Advice needed: maintaining muscle tone post surgery

gamehen2
gamehen2 Posts: 45 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been working really hard with my weight lifting regimen over the last 6 weeks and have made some great gains. I'm scheduled for minor out-patient surgery this Thursday after which my Dr. has me on restricted activity for at least 2 weeks. I'm supposed to avoid strenuous activity (walking is okay) and not lift more than 15 lbs (HA! I have a 32 lb 2 year old, good luck with that!).

While I recognize that I'm not going to be making gains during this period, what can I do to avoid losing what I've got?

Replies

  • cinsuccess
    cinsuccess Posts: 333 Member
    Bump... I'm interested in the answer to this too!
  • ebonijo2
    ebonijo2 Posts: 73
    May I ask what type of surgery, because that may limit exactly what you can and can not do.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I wouldn't worry about it. Whatever you lose in 2 weeks will come back fairly quickly. Just concentrate on your recovery.
  • GmanKG
    GmanKG Posts: 18 Member
    I know you are not going to like this but it's "LiGhT, LIGHT, light weights only! Nothing worst then violating doctors orders and really getting a set back; take it from me I've recovered from a gun shot wound (to the knee) many years ago and live 24/7 in pain you really won't loose that much anyway.
  • gamehen2
    gamehen2 Posts: 45 Member
    ***TMI Warning***





    For those interested, I have a polyp on my uterus. There's a technical term for it, but basically they are putting me under general anesthesia and scraping my uterine wall. Bleh!
  • shamr0ck
    shamr0ck Posts: 296 Member
    I had major surgery and was out of the gym for 6 weeks. I've been back for 2 weeks now, and i'm almost back to where i was. I don't think you'll lose much in 2 weeks. Definitely don't try to cheat - follow doctor's orders!

    Sounds like you're having a uterine polypectomy. I had one years ago, the recovery is pretty easy actually.
  • gamehen2
    gamehen2 Posts: 45 Member
    I guess I'm sort of questioning the Dr.'s orders. There's no incision to heal. Is he telling me restricted activity to avoid liability just in case that 1 of out of a million happenstance where something goes wrong?

    I know better than to try to do squats or heavy leg presses, is it really going to cause problems if I do some modified lifting? Maybe lighter weight over more reps? Can I get away with 45 minutes of sweating it out on the elliptical as long as I'm not doing HIIT?
  • emmacueva
    emmacueva Posts: 1
    Hi! I am actually having the same surgery in a month and I am worried about the same thing... How did it end up going?
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    While I recognize that I'm not going to be making gains during this period, what can I do to avoid losing what I've got?

    Healing from surgery is helped a lot by increasing protein and vitamin C intake. Also, expect your calorie requirements to go up.

    I had open-heart in december and was surprised that 3000 calories a day - where my previous maintenance was around 1800 - still had me dropping weight.

    Listen to the doc and do as you're told. The cost of being wrong is potentially a forced layoff for months.
  • amybg1
    amybg1 Posts: 631 Member
    Go with what the doctor says along with how you feel, go for walks if you feel like it and maybe do some light cleaning and such things. I've had quite a few surgeries myself, while yours is a lot simpler/easier recovery than any of mien I'd still take it easy for the 2 weeks just to be on the safe side. My surgeries have been mostly shunt revisions though I had one catheter lengthening which had me with 5 incisions, 48 staples from my head down to my navel! I felt really good but you still had to be careful... Your energy levels might be up and down during the first few days, some people take time to recover from general anesthesia etc. I wouldn't worry too much about muscle loss, just eat at maintenance to help along the healing process and eat a good amount of protein to aid in the recovery and help keep the muscle you currently have.

    I looked up the procedure you're having done and sounds like there will be bleeding for a few days, period-like so maybe if you do more than was allowed bleeding, infection risk etc can increase is my thinking
  • ThinkInOregon
    ThinkInOregon Posts: 283
    I guess I'm sort of questioning the Dr.'s orders. There's no incision to heal. Is he telling me restricted activity to avoid liability just in case that 1 of out of a million happenstance where something goes wrong?

    I know better than to try to do squats or heavy leg presses, is it really going to cause problems if I do some modified lifting? Maybe lighter weight over more reps? Can I get away with 45 minutes of sweating it out on the elliptical as long as I'm not doing HIIT?

    You can cause increased bleeding, which in turn can lead to a whole bunch of other problems.

    Please follow your doctors orders.
  • Edmond_Dantes
    Edmond_Dantes Posts: 185 Member
    Hi! I am actually having the same surgery in a month and I am worried about the same thing... How did it end up going?

    The procedure is called D&C, (dilation and curettage). Docs err on the side of being conservative in recommending minimal exertion post-procedure. You will be fine on the elliptical or doing upper body weights. Plus it's not like you wouldn't notice bleeding if it increased. But talk to your doctor and tell her what exercises you have in mind.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Two weeks will not be a big deal. I took off nine months due to illness, brain surgery and recovery and I really didn't see much of a difference. I was diligent about sticking to my calorie goal during the whole 9 months.

    Once I started lifting again I built my strength and definition back up again pretty quickly.
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