Question about Post-Op

[BuffaloBill 168]

hello I have been a gym fanatic and found my love for working out again. My question is how long after surgery can I begin regular cardio ? lifting again ? and lifting heavy ? any feedback us greatly appreciated

[SleeveDreams 29]

4-6 weeks should be a good time to start lifting again. That's what my doctor told me.

Hope this helps

[Afrikanaaa 79]

4 weeks is when I started lifting. Ease in there though

[Pam_2-06-2017 375]

Yep..I went 6 weeks for lifting. Light walking right away and good cardio at 3 weeks.

[RickM 1,753]

Walking immediately and some cardio in 3-4 weeks and lifting beyond 10lb after 6 is fairly typical advice; my doc didn't want any ab or core work for 12 weeks, which arguably is not conservative enough. I started back to some basic resistance exercise at 3 weeks since the pool was out for another week for me (still had a weeping incision to close) but kept it light, about half of what I had been doing and only with the machines to isolate the core. It was mostly just a range of motion thing to keep everything moving some.

One of the things that I have picked up from the physical therapists going through orthopedics is that the connective tissues - the tendons and ligaments holding the muscles together, and would also include the fascias like the abdominal wall, don't get the blood supply that the muscles get, so they don't heal as quickly. This means that we may feel strong enough to lift more than we really can, so caution is the watchword. Incisional hernias are fairly common after abdominal surgery, even lap, and even something like a sharp sneeze or cough can open one (this is why we are often advised to hole a small pillow against our abdomen when we cough post op.) The good news is that such hernias can be a way to subsidize the cost of plastics later on!

An abdominal binder might be useful for a while when you start - talk to your surgeon about your plans and what his experience has been.

[BuffaloBill 168]

thank you for the info. I have so many questions for my surgeon.its gonna be really tough not doing anything for 3 weeks . I've been in the gym like a maniac and I love it.

[RickM 1,753]

4 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

thank you for the info. I have so many questions for my surgeon.its gonna be really tough not doing anything for 3 weeks . I've been in the gym like a maniac and I love it.

I hear you on that - I was/am too. Fortunately we travelled for surgery so I had some good shoreline and forest trails for walking for the first couple of weeks. But yeah, I officially pushed things a bit by going in to the gym at three weeks, but mostly did it as a means of maintaining the habit and took it real easy. I could have walked around the block more as easily as walking on the treadmill. And when I was able to get back in the pool again, it was mostly just paddling around, getting things stretched out again before slowly working up to pace again. I had a much harder time after plastics, which puts you down for a lot longer.

[Chericpie 17]

I had my surgery on Tues the 11th of April. Went to gym Friday and walked 1.25 miles. it took me 29 min but I did it. walked a mile today as well. More difficult to walk outside than in the gym for me. My doctor said I can start lifting again 2 weeks post op. Make sure your doctor clears you.

[BuffaloBill 168]

ok thanks. it wasn't a problem driving or getting up and down stairs ? those are all involved in my gym process

[Chericpie 17]

I can start driving tomorrow. No problem with steps just am slower than usual. I expect that will get better everyday!!