Driving after repair of groin hernia

It is usually safe after a week with repairs that do not put tissues under tension

Papers p 1056

Surgeons have traditionally advised patients recovering from groin hernia repairs not to drive for a month or two. This is based on the concern that postoperative pain could prolong reaction times and, to a lesser degree, that there is a risk of early recurrence as a result of the inertial forces that occur during a sudden impact or stop. However, preclusion from driving, particularly in the major cities around the globe, can have socioeconomic consequences.

Fortunately, by alleviating traditional concerns (and restrictions) about driving, the modern method of hernia repair is improving not only patients' physical wellbeing but their social and psychological recovery as well.

The pain that follows the repair of hernias in the groin is caused by mechanical and chemical stimulation of large, myelinated nerve fibres (A-α fibres) or small, …