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  • Driving advice

    Just wondering how long it was before all you post-op's were driving? Luckily, I live in a warm climate, so I don't have to worry about tough driving conditions - just want to be able to take my daughter to school and such.
    Pre-op thorasic curve of 50 degrees reduced to 18 degrees!! 8 years later Hardware removed...

  • #2
    Originally posted by asha View Post
    Just wondering how long it was before all you post-op's were driving? Luckily, I live in a warm climate, so I don't have to worry about tough driving conditions - just want to be able to take my daughter to school and such.
    I'm not letting my daughter (14) drive so soon after her surgery.
    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

    No island of sanity.

    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
    Answer: Medicine


    "We are all African."

    Comment


    • #3
      That's a good one!
      Pre-op thorasic curve of 50 degrees reduced to 18 degrees!! 8 years later Hardware removed...

      Comment


      • #4
        It's hard to know sometimes if levity is going to be appreciated.

        Thanks.
        Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

        No island of sanity.

        Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
        Answer: Medicine


        "We are all African."

        Comment


        • #5
          I started about 6 or 7 weeks post op. By that time I was on maybe 5 or 6 pain pills per day and the Dr. told me I could drive if I didn't feel sedated. I was fine, but a little nervous when the pharmacist told me that if I had an accident and they checked my medical records, I could be sued. I only went to & from the grocery store and other very small trips, and that's about it. Once I was totally off pain meds, around 3 months post op, I drove regularly.
          __________________________________________
          Debbe - 50 yrs old

          Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
          Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

          Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
          Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
          Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

          Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
          Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

          Comment


          • #6
            My doctor said no driving until I was off pain meds b/c of the same reason the pharmacist said. I made sure that if I took a pain pill i didn't drive for 4 or 5 hours. At that point, I wasn't feeling the effects anyway. The good thing about wanting to drive, is that it was motivation for me to get off the pain meds! I didn't start doing that until I was about 6 weeks post-op.
            Kathy, 43
            Diagnosed as a teen
            Boston brace 2 years
            63 degree lumbar curve
            Surgery August 26, 2009
            Anterior approach fused T12-L4
            now 28 degrees

            Comment


            • #7
              Drugs linger in your system for quite some time..... Even after you quit, if they do a blood test and determine that you had chemicals in your system, a jury will be persuaded and it could be expensive if you injure someone.

              Food for thought....
              Ed
              49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
              Pre surgery curves T70,L70
              ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
              Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

              Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

              My x-rays
              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

              Comment


              • #8
                Oh Boy - DD isn't going to be happy with this one. We've talked about it - she's got her permit and s/b getting her license in Feb'10, but looks like it will be put off for a while.
                Dee - Mother of two daughters, both with scoliosis KateScoliKid (16yo) 52* Lumbar curve
                Fusion Surgery 2/9/10 T-11->L-3 @CHKD Norfolk VA
                Jes (20yo) T 3 -> L 3 w/ Kyphosis

                Comment


                • #9
                  yes...I did look it up once. Percocet stays in your system for 24 hours and your hair for 30 days!
                  Kathy, 43
                  Diagnosed as a teen
                  Boston brace 2 years
                  63 degree lumbar curve
                  Surgery August 26, 2009
                  Anterior approach fused T12-L4
                  now 28 degrees

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I drove while still taking a low dose of Oxycontin and thought I was fine...but I will say that after I got off the Oxy and drove, I noticed a big difference in how I felt behind the wheel. That was quite eye-opening for me. I hope I never have to take narcotics again, but if I do, I would never again drive while taking them.
                    Chris
                    A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
                    Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
                    Post-op curve: 12 degrees
                    Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Singer View Post
                      I drove while still taking a low dose of Oxycontin and thought I was fine...but I will say that after I got off the Oxy and drove, I noticed a big difference in how I felt behind the wheel. That was quite eye-opening for me. I hope I never have to take narcotics again, but if I do, I would never again drive while taking them.
                      That explains how I felt exactly Chris. I thought I was fine when I was still weaning off the drugs, but I felt so much more 'in control' driving once I was totally off. I too, would never do it again.
                      __________________________________________
                      Debbe - 50 yrs old

                      Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                      Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                      Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                      Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                      Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                      Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                      Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Barring any pain medication, it was still difficult for me when I tried at about 6 weeks, probably because I'm fused down to my pelvis, scary when I tried to check on my left for any oncoming traffic. It does get better, but I still have that issue. And I also was also driving while on pain medication in the beginning, not a lot, but still should not have. I guess my feeling was it was like I was taking medication for legitimate pain, not like drinking and driving, dumb I know!
                        Dolores A
                        June 4, 2009 Anterior L3 - S1
                        June 8, 2009 Posterior T4 - Pelvis
                        Mark Agulnick, MD FAAOS
                        NY Spine & Scoliosis Center

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I was a late starter, I was about 11-12 weeks if my memory serves me correctly. I started weaning off the drugs at 6 weeks but I then had 6 weeks of dizziness. Seeing over my shoulder is still difficult. I tried one of those circular turntable type seats (I called it my Lazy Susan) but I didn't find it terribly helpful as my bum was bigger than the circle, which stopped it from turning. I should add, my bum is not that big, so I don't think they'd be a wise investment unless you're reed thin and can sit without overlapping on a dinner plate!
                          Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                          Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                          T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                          Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                          Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I was told I could commence driving at 8 weeks (after i saw my surgeon). I had been off meds since day 15 post-op, so he said I could if I wanted to.

                            Jen, you're hilarious! I actually went to the $2 shop and bought a cheap slippery satin tablecloth to use as my 'lazy susan'!
                            Vali
                            44 years young! now 45
                            Surgery - June 1st, 2009
                            Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
                            St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
                            Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
                            Post -op - 5 degrees
                            T11 - S1 Posterior
                            L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wow, ask and you shall receive! Thank you everyone for your comments and advice. I will take all into consideration when the time comes. It's so hard to know what to expect after surgery. You guys are the best!
                              Pre-op thorasic curve of 50 degrees reduced to 18 degrees!! 8 years later Hardware removed...

                              Comment

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