Driving After Hip or Knee Replacement – What You Need to Know By Dr. Kashyap Solanki

Regaining independence is a crucial milestone after hip or knee replacement surgery, and driving often symbolizes this freedom. However, returning to driving safely requires careful timing and readiness. Here’s what patients should know about driving after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Driving After Hip Replacement

Most patients can begin driving approximately 4 to 6 weeks after hip replacement surgery, depending on individual recovery progress. Key factors for safe driving include:

• Ability to perform an emergency stop without pain, ensuring muscle strength and reflexes are restored for quick braking.

• Confidence in getting in and out of the car comfortably without discomfort.

• Absence of narcotic pain medication that can impair alertness.

• Consideration of the side of surgery: patients with left hip replacements driving automatic cars may return to driving slightly earlier than those with right hip replacements.

Patients can perform a fitness test by sitting in the driver’s seat and simulating pedal use. Any pain or difficulty indicates the need to delay driving. Always consult your surgeon or physiotherapist before resuming driving.

Driving After Knee Replacement

Driving readiness generally occurs between 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, with some patients resuming as soon as 2 weeks if the non-dominant knee (left in right-side driving countries) was replaced and an automatic car is driven. Important considerations include:

• Regaining sufficient knee flexion and extension to operate pedals comfortably.

• Being off narcotic pain medications to ensure full alertness and reaction time.

• Ability to enter and exit the vehicle without pain.

• Restoring muscle strength and joint mobility essential for safe driving maneuvers like braking and acceleration.

Safety First

Regardless of the joint replaced, patients are encouraged to:

• Consult healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

• Avoid driving while taking narcotic or sedative medications.

• Start with short drives in low-traffic areas to regain confidence before longer journeys.

• Wait until the surgical site is healed enough to avoid painful movements.

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About Dr. Kashyap Prabhu Solanki & Dr. Prabhu Solanki

Orthopaedic Surgeon – Andheri, Mumbai

Dr. Kashyap Solanki specializes in hip and knee replacement, robotic-assisted knee surgery, and joint preservation procedures like HTO, arthroscopy, and ligament reconstruction. He is also known for performing complex revision joint replacements and managing challenging upper and lower limb fractures. With a focus on precision and patient-centered care, Dr. Solanki helps restore mobility and improve quality of life through advanced orthopaedic solutions.

With over four decades of distinguished orthopaedic practice, Dr. Prabhu Solanki stands as one of Mumbai’s most experienced and respected orthopaedic surgeons. Having treated more than 40,000 patients and performed over 10,000 surgeries, his clinical outcomes and dedication have earned him widespread recognition — not just in Mumbai, but across India and abroad.

Dr. Solanki’s reputation for precision, ethical care, and long-term results has brought him patients from all over India, as well as international patients seeking high-quality orthopaedic treatment and surgical expertise in Mumbai.

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