Operating a Vehicle Following Umbilical Hernia Surgery After umbilical hernia surgery, patients are often excited to resume their normal behaviors, such as driving. The quick rule of thumb is that patients are often allowed to drive two weeks post-op.hernia recovery (ad) This is in order to completely heal and minimize the risks of complications.
Components that Impact Recovery Time:
Surgery Type: Recovery period depends on the type of surgical technique used (laparoscopic vs open surgery) Laparoscopic procedures allow for shortened recoveries.
Personal Health: Factors like your general health and age all contribute to how well you recover.
Post-Operative: It is important that you closely adhere to the specific post-operative instructions for optimal healing.
Anecdotal reports of patients driving as early as 3-5 days postoperatively are common, but for safety reasons — the most important being to wait until you can perform an emergency stop without pain — the line in the sand has become two weeks. This conservative protocol is designed to allow for adequate healing time of the surgical site, allowing for enough strength and flexibility to safely restart the demands of driving.
Generally, it is best to plan on waiting two weeks before you get back behind the wheel unless directed otherwise by your doctor (7).
