How soon you are able to drive depends on a number of factors. These include the following:

• Upper vs lower extremity: Often times when you injury your upper extremity you will be allowed to return to driving sooner than if it is a lower extremity. However, you must demonstrate normal range of motion, be fully weightbearing on the extremity, and be off all narcotic medications.

• Right vs left lower extremity: If you injury your right lower extremity it will be a significant amount of time before you will be cleared to drive (see below). If you injury your left lower extremity, you may be able to drive sooner if you do not drive a manual (stick shift) car, you are off narcotic medications, and you do not have any significant limitations. Please ask your doctor if you have any questions.

• Weightbearing status: It has been shown that in right lower extremity trauma, braking reaction times do not return to a normal state until 6 weeks after initiation of weight bearing. This means if you are non-weightbearing for 6 weeks, it will be 12 weeks before you will be able to drive. You must also be cleared to be out of any brace/device that will hinder motion of your ankle or leg (including a boot).

• Medications: You will NOT be cleared to drive if you are on any narcotics or any sedating medications.