HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Post-RALP, Long-Term Fitness Activity

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/30/2013 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings friends,

It is likely a little early for me to be worrying about post-RALP and long-term fitness activity but I am curious, for those of you that have had RALP, please share your story regarding fitness and perhaps address the following:

- Post surgery walking is a given – when did you start ramping up your fitness routine beyond walking?
- Can you jog without needing pads? What month post-RALP?
- Do you ski, roller-blade, lift weights, etc, and what non-leakage success have you had?
- Anybody try biking? At what month post-RALP? Anyone try a recumbent bike?
- Anything else you can think of regarding post-RALP fitness advice, experience, lessons learned?

Thanks,
Brewer
Posted 11/30/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Brewer!

I think it's different for all of us.

I never had issues running. I had one issue on my first workout post up doing flys with too much weight.

My issue with getting back in shape was anxiety, PTSD and perhaps mild depression. On top of that, work was taking up a lot of my time and keeping me up well into the night because of a 10 1/2 hour difference with India. As a result, I was exhausted all the time. I remember I was taking a series of naps every day post op. Much of it from mental exhaustion I think.

I was told to wait 6 weeks post op before resuming workouts.
Posted 11/30/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Brewer,

My doctor said I can walk as much as I want, but anything else until 4 weeks post op, after that he said I could do anything I want.
Posted 11/30/2013 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Since biking and weights were my primary exercises, RALP cramped my style. Cartilage transplant surgery on a knee made running - even extensive walking - something I had to be careful of. But I was doing fine on an elliptical after 2 weeks, and using weights (lots of reps, versus lots of weight) after three weeks. Was told to not even THINK of my bicycle till spring.
I miss my bike. It remains the only post op difference in my life.
Mikey
Posted 11/30/2013 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon said to do lots of walking after surgery. I could return to the gym 6 weeks after surgery, but no abdominal workouts, leg-lifts, bike riding or horseback riding. At 8 weeks after surgery I could resume whatever workouts I desired.

I followed those instructions and felt great throughout.

-Gedman
Posted 12/1/2013 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
I did nothing but walk the first month after surgery, but it was about 5 miles a day. At 4 weeks I started up on the EFX at the gym. I was lucky enough to pretty much have total urinary control at 3 weeks post catheter removal so the EFX caused no problems. I stuck with walking and the EFX until weather allowed me to ride my bicycle outside. That was about 3 months post surgery. I purchased a noseless saddle for my bike and have never gone back to my regular seat. I did try a recumbent bike but didn't like it---had nothing to do with the surgery, just didn't like it. I had no real issues throughout.

Good luck,
Tom
Posted 12/1/2013 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
In time you should be able to get back to all of that. You've got plenty of time, just ease back into it and you'll be jogging or doing any of those other extreme things you mentioned. Give your body some space to heal and work up to what ever you were doing. Watch your limits and back off if you feel you're starting to over do.

I haven't had the surgery but I did get a recumbent bike recently and love it for cardio workouts. Easy on me old joints and the built in heart rate monitor keeps me in the training zone longer and helps me from over doing (which worries my wife).

Andrew
Posted 12/1/2013 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to make an assumption, that you were into fitness prior to diagnosis and want to return to that level of fitness or better. four weeks of walking and then ease back into , jogging, running. Same with weights, wait for 4 weeks and then light weights and pace yourself further from there on, based on how your body feels. We all know when we overdo it out of ego, impatience, etc. Do not just do it. Don't do it. I need more discipline not to train then to train. As I age this becomes more of a problem, but Im on it. Yes I leaked while jogging and and while doing certain strength exercises initially for a few mos, but even then could control by kegal squeeze on the go. Listen to your body, but take direction from your head and heart. Good advice in training regardless of your circumstances. Core training should be delayed until your lower body has healed completely. Be wise. You have the rest of your life to get fit. Having said that, you should get or keep the habit of fitness immediately , i.e. get the foot out of the door, all the rest,intensity, length will follow if you stay smart,as advised thru out….
Posted 12/1/2013 4:21 AM (GMT 0)

Brewer said...
Greetings friends,

It is likely a little early for me to be worrying about post-RALP and long-term fitness activity but I am curious, for those of you that have had RALP, please share your story regarding fitness and perhaps address the following:

- Post surgery walking is a given – when did you start ramping up your fitness routine beyond walking?
- Can you jog without needing pads? What month post-RALP?
- Do you ski, roller-blade, lift weights, etc, and what non-leakage success have you had?
- Anybody try biking? At what month post-RALP? Anyone try a recumbent bike?
- Anything else you can think of regarding post-RALP fitness advice, experience, lessons learned?

Thanks,
Brewer

For me, I was pretty much dry after just a couple weeks after surgery. The doctor said I should wait 6 weeks before resuming my jogging of one hour per day. To be safe, I waited 8 weeks. And, my first time back felt as if I had never gone through a surgery and not run the past 2 months.

Good luck to you,
Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Pathology showed Gleason 3 + 3, pT2c, N0, MX, R1
adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, 9/9/13 PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.
Posted 12/1/2013 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
I think the "listen to your body" is most important advice of all. You have still been through a major and complex operation, whether it be robotic or open. A lot of delicate connections and sutures are healing inside you.

I remember have a strict weight limit (lifting post surgery), believe it was 5 lbs at first, then moved up to 10 lbs. Also, I wasn't even allowed to drive for the first 30 days because of my catheter and the difficulty they had with my urethra to bladder neck connection. (I had open surgery).

Walking, within reason, was highly recommended to me by my surgeon. Just not to over do it until I was deemed properly healed from a surgical perspective.

Good luck to you,

David
Posted 12/1/2013 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
After RALP in 2009 at age 61, I began walking and non-impact aerobic activity immediately. My surgeon allowed no running until the 4 week mark. After a month, began running, weightlifting and hiking with no restrictions. Never leaked or had a need for pads.
Posted 12/1/2013 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, all great and encouraging replies. Thank you very much. I am on day 3 since the RALP and have been doing about 30 min on the treadmill (slow walk) in the morning and another session in the evening. too cold outside (PA) to venture out. I feel relatively good with only a minor ache in the abdominal area and mild to more-than-mild tip of urethra cath pain (controlled with cleaning and lube). I've remarked that if it wasn't for the cath, or if I didn't mind it so much, I really could be doing a lot more. I do, however, understand and take to heart the advice not to overdo it.

Once