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Driving Again Sooner!

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HopAlong

HopAlong

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One problem I am concerned about after my surgery will be "cabin fever". The need to drive again ASAP to keep my sanity!

Look what I found!!! A seat cushion that swivels so there is no struggle getting into the car. I think this will be a be a big help! I just ordered one. Does anyone have one of these already? Link:

https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=/7/*Ig/4R3Q&offerid=43440.209154&type=2&subid=0" >Duro-Med Swivel Seat Cushion</a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src="https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=/7/*Ig/4R3Q&bids=43440.209154&type=2&subid=0" >
 
Hopalong, Could not open to see the cushion. However, your Dr will give you the ok when he decides you are good to drive. I distinctly remember that I was given the ok on Sept 19 at my appt and my surgery was Aug 26 so not even 4 wks w/o my wheels. You have to be careful to follow Dr's orders as if you drive before he gives ok and have an accident you could be liable. We are facing that with my hubby now. He had foot surgery yesterday and will probably not be driving for 2 wks. I will be his taxi during that time for most part.

At least the sun will be out today!! No work today cause am staying home with h. So much vacation that I will lose if don't take. Wish we were in Fla with many of the other folks!!!!

Laurie
 
Sorry....I just corrected the link.

No way am I going 4-weeks without driving!!! I will be miserable. The paperwork the doctor gave me says you can drive whenever you feel comfortable getting into the car (without meds that impair reaction time though of course)

Check the swivel cushion out now. It lets you glide into the car without stressing any joints. With this I will be driving in less than two weeks.

Since it is a seat cushion too, I think I will use it permanently to put less daily impact stress on the other hip joint too. The less joint stress, the longer the other hip will last the doc said. I might get another one to use in the house too.
 
FL sounds sooooo good right now!!! I'm hating this weather! I have to skate to my car in an hour to do my chest x-ray & tooth pulling appointment-----oh joy! I hope hubby has a fast and healthy recovery.
 
Hopalong, Cushion looks interesting. I find my car's seat is quite comfy so no problem there.

Let us know how all your tests go. Good luck,
Laurie
 
Hey Hop
I got so excited when I saw your seat cushion. I am going to order one today. This will help so much after this horrendous back surgery when I decide to start driving. I'm going to ask my doc today about driving. I, unlike you , enjoy not driving. Saves me money and when able in recovery I tend to walk many miles with my pooch.

Judy
 
I guess the swivel works just as well on the passenger side Judy. :) Even if it eases just some of the discomfort, its well worth the $25.
I am going to use it to "baby" the other hip to avoid having to do this surgery twice! The doctor said if I lose weight, and avoid high impact, the other hip should be fine for 10 years......if I don't then that hip will go in one year.
 
tHAT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. i WOULD DEFINATELY GO FOR THE 10 YEARS.
tHE SWIVEL SEAT WILL BE PERFFECT FOR THE PASSANGER SEAT AND i IMAGINE i WILL BE DRIVING SOON ENOUGH AND TRANSFER IT TO THE DRIVER SIDE.

jUDY
 
Hop, Jo hasn't chimed in yet with her pro's opinion, & I don't want to rain on your parade, but I'll chime in with a cautionary note, since I too had "pooh-poohed" the driving restriction--BEFORE I had my right THR, that is. (Granted, this may not apply if it's a left THR, unless you have a stick shift & need to use the clutch.)

Driving requires the ability to move your foot--very quickly, in the event of an emergency--between accelerator & brake. This motion is pretty compromised in the first few weeks after THR, since your thigh muscles feel weak and quite sore--your whole leg actually feels pretty heavy. Even though I was walking unassisted on day 10, including steps, I couldn't do that movement well enough until week 4. (I practiced in the evenings while sitting & watching TV, raising my foot & simulating moving between the pedals!)

Just be safe, whatever you do! (Friends with cars, naps and, of course, hanging out on this forum, are all great cabin fever busters!) :-)
 
I found getting in and out of the car (even as a passenger at first) was easier at first by using a plastic bag to help you "swivel in". Easier to slide on plastic than the woolly sheepskin covers :)
Monica
 
Hopalong, PRgal was reading my mind, I was waiting for Josephine to respond on time out from driving. I too had a great recovery and was looking forward to getting back on the road. However, my instinct was that my leg wasn't ready strength and reflex wise til the Dr gave go ahead. Even then I drove the first couple times short distances to make sure my right foot and leg would do what it needed to do. Was like trying out a new part!!!

Especially in our busy part of the country, all the more reason to be cautious. Don't remember if you are having RTHR or left---if left of course it will be easier.

How did your tests go today??
Laurie
 
PRGal, you took the words right out of my mouth!
 
Hi Hop! Haven't gotten the chance to look at the swiveling chair! My take on driving is that as my OS said, you are still at a crucial stage of healing.....If you lived out in the sticks and were assured a nice simple ride, that would be fine,,, but with RTHR, its a whole different ball game! If you have to brake suddenly, its NOT a comfortable feeling! Give yourself a little extra time,,,,,,and when you're good and ready, find an empty parking lot and practice braking hard!
 
I had the right hiip replaced and a home pt that thought I should be driving around 4 weeks. We went out to my car and she saw the slowness of my getting from brake to gas and changed her mind. She gave me an exercise to practice at home.
At my 6 week apt my doc was surprised I had not started driving. I think abaout 2 days later I did for short trips, then the rest is history.

I had a right knee scope on Dec 17th, then the back fusion on Jan 9th so have not driven for a while. I really don't miss it.
I know my 20 year old daughter and husband really miss me driving though.

I';m just waiting to be able to walk a lot and then I can put off driving even longer.

Judy
 
Judy, You are too funny. I can see your point about not missing hassle of driving--by default others have to do the shopping, schlepping, etc. And as I remember you are not working a full time job so that is not any issue. When I broke my right kneecap in 2006, poor hubby had to drive me to work and back for almost 12 weeks while i was in an ankle to thigh aircast. No fun for either of us--and talk about hip pain to get comfortable sitting--the worst. That is all over now thankfully. Fortunately, the knee healed and I have had no further problems.

Enjoy your time in recovery and go for all the TLC you can. I am currently the heavy lifter on driving. Spent afternoon running errands that hubby would help with but can't til he gets go ahead on foot.

Laurie
 
I am having a "left hip" THR, so I should be driving sooner. I know the heavy-leg and sore & weak muscles feeling all so well since having neuropathy and myopathy for almost a year now, on top of this bum hip.

My neurologist doesn't know what is causing the neuropathy and myopathy, and a muscle biopsy is probably going to be down the road.

Josephine do you think since my guts are going to be out on the table anyway, they could take a muscle sample during the THR? Would they? Should I ask the OS?
 
Laurie;;;;;;Look at all the extra calories you're burning doing double errand duty! Thank goodness you've come so far in your recovery! Keep feeling good!
 
No harm in asking, Hop! It should be easy as pie except they'd have to search out the correct procedure for handling the sample tissue. Perhaps you could ask your neurologist if he would accept them taking it and then get the special instructions for them from him. Sometimes these tissue biopsies have to go into a special medium or pot and need a special lab form to request the test. If you can get the 'kit' from the neurologist to pass on the the OS he may be prepared to do it for you.
 
I'm with you mvo - I started off using the plastic bag and then I used a satin pillowcase cover. It covered the whole seat and didn't move around as much as the plastic bag. And it sure made getting in and out a LOT easier!
Peta
 
I got the swivel seat today. It really does eliminate some pain when you can glide into the car so easily. It's soft on the butt too :) It reminds me of the "sit n spin"" toy we had as kids.
 
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