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Exercise after a resection???

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/5/2009 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this site and I just wanted to say that I love it and all of the people on here. It is very helpful and I am glad I found it! It's so nice to have people going through the same thing, learning more about CD, and able to give advice. ( i may not be able to give a whole lot, but what I've been through so far, but any little thing helps)

My question is, has anyone had pain after a resection and trying to do crunches/sit ups?? I do a lot of other exercise. (as im trying to lose baby weight turn ) I walk, jog, ride a bike, aerobics. But my stomach is my main area I need to work on. Is anyone else like this? Any advice?

Posted 5/5/2009 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi B&K'smom

welcome to this great site. i had two resections in jan and have only just started to feel like exercising and started swimming again this week it maybe a bit soon to be doing crunchies or sit ups  i only say this as i had my follow up appointment two weeks ago and my surgeon said the area where the resections were done was still hard and had not fully healed yet (i was hoping to get a date to get my temp stoma reversed but hopefully i will get it when i see him in 5 weeks) I know everyones different with the healing process but maybe you could give your doc a ring and see what he thinks Bev x :-)

Posted 5/6/2009 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
How long ago was your resection? While the outside may be healed, it can take 6 months to a year for your insides to fully heal.

There are many other exercises for your abs besides crunches and sit ups. If you have Netflix, try the "ABS diet workout 2." It has a decent ABS workout.

Pain is a signal you should listen to. You don't want to push yourself too hard. The last thing you need is an incisional hernia. The bike riding, running and aerobics along with a healthy diet will take off the weight. When your body is ready, you can work on firming up your stomach muscles.
Posted 5/6/2009 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
My resection was almost a year ago (2 days to go: May 8, 2008) and I just stretched my arms overhead to guage my abdominal resistance, and I am *still* feeling a 'tightness' at the very top of my abdomen. I suspect this is mostly nerve damage and some crossed/mixed signals, but it is something that does cause me to avoid certain moves, only because I do not like the sensation I feel.

I used to *always* read on my stomach at home.
I liked to sprawl out on the floor to read the newspaper as a child and even as a 40+yr old adult, that is still how I prefer to read a newspaper. Part of my bedtime routine is to read for 10-60min before turning out the light to sleep. I'd prop the book against the headboard and lay over a pillow propping up my chest a bit to elevate my upperbody so my arms had a little bit of 'downward angle' to hold the book. I do NOT like the *pull* I feel in my abdominal muscles if I try to lay that way now, so I have been reading on my side this past year.

I wonder, though...if some exercise could help those twinging sensations go away...? Definitely something for me to think about.
heidi
Posted 5/6/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried yoga? It is excellent for stretching and can help build ab muscles. If you've never tried it, I suggest taking a few classes before you go the DVD route. A decent instructor can make sure you know the basics and can advise you on the best positions for your particular situation.

Check around for community classes, our area has classes for $5.00. Try to take between 6-10 classes, or until you feel comfortable. Some studios will let you take one class for free to see if you like it.

If you can't find a class, there are many yoga DVD's.

Good luck.
Posted 5/6/2009 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
I agree about talking to the DR. First. Yoga has some good stuff and Pilates has more if you get a good certified teacher. The reason is: Pilates focuses on ab strength specifically and starts with basics of movement. Sometimes Yoga uses too much ab at once for resection people. I teach both and you really do want to be careful for the Hernia and other complications.

You can do "holds" that will build strength and shape with out the up and down of a crunch. (They are some times called planks from knees or toes and up on elbows.) You can do legs in and out, one at a time on your back and not crunch but really eel the work on your back and ab. Couldn't hurt to get a little expert advice before working too hard. All your aerobics will help with fat levels over muscles on front. Swimming done well if fairly safe and builds good abs plus burns calories well

The old adage "listen to your body" is important after any surgery. Happy exercising!!
Posted 5/6/2009 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your replies. And I completely agree with listening to my body. The first attempt to do the crunches, was my last. But doing them helped me loss my first baby weight. So I wanted to do them again. But I will listen to my body for sure!! My resection was about 4 months ago. So maybe I am pushing it way to soon. I didn't know that it could take 6 months to a year to heal! wow. I guess b/c i do feel so good on the outside, I dont think about the inside. I just got a Wii Fit this past Sunday, and started doing the yoga yesterday :) I think I will try this for a few weeks and see how it goes. But I am definitely going to call my Dr this afternoon to make sure that I am not pushing it to much. I don't wanna go under the knife again. Thank you all so much again.
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