Hello
I was wondering how long was it before everyone started driving again after surgery? I'm 27 days out and going a little stir crazy staying in all the time.
Hi Heather,
My N.S. told me as soon as I no longer took the pain meds. I stopped them the first week and was driving short distances. I noticed trying to move my head from side to side while driving hurt a bit. It wouldn't hurt to call the Dr's office and check what he thinks.
Good luck!
Mary
Thank you for your reply I wasn't given pain meds so I guess short distances would be ok
Wow I’m on day 8 and I’m not even allowed to do steps let alone drive or even go outside.
No hard rx seems like a good line but clearly it’s case by case
I didn’t drive until week 4. I was told not to drive at all until after my follow up appointment at week 6. I decided to see what it was like with just a short drive to get the mail. I had a terrible time and felt awful by the time I got home. But after a few more trips within the next few weeks I was fine. I was not on pain meds. Just the movement was bothering.
Albee you sound like me when I could just lay in bed and wasn’t allowed to do anything. I was not happy about it but believe me give it another two weeks and you will feel completely different. Rest is what you need right now. It was really hard for me to have other people doing everything for me. I look back at it now and am gratefull for all the help.
I was told by my NS yesterday that after my MVD next Wednesday that I'll be allowed to drive after 2 weeks. I think it is obviously an individual thing depending upon how each person feels. Some take longer to recover than others. I had major surgery last year and was told I could drive after 2 weeks......I didn't drive until 3 weeks after surgery and just drove to the end of the street to pick kids up after school, and it wiped me out so bad I had to lie down for a couple of hours!!! So, it's probably a case of "you ARE allowed to drive after 2 weeks", but only if you feel you are up to it. And obviously don't drive if you feel you can't.
My surgeon told me that as long as I had full range of motion of my head and neck and was not taking any narcotics I could drive. And that pretty much describes how I was on day 7 postop; however, I did not drive until around 2 weeks postop. I felt fine and had no problem. I am sure we are all different; so suggest asking your surgeon his recommendation & guidelines. Good luck!
I don't remember being told not to drive...but I don't think I did for 3-4 weeks. I felt too dizzy. But I got a CSF leak post-op and I don't know if that made my recovery take a little longer.