How soon can you drive long distance (5 hrs) after implant surgery?

[GoodWood]

When you have a consultation meeting with the surgeon ask them what they recommend and then follow their advice. They have the expertise you need r/t post-op recovery.

I had an extraordinarily easy postop. No pain. Needed no narcotics. (Took two Percocet before bed that first night for pain I THOUGHT would be coming, but never did.). No swelling. Minimal bruising.

Could I have driven 5 hours the next day? Not sure. Would my recovery have been as smooth and quick if I had driven 5 hours? Not sure. The surgeon said stay flat with ice packs on around the clock for 3 days. So that’s what I did.

YOU driving the day you had anesthesia, or while you are taking any narcotic pain medication is obviously dangerous and irresponsible. So we’ll assume if you are driving the next day uou don’t need narcotic pain meds. Unfortunately no one can predict if you’ll have no pain or tons of pain. If you drive you are sitting upright for a LONG time. Seems like a bad idea.

I think you have much better options:
TSA doesn’t care about your implant. Lots of people fly for medical treatment. If they ask, saying “I had urology surgery” will likely be enough. And you’ll never see them again, so who cares what they think about it. Flying seems like the best option. If you can pay for comfort plus or business class for the way back so you put your feet up great.

If the train route has sleeper cars that could work great. You’d be able to lay flat the entire trip. Bring a cooler of ice for you ice packs and you’ll have plenty for a 5 or 6 hour train trip.

Have a friend drive you back in a big SUV. Something big enough that you could stretch out. Your surgeon’s office might know of a car service they use. Might be a couple hundred bucks but so is an airline ticket or hotel rooms.

Your surgeon’s office will have suggestions for this. You aren’t the first patient to travel a distance to them.

Wish you the best. Getting an implant has turned out to be a great decision.