Short trips by car are usually fine soon after surgery if you sit supported and take breaks. Driving, riding a two-wheeler and long journeys need your surgeon's go-ahead. This page covers cars, trains, flights and two-wheelers.
Reviewed by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary, Last reviewed November 2026
At our spine clinic at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai, many patients come from other cities, so travel is one of the questions we hear most. If your surgeon gave you different instructions, follow those first.
Can I travel home from the hospital?
Yes. Most people go home by car.
- Travel in a car or taxi if you can. An auto-rickshaw jolts your spine more so avoid rickshaws.
- Sit in the front passenger seat, pushed all the way back, with the backrest slightly reclined. Put a small pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back.
- Wear your seat belt. Ask the driver to go slowly over speed breakers and potholes.
- Take your discharge summary and medicines with you.
How do I get in and out of a car?
Getting in
- Push the seat all the way back.
- Back up until you feel the seat against the back of your legs. Hold the seat and the door frame.
- Lower yourself slowly onto the edge of the seat. Keep your back straight and bend at your knees.
- Slide back, then turn on your bottom and bring both legs in together. Do not twist your body.
Getting out
- Turn on your bottom until both legs are out and your feet are flat on the ground.
- Slide to the edge of the seat, then push up with your legs, holding the door frame or the seat.
How long can I sit in a car?
Follow your sitting limit (20 to 30 minutes). On a longer trip, stop at least every 30 minutes, get out and walk for a few minutes. In the car, do ankle pumps and gently tighten your tummy. Walk for 5 to 10 minutes at the end before you sit again. For seat set-up, see Back Pain in Mumbai Traffic: How to Set Up Your Car Seat.
When can I drive?
Do not drive while you take tramadol or stronger painkillers. Also, you cannot drive with a neck collar. Your surgeon will tell you when you can drive at your follow-up visit. After a fusion this is usually 4 to 6 weeks, once you are off opioid painkillers and can brake hard without pain.
Can I ride a two-wheeler?
We usually do not allow it. After a decompression, not before 3 months. After a fusion, 6 months or longer. You must be completely off painkillers first. After a discectomy or neck surgery, ask us. If you want to ride as a pillion, ask us first.
What about auto-rickshaws, buses and local trains?
Bumpy rides jolt your spine. In the first weeks, avoid them if you can. If you must travel this way:
- Choose a seat with back support and sit upright.
- Travel outside rush hour.
- Avoid standing in a crowd where you can be pushed or jostled.
- Never hang from the door of a train.
What about long journeys by train or bus?
Ask us before you book. Plan to stay in Mumbai for 1 to 2 weeks after you leave hospital before you travel home. For the journey:
- Book a lower berth. Do not climb to an upper berth.
- Carry a firm pillow or rolled towel for your lower back.
- Walk along the aisle every 30 minutes, and do ankle pumps in your seat.
- Use a trolley bag with wheels and ask someone to lift your luggage. Use a porter or wheelchair at the station.
Can I fly?
Ask us before you book. Once we clear you:
- Tell the airline you have had spine surgery. Ask for wheelchair help to the gate, and a bulkhead or aisle seat so you can stand up easily.
- Tell airport security about your spine implants, in case they set off the metal detector. Carry your discharge summary.
- Stand up and walk every hour. Do ankle pumps while you sit, and do not let your feet dangle. Take a pillow for your back.
- Ask someone to lift your bag into the overhead locker.
What should I carry?
Your discharge summary, medicine list, painkillers in their original strips, rehab plan, water, a pillow or rolled towel, and our number.
When should I call you?
Call us if you have calf pain or swelling after a long journey. Go to the emergency department for chest pain or sudden breathlessness. See When to Call Us After Spine Surgery.
Other resources
Managing Pain at Home After Spine Surgery, Everyday Body Mechanics: Move Well and Protect Your Spine, Walking After Spine Surgery and Your Follow-Up Visits After Spine Surgery.
This page is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Please see a doctor for advice about your own symptoms.