Driving After a Hip Replacement in Australia

We've found that patients are usually keen to return to driving after a hip operation. However, it's important to put your recovery first. In this blog post, we'll share some of our best insights about how to resume driving quickly and safely.

The first step of driving after a hip replacement operation is to inform your insurance company about the operation. Otherwise, you may not be covered in the event of an incident. Certain policies will exclude individuals for several weeks after the operation. You do not have to notify a driving authority.

It's important to remember that driving lawfully and safely involves a degree of personal judgement.

How Long Must I Wait Before Driving After a Hip Replacement in Australia?

There is no Australian law stipulating how long you must wait to drive after a hip operation. Instead, you must carefully assess your ability to drive safely.

Generally, you will have to wait for about six weeks before being able to drive with full functionality. This is because, after a hip operation, your hip joint needs time to heal and regain strength, and your mobility needs to improve incrementally before you can safely operate a vehicle. For some individuals, the recovery period may be shorter. Additionally, the recovery period may depend on the type of hip operation. For example, if your hip replacement was in your left hip, and you operate a right-handed vehicle, you might be able to drive sooner. However, it is essential to consult with our surgeon in this instance.

There are several straightforward ways to assess your ability to drive:

• Sit in the car seat, without the key in the ignition. The engine should be off; all you are doing is practising the movements associated with driving. You can do this by applying strong pressure onto the pedals (as though you are operating the clutch or brakes intensely). This particular movement evidences that you could perform an emergency stop if necessary.
• If you experience pain while completing this movement, you are not ready to drive. Give it a few days before trying again.
• If your muscles feel sore afterwards, then, again, it would be best to wait for a few days before attempting again.
• However, if you can complete this movement comfortably, then you could further test your capacity to drive with a very short drive.
• While testing your ability to drive, you must also be able to get in and out of the car without experiencing any pain.

Above all, we strongly recommend that you do not return to driving by planning a long trip. Ensure that you are not on any type of sedative or strong pain medication that could affect your reflexes. Here are 5 red flags that mean you should delay driving:

1. Pain or stiffness limits your reaction time.
2. Use of strong opioids or sedatives.
3. Inability to sit comfortably for more than 10–15 minutes.
4. Swelling or impaired sensation in the operated leg.
5. Poor sleep or fatigue.

Find Out More About Hip Replacements in Australia

Ultimately, your surgeon is the best source of information about when you can drive safely after a hip replacement without inflaming your injury.

Get in touch with our friendly team and find out more about getting personalised support after a hip operation.