Wait for at least 6 weeks to drive after bunion surgery
August 29, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Bunion surgery is a painful procedure that is commonly done on the foot. The surgery involves straightening the toe. The surgeon makes an incision (cut) above the toe that has the bunion. This allows the surgeon to shave or cut off the lump on the side. A bone is then cut to allow your toe to be moved into a more natural position and then the bones of the toe are fastened into place.
According to statistics, more than half of women in the United States have bunions. Many times, they are caused by the type of ill-fitting shoes that many women squeeze their feet into.
Because of the location of the surgery, there was concern about when someone could resume driving safely following having a bunionectomy. The fear was that the pain would make it too difficult to stop the car, especially in an emergency situation.
In a study published in the August 2008 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, researchers reported that emergency brake time in patients who had had a bunionectomy was equal at six weeks after surgery to people who have not had such surgery.
You can read more about this in the press release, Braking After Bunion Surgery.
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Tags: chronic pain blog, pain blog, bunions, bunionectomy, pain from bunionectomy
