Yo Concerned Wife...
This is a very important issue with some serious legal ramifications,
and potentially expensive implications for you.
First: if your husband's doc gave him specific instructions not to
drive 'til two months post-op... you're best to heed the
instructions, if only for this reason: If your husband is in an
accident driving before the two-months has expired, your insurance
company will know, or will find out. If your husband has disregarded
the surgeon's recommendations, my understanding of insurance practice
and law (and I've asked my wife who is a lawyer)is that... You are
screwed, if you'll pardon the expression. 1) The insurance company is
likely to cancel the policy; 2) Because your husband would have
clearly disregarded the surgeon's instructions, the insurance company
has good cause to refuse to cover the accident...and your husband
would be at fault. 3) The other party in the accident would have
access to the same medical information and the entire liability for
the accident would very likely fall to you.
Second: (And this is the part of driving post-op that few people
realize) The surgery alters a function of muscle awareness and
reaction time called "proprioception"
surgery (and often longer) the muscles in a resurfaced hip haven't
yet relearned how to talk to each other immediately.
quickly. Reaction time is greatly reduced, because the muscles have
to consult the brain before taking an action that otherwise would be
immediate and instintive. Bad situation in heavy traffic at 70 mph.
Granted, your husband's not using a clutch, but... the First item
would still apply.
I drove at two weeks post-op (with a clutch and a left hip
resurfacing)
times...and never more than 35 mph. (And I've realized over the years
that I probably should have waited another week, at least)
Proprioception will return in time (though not all at once, and never
obviously); on the handball court, it was fully a year before I had
all the reflex actions back enough to play well. Your husband will be
driving much sooner than that (certainly because he's driving an
automatic); but, if the surgeon says three weeks, you're probably
best to abide by his/her advice.
Walkin' in Straight Lines,
Alan
LBHR 15Dec04 Dr. De Smet
--- In surfacehippy@
>
> Driving Question,
>
> My husband had a resurfacing 3 and a half weeks ago on the left hip
joint. He
> is improving daily and plans to return to work (as a
psychotherapist) next
> week. He insists he can drive himself as he is fine getting in and
out of the
> car already and will only be using his right leg to drive (his
automatic) the 20
> minute journey. The guidelines from the surgeon say wait until 2
months out
> to drive. The surgeon is on vacation. What bis the rationale for
waiting to
> drive?Any opinions experience about driving early?
>
> Concerned wife
>
>
>
> ************
> See AOL's top rated recipes
> (http://food.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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