Ask-a-Doc:
When Can I Start Driving Again After Surgery?

Hello, I’m Dr. David Crawford. 

Many of my patients ask me when they will be able to start driving again after their surgery. The short answer is, first of all, not until you’re off the pain medication—narcotics—at least during the day. And typically, for most folks, that’ll at least be a few weeks. 

And then the next step is when can you safely return to applying the brakes and pressing the gas pedal. For most folks, it’s around 4 to 6 weeks. But if your recovery is quicker and you feel safe doing that, it certainly can be a little sooner. 

We always recommend that patients go to a parking lot, drive around slowly, and test it out before they get on the road. If you have shoulder surgery or a shoulder replacement, then you need to make sure that you’re off pain medications and also out of the sling.

If you would like to know more about your recovery time after surgery, be sure to contact us at JIS Orthopedics. Our specialists in New Albany and St. Clairsville, Ohio can give you the quality care you deserve. Schedule a visit with us today!