post-surgery question? when to start sit-ups and push-ups a

godblessourhome

i had abdominal/female surgery on april 4. i am mostly feeling good and walking about a mile daily. i am going to increase that to 1.5 miles this weekend. when talking to my doctor about working out/strength training, he said 'whenever i feel up to it.' what the heck does that mean?

i want to get back into my old routine as quickly as possible, but don't want to push too much and injure myself. i can not lift anything over ten pounds for another 2 weeks, but can i start doing sit-ups and push-ups again (like maybe 10, nothing insane), even though it is painful or should i wait until i am completely pain free? does my body weight count during that (which would be more than ten pounds and a no-no)?

cmriverside

Ask your doctor. We shouldn't give you that kind of advice.

Purple_Orchid_87

I had an ectopic pregnancy a couple of years back, and a double laparoscopy (tube removed on one side and cyst removed from the other) - I was back at my desk after 3 weeks but didnt lift anything more than my handbag for 8 weeks - I was advised by my GP (in UK) not to exercise until i can do it without it being painful....

I have no medical training, but have experience of abdominal surgery

godblessourhome

Ask your doctor. We shouldn't give you that kind of advice.

i did ask my doctor. he wasn't clear or willing to be pinned down on a specific timeframe for working out. i just want to know if my body weight counts against the 10 pound limit, so i know whether start working out or should wait until the next two weeks are up.

godblessourhome

I had an ectopic pregnancy a couple of years back, and a double laparoscopy (tube removed on one side and cyst removed from the other) - I was back at my desk after 3 weeks but didnt lift anything more than my handbag for 8 weeks - I was advised by my GP (in UK) not to exercise until i can do it without it being painful....

I have no medical training, but have experience of abdominal surgery

thanks for your help! sorry to hear about your eptopic pregnancy. i can't go back to work until the 10 pound limit is lifted so i am sitting at home twiddling my thumbs all day. 8 weeks - that is a long time! i plan on doing a half-marathon in 6 weeks. i was hoping to run, but it looks like i am going to have to settle for walking it.

pain is sometimes a good indicator and sometimes not. i am not sure which in this case.

Ely82010

If you cannot go back to work, you can't do exercises, simple as that. I am surprised that your doctor didn’t give you a definitive answer. In my book that is lame and unprofessional.

I had a complete hysterectomy several years ago, out of work for 5 weeks and not allowed to exercise (except walking after 2 weeks), vacuuming, lifting, bending, stretching or doing any exertion involving the abdominal muscles for almost 2 months.

I do have medical training and experience with abdominal surgery. So I kindly suggest you to keep being a couch potato until your insides heal properly or pay the price.

The outside incision may look good but the inside incision is what takes longer to heal.

godblessourhome

If you cannot go back to work, you can't do exercises, simple as that. I am surprised that your doctor didn’t give you a definitive answer. In my book that is lame and unprofessional.

I had a complete hysterectomy several years ago, out of work for 5 weeks and not allowed to exercise (except walking after 2 weeks), vacuuming, lifting, bending, stretching or doing any exertion involving the abdominal muscles for almost 2 months.

I do have medical training and experience with abdominal surgery. So I kindly suggest you to keep being a couch potato until your insides heal properly or pay the price.

The outside incision may look good but the inside incision is what takes longer to heal.

i can't go back to work because of work, not because of the doctor. my doctor was fine with me going back to work after a week, but my work requires that you be able to lift a minimum 25 pounds.

unhappily, my vacuum weighs more than 10 pounds or i would totally be vacuuming right now (bless my hubby for trying to keep up).

thanks for the advice. i did think that because the outside looks good, that the inside was fine too, so that is what i needed to hear.

liftingbro

Any weight lifting execises above 10 pounds should be avoided, even it's your own weight. After all, just because the weight is attached to you doesn't mean you won't be putting pressure on the surgical area.

