I won't have a cast on the foot, just the blue shoe, but I was wondering what doctors usually say about driving. I envision maybe I can accelerate with the right foot and brake with the left after maybe 2 weeks? Is that realistic? What have all of you done about this? My kids and husband won't let me lay around and eat bonbons for too long..

I'd be careful on this. Driving seems real difficult with the stiff shoe (practice in an empty parking log, baseball field, anything !! Before taking that 4 wheeler out on the open road ! good luck

I tried driving with my big blue shoe, and stopped before I go to the end of the block. The bottom is sooo hard, I couldn't feel the pedals. I waited the extra 2 weeks until I was wearing my regular shoes.

Lasionimacaroni (I like your name): when you say you waited the extra two weeks, exactly when did you start driving? I kept my blue shoe until 7 weeks..

Don't worry, I plan on practicing and I would only drive very short distances on remote streets,if at all. I'm the one who posted about the lady in the blue boot mowing through the glass storefront!

I'm 7 weeks post op. Was in a non weight bearing cast for 6 weeks (right foot) and now in a surgical shoe. My dr said "NO" driving yet while in a surgical shoe. It doesn't bend and you can't feel anything through it. I asked him if I bought a large shoe that would fit over the swelling could I use it for driving and then change back into the surgical shoe before I get out of the car for walking. He said no - if I got into an emergency situation and had to brake fast that's when I could damage the foot - he says it might not be strong enough yet to handle sudden pressure like that in an emergency so I'm not taking any chances. I go back to the Dr today and am hoping he'll let me drive now. Only problem is I still can't get my regular shoes on that foot - it's really swollen. Can barely get a shoe on first thing in the morning but as soon as I walk on it it swells, and by evening it's like a football. Anyone know how long this major swelling lasts?

Hey PMCW58,
U had ur surgery on 5/08/03? 12 wks post-op? SO why is it that u can't drive? Does ur foot bend? Can u step on it? u still weat post-op shoe?
As I wrote in previous topic, I'm almost 9wks post-op, and my foot is STIFF. It hurts if i try to put it flat on the floor, I have an app. tomorrow, we'll see what the doc says. I want to drive SO BAD, i have moved to a new place 2wks ago and I cant even go shopping alone! I gotta wait for my boyfriend to come home and then go to look for stuff for home!!! But u women know how it feels to not being able to go shopping!!!!! or anywhere! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gif(
ANyways plz let me know about ur foot, I obviously also had the right foot done!

I was in a cast for 6 weeks, a blue shoe for 2 weeks, and wearing regular shoes at the 8 week mark. I drove with my right foot at the 8 week mark.

Crutches---
In regard to the swelling, once I started wearing regular shoes the swelling on my foot went down. But what happens is that the swelling starts oozing into the areas where there is room, so my ankle and leg are 3 times the size they should be. I notice improvements every single day, but it takes months for it to stop. Hope this helps!!!

Glad this subject came back to the forefront. I am 7 weeks post-op as of Monday. Tried to drive on an empty parking lot this past Sunday with my husband riding but was not able as it hurt to press on the accelerator as well as the break. Thought I would try driving this coming Sunday to church as it is not real far away and hopefully start driving to work next week before 8:00 traffic. Am still wearing the blue shoe. Doctor told me 2 extra weeks which will put me 8 weeks post-op in the shoe. What he told me about driving was that to test drive on an empty parking lot. If I could hit the brake at a moment's notice I was ok but if I had any doubts then don't. He didn't specifically say whether to drive with or without the blue shoe. He also told me I could wear tennis shoes or other comfortable shoes after my 8 weeks. Guess I will know more Sunday from trying to drive as to what I can do next week.

Hi all
Thanks for your replies.
To Sammi22: No, I AM driving now, as I had my LEFT foot done on 5/8/03. I'm contemplating the RIGHT foot for the fall, trying to figure out when I could do it. I'm going to give my doctor's office a call and see what they say, as there is no way I could not drive for 7 or 8 weeks. I've got 2 young children who need to get to school, and soccer practice , etc etc. I did OK with the left foot because after about a week I could hobble to the car and drive.

Ok, i thought u had the right foot done. Well, I went to the doctor today, and its 9 wks post-op, he says that i can start driving, I havent tried yet, but I will later on... I'll update u on the progress.

Had surgery on my right foot 7/9/03. I drove for the first time 2 weeks later just a short distance. Have done a few times since but only locally. Am not suppose to but was going nuts. I up to this point am still wraped and in the blue shoe and on crutches or suppose to be any way. The way he cut the bone and put 2 screws in he said I need to give it enough healing time. I do the excercises and walk a fair amount of time on my heel, but all seems to be healing fine. I go back again tomorrow and will have x-rays taken and hopefully he will say no more crutches.

had bunionectomy and hammer toe on right foot 06/09/03--8 weeks post-op this coming Monday--can then get out of blue shoe and into tennis shoes or something soft, wide and good support, hope it doesn't hurt too bad after that--will try to drive to church Sunday as it is not a long ways away, guess if I can make that will try to drive to work Monday but not on the freeway I don't think, can take the roads and perhaps leave early to avoid the heavy traffic to and from