilst it is ok to go out and about for the occasional outing and Doctors appointment, if you do too much you will create swelling that will slow the healing rate and you could also not give the prosthesis the right opportunity to bond causing slipping, loosening or uneven wear on the new prosthesis.

Slow is fast, the six weeks will go quickly and you can then get back to your normal lifestyle. Push too hard and it may take a whole lot longer.

Information in this article is based on the position statement of The Arthroplasty Association of Australia http://www.aoa.org.au