When can I drive after a knee replacement?

What has to be true before I drive after knee replacement surgery?

You need to be able to get in and out of the car, sit comfortably for the trip, and press the brake pedal hard and quickly without hesitating because of pain. You also need to be off any medicine that slows your reactions. Time since surgery is only a rough guide; these abilities are what actually make driving safe.

AAOS ties driving to two things: enough knee bend and enough muscle control to brake safely. Most cars need roughly enough bend to sit with the foot resting on the pedal, and an emergency stop needs a quick, forceful push from the thigh. If either still feels doubtful, wait another week and retest.

• Your surgeon has said driving is fine for you
• No opioid or other sedating medicine in your system
• You can get in and out of the driver’s seat without help
• You can press the brake firmly and quickly, more than once
• You can turn your head and trunk to check blind spots

Does it matter whether my right or left knee was replaced?

Yes. The right leg works the brake and accelerator, so a right knee replacement usually means a longer wait than a left one. AAOS gives its 4 to 6 week range without separating right from left, so treat it as a starting point for either side rather than a rule.

If your left knee was replaced and you drive an automatic, some surgeons allow driving earlier, once you are off sedating medicine and can get in and out comfortably, because the left leg does not operate a pedal. In a manual car the left leg works the clutch, so the timing becomes similar to a right knee replacement. Ask your surgeon rather than assuming.

How can I test my braking before driving after a knee replacement?

The simplest test is a supervised practice in a quiet, empty parking lot with an experienced driver in the passenger seat. Do several firm stops from a slow speed, then a few quicker ones, and notice whether pain, stiffness or hesitation slows the movement from gas to brake.

A physical therapist can also check the parts that feed into braking: knee bend, quadriceps strength, how fast you can move the foot, and how your knee tolerates sitting. If something is holding you back, it usually shows up in clinic before it shows up on the road. Carmel’s many roundabouts are worth a thought too, since they ask for repeated slowing, yielding and quick looks to the left.

1. Pick a quiet lot outside busy hours, with a licensed driver beside you.
2. Adjust the seat so your knee is slightly bent when the brake is fully pressed.
3. Practise moving the foot from accelerator to brake several times while parked.
4. Drive slowly and make a few firm stops, then a few quicker ones.
5. Stop if pain or hesitation delays the brake, and try again another week.

Why do pain medicines delay driving after a knee replacement?

Opioid pain medicines and some sleep and nerve-pain medicines can slow reactions and judgement, so driving while taking them is unsafe even if the knee itself feels ready. Many people need these medicines most in the first couple of weeks, which is one reason driving waits.

Ask your surgeon or pharmacist which of your medicines affect driving and how long to wait after the last dose. It is also worth checking with your auto insurer whether they have any requirements after surgery, since policies differ.

How do I get to physical therapy before I can drive?

Most people rely on a family member, friend or ride service for the first several weeks of outpatient therapy. Getting in the passenger seat is easier if you slide the seat all the way back, sit down first with your back to the car, then swing the legs in together.

For appointments at Carmel City Center, the garage parking is a short walk from the suites, so a driver can drop you near the door or park and walk with you. The pages on total knee replacement rehab and partial knee replacement rehab describe what those visits work on. When you are ready, the matching questionnaire finds a therapist in the network whose schedule fits your rides.