Driving with stitches - tips/advice ?

[Deschodt]

I have a bunch of stitches in my back (3 layers deep). No pain when standing or sitting normally, OK on freeway. The PITA is driving in the city... stitches/steristrips rub against the big bandaid, clothes, Seat... That stings a bit (I know, world's smallest violin)...

Any tips/hints/ideas on making this work better? Ditched the 911 for wife's SUV, not much better... Tried a pillow (worse), a butt donut around the incision (works at home, but too big in a car).. Better bandages maybe that glide more under the cloth ? Double bandage or other tricks ? It's not painful when touched, it's the damn rubbing up/down/sideways of driving stop and go... Wondering of someone who has had poorly located stitches in the past can help....

[Tobra]

Do you have someone that can help you? If you lay a piece of gauze over the incision, then put a few pieces of gauze on either side and parallel to the incision, such that it lay in the little valley between the two little stacks of gauze, secure dressing with tape, it will likely make it more comfortable.

[Heel n Toe]

See if you can get your doc to write a 'script for...

[matthewb0051]

Rest some more. Probably not what you want to hear but I've been there twice (shoulder surgery and cut up hand) and the problem is when you make a sudden move it can be beyond painful. You don't want that to happen while driving. Luckily it happened to me backing out of the driveway, stitched up hand hit the gear shift knob.

When the pain is that bad you sort of lose focus on the task at hand, and if you are going down the road at speed it will end in disaster.

With the shoulder I just stayed home. But even when I finally got out, it was difficult putting the car in gear (automatic) and shifting the 911 was not possible.

[Deschodt]

yeah, not much assistance to be had at 5:45AM...wife sleeps... I tried building up both sides with cushioned tape as mentioned above. Seems logical... but that tape was pulling on skin and making any movements a pinch... might try gauze if I can get assistance - it's right in the "no reach" area ;-)
This morning I tried an airline neck pillow, thin one, positioned around... probably best result so far but it tends to move... Guess I'll suck it up...

[Tobra]

The type of tape you use will make a difference. There is this stuff called Hypofix that is the cat's ass. You may also find that if you use a silicone foam dressing, like Mepilex, it will serve to cushion the area and minimize shear forces on the skin.

[vash]

i'd sit it out. i bet your reaction time is in the toilet..so is your attention span.

i once drove left footed with a thigh high cast on the right. i was not smart. i could barely hit the brake on time. i left my car there and had a friend come and get me.

[Rikao4]

Toby is helping you..
but your a difficult pt...
take it easy for a few days...
realize if you rip them now..
there is no going back to re stitch..
it will slowly heal / close..
and if you thought it was difficult before..
well..

Rika

[Tobra]

Maybe pick up one of those foam wedge lumbar support pillows and cut a hole in it.

[Jim Richards]

Bring along plenty of duct tape

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by vash

i'd sit it out. i bet your reaction time is in the toilet..so is your attention span.

.

I appreciate the thought but I'm good - not being a difficult patient, I was told not to exercise "or else", and I do not... I was told I could drive... This is purely mechanical in nature - I'm not taking any pain meds (Oxy lowered my filters so much that I simply did not give a F any longer and said whatever I really thought - more than usual)... Now it's basically a flesh wound with lots of stitches to pull the meat together internally and externally... No arteries, organs... Inconvenient but not terribly painful except when driving. I'm simply trying to avoid the rubbing. Any tape buildup as a cushion appears to make it worse as it pulls more skin around... Doc finally got back to me with a recommendation for a big gauze compress on the wound itself and different kind of tape to affix it... Will try, so far the neck pillow wins ;-) Seems to be haling nicely, just not fast...

[icemann427]

How about attaching some foam pieces to your seat where your stitches are not so your back rests on the unaffected areas