I know after I had my bi-lateral inginal hernia surgery I wasn't allowed to lift much of anything for 6 weeks and then after that I could lift no more than 60 pounds for another month. However, I felt fine within a week and could walk with minimal pain. The problem is that when you lift, weight you tend to contract your abs and put pressure on the abdominal area which could aggrivate the surgical site.

mlb929

I'm scheduled for a hysterectomy June 29 and have had quite the discussion with my Dr on this subject. Mainly, because I'm freaking out and can't imagine not exercising. He told me 3 weeks was the absolute minimum. He knows that I'm in fairly good physical shape. I'm at my goal weight with a 22% body fat and just am completing Insanity and did P90X, fairly extreme programs. His Physician Assistant, whom I love, owns a CrossFit gym, they both told me that because I'm in great physical shape, that in 3 weeks I will want to increase my exercise. But that I need to really play it by ear and absolutely nothing before 3 weeks. I lift heavy weights when I lift, and he said it may take me a while to get back to that in the same level I am now, but that in 3 weeks, I'll probably be running again. It really depends on your physical ability going into it he said.

I think it would also depend on how the surgery was done. Mine should be inter-vaginally but if they have to cut, it will be a much longer recovery.

godblessourhome

Any weight lifting execises above 10 pounds should be avoided, even it's your own weight. After all, just because the weight is attached to you doesn't mean you won't be putting pressure on the surgical area.

I know after I had my bi-lateral inginal hernia surgery I wasn't allowed to lift much of anything for 6 weeks and then after that I could lift no more than 60 pounds for another month. However, I felt fine within a week and could walk with minimal pain. The problem is that when you lift, weight you tend to contract your abs and put pressure on the abdominal area which could aggrivate the surgical site.

thanks!

godblessourhome

I'm scheduled for a hysterectomy June 29 and have had quite the discussion with my Dr on this subject. Mainly, because I'm freaking out and can't imagine not exercising. He told me 3 weeks was the absolute minimum. He knows that I'm in fairly good physical shape. I'm at my goal weight with a 22% body fat and just am completing Insanity and did P90X, fairly extreme programs. His Physician Assistant, whom I love, owns a CrossFit gym, they both told me that because I'm in great physical shape, that in 3 weeks I will want to increase my exercise. But that I need to really play it by ear and absolutely nothing before 3 weeks. I lift heavy weights when I lift, and he said it may take me a while to get back to that in the same level I am now, but that in 3 weeks, I'll probably be running again. It really depends on your physical ability going into it he said.

I think it would also depend on how the surgery was done. Mine should be inter-vaginally but if they have to cut, it will be a much longer recovery.

i am freaking out too. lol. i am in 30 day shred shape, but not p90x shape. i did 200 sit-ups (or more) a day and was running 9 miles. now my routine is destroyed and i just don't know what to do with myself. it is hard. i have things that i have signed up for, paid for and committed to. the thought of not being able to do them bums me out on several fronts. good luck with your hysterectomy. i will be praying for you.

sewsimplykate

I think you should at least wait till 6wks. Because even if you are feeling great you could still be doing some damage to you abdominal area. And the day after you exercise is going to be killer!

I had my son via c-sec in '09. My dr. said to do 10-20 situps for two weeks slowly increasing the number. And honestly, it was harder then i expected and alot more painful! So just take your time.

mlb929

i am freaking out too. lol. i am in 30 day shred shape, but not p90x shape. i did 200 sit-ups (or more) a day and was running 9 miles. now my routine is destroyed and i just don't know what to do with myself. it is hard. i have things that i have signed up for, paid for and committed to. the thought of not being able to do them bums me out on several fronts. good luck with your hysterectomy. i will be praying for you.

Thanks. When I was on bedrest for 5 weeks, I almost became suicidial, not really, but mentally I was really struggling. I've asked for valium, he said pain pills would be enough. I'm encouraged by those telling me that they were up and feeling great within 3 weeks, so I'm hoping Prayers needed and won't hurt at all. My dh and kids will be on vacation, so at least I can recovery without responsibility.

Just start back into it slowly would be my best suggestion. If you push too hard, it will only make recovery slower - you'll recover faster than you think.