Driving after surgery - any clear guidance?

Going through breast cancer treatment Surgery
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Hi folks, looking for advice re driving. When I had a hip replacement a few years ago there was a firm 6 weeks before driving agreed by all insurance/medical professionals so that was clear.

I had a mastectomy and reconstruction last week and I’ve struggled getting a definitive answer on a driving timeline for this.

The booklets from my physio/hospital say it usually takes about 3/4 weeks before you feel confident enough to drive again, using being able to undertake an emergency stop as the measure - they then say to check with your insurance company.

I spoke to my insurance company who have replied saying they will follow my consultant’s advice. So I’m stuck in a loop.

My surgery has so far gone to plan. My drips were all removed within a couple of days, I’m back out walking every day - clocking up my 10k steps and only on paracetamol for pain relief. I don’t feel any more nervous about being a driver in the car than I do as a passenger with a seatbelt on.

The reason I’m pushing is that I live in a rural village and it’s a 4 hour round trip on public transport for each hospital visit (2 per week at the moment) and I’m starting radiotherapy soon which will be a 5 hour round trip on public transport so keen to get driving again as soon as I can.

Has anyone been given clearer guidelines by their medical teams?

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Hi, good to hear you are recovering well. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy.
My team said I could drive once I felt comfortable and could do an emergency stop.
For me, that was about 2 - 3 weeks after surgery. My surgery was on left and it was too uncomfortable for handbrake. I am sure I would have been driving maybe after 1 - 2 weeks if surgery was on the right.
Best wishes x

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This is really helpful thank you :hugs:
My surgery is on the right so feeling ok as the seatbelt covers my left breast in our car.

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Hi

I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I was able to drive about two and a half weeks post op. I felt competent driving, the seatbelt was comfortable and I could do an emergency stop. It was good to be able to get around under my own steam. X

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I checked with my nurse when I felt ready to drive. I mentioned the insurance company had said I could when my doctor okayed it, so the nurse said she would contact my surgeon to get the ok so I was complying with what the insurers said.

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Thank you, hopefully if things continue as they have I’ll feel the same at 2/3 week mark.

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That’s helpful, I’ll plan to do the same when I see the nurse next week.

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