Driving after hip replacement - help

distantshores

I had THR on 26 November (right hip) and have only just started driving again. However, I am not sure I feel safe doing so as it feels as though the muscles on the outer thigh are twisted and out of alignment making it difficult to move the foot from one pedal to the other. It feels as though the muscles/leg are at an awkward angle which does not feel right. Before the op I was absolutely fine with driving and although I was at stage 4 I had minimal pain.

I feel something is not quite right although I have had the check up (at 7 weeks) and everything was fine. Is this just the muscles realigning? I have found the whole process very traumatic and was not expecting the level of pain after or the long recovery - probably because I had blanked the whole thing out.

I am ready to go back to my exercise classes but cannot get there without driving so I am desperate to sort out the problem. So far I have only driven at quiet times around the back roads but going to the classes means going through a busier bit where stop/start is the norm at points. Has anyone else experienced this feeling of twisted muscles/out of alignment feeling? It does not cause a lot of pain but is making driving difficult.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Naomi33

Morning @distantshores

Sorry to hear your concerns about driving.

I have no experience of hip replacement and driving therefore the following link maybe of interest….

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2023/november/tips-for-driving-with-arthritis/

I am sure others with similar conditions and concerns will connect with you soon.

Best wishes @Naomi33

Trish9556

@distantshores

You must check the government advice on the DVLA website. There is a form to complete under limb disability if you are unable to drive safely after three months.

I know due to personal experience of 40 years of three year driving licences how strict they are. It is not worth any risk to your licence.

Trish

distantshores

I didn't know that about the DVLA. I still have a couple of weeks to go before 3 months is up. I have just driven around the back streets again and it felt easier this time. I think it is a muscle pulling and I spoke to someone else who said they had the same sensation when first driving again. I will see in a couple of weeks. I assume they take your licence away if you can't drive after 3 months?

I don't plan on driving long distances just short hops to classes, shops and so on but it is essential for me to drive as transport is very poor where I live and without being able to go to classes and so I will go into depression. I have found this whole process very difficult mentally and many times have regretted having it done and still do.. I might try to see the surgeon again to see what he says but the x ray was fine at check up and he manipulated my hip and said all was good and no more restrictions needed.

Janlyn

@distantshores I am so sorry to read this, you have had a tough time. Could you see a physio to check whether the problems is muscular? I found it took a very long time to get my muscles back and working properly and now at just over 12 months since my op I feel very much stronger and more flexible. I did find driving okay from the beginning but other movements that were more muscular took time. It seems worth pursuing this route if your consultant says the X-rays show your surgery was successful.

Hoping you get some answers soon as it must be miserable to be struggling so much after surgery when you are hoping to get back to a normal life.

Best wishes.

frogmorton

Morning @distantshores sorry you are struggling.

My Surgeon told me (after my back op) to make sure I felt I could stamp on the break for an emergency stop.

I tend to agree with @Janlyn to ask to see a physio we can self refer here in my area.

Good luck

Toni x

distantshores

@Janlyn Thanks Janlyn - I am sure it is the muscles realigning and I have driven a short distance every day and it is improving. I have managed to get to my Zumba Gold class today which is not far but can't get there otherwise.

@frogmorton That's what I was told about driving as well. I have practised stamping on the brake and I am now confident I could do an emergency stop. It wouldn't be all that comfortable to sit for too long in the car so will only do short distances for a while.

I have had a physio coming to the house a few times (paid for as a Christmas present) and I think I will see her one more time to go through a few things as I still feel I am not walking properly. It's 10 weeks today since I had the op and I was the most reluctant patient - it was the absolute last resort which I had hoped to be able to avoid but things have improved and in the long run I am sure it is for the best as the hip was at the end of the road even though I didn't have pain and could carry on.

adrianh

I had my right hip replaced on 28 November. After 6 weeks we went to the Sainsbury’s car park on Sunday morning before it opened and I got in the drivers seat and just weaved around the trolleys practicing stopping and starting, all that sort of thing. It felt really wierd and scary and I was a bit sore around my scar even after 15 minutes. I then started the next day once everyone had gone to work, driving 10 minutes, building up more and more. I can now drive for an hour and walk around at the destination. I haven’t done motorway driving yet, I will save that for once I am past 12 weeks, now in week 9. It is tiring but I have persisted and I now don’t even think about nipping out locally in the car.

Janlyn

@distantshores It is good that you do seem to be moving forward albeit not as fast as you would have hoped. I understand you saying you feel as though you are not walking properly and ten weeks isn't really a long time, although I know it seems that way. I know I wasn't walking properly but I did persist with exercises and I see a chiropractor and at last I feel I am walking properly now. I used to see myself on my ring doorbell stooped over and I could feel my shoulders hunched but not any more. One of the simple exercises I have done was just raising my leg up towards my bottom to stretch the front of my thigh - the effects have been remarkable. Apparently whatever that muscle is was very tight, which I wouldn't have realised. Hoping you continue to improve.

@adrianh you are doing well too. It's when we do the things we used to do without even thinking that we realise we're making progress!

frogmorton

You'll get there I'm sure @distantshores I'm sure you will just keep on doing the exercises (not to excess of course) and yes another session with the physio might be a really good idea.

Hope we hear an update soon from you saying things are way way better🤞

Toni x

distantshores

@Janlyn I was told not to raise my leg back towards my thigh yet (not sure what that stretch is called but I used to do it).

@frogmorton I went to Zumba gold on Tuesday and Dancercise on Wednesday plus doing the exercises and I thought I might have overdone it but slept better last night than I have since the operation!! Still sleeping on my back as sleeping on my side is uncomfortable. Not sure what I expected about recovery but I was so reluctant to have to surgery that I blocked it out. It has caused me a lot of anxiety and I have gone from someone who was confident travelling abroad on my own to having anxiety about walking up the street!

@adrianh - driving is a bit odd. I don't drive very far anyway as I am not that keen on driving and haven't driven on a motorway for a long time but as long as I can go where I need to go I will be happy.

Janlyn

@distantshores - ooh yes, well said, I realise it's too soon for that stretch for you, but in time it could be helpful. I have been amazed at the difference in strength and flexibility it's made for me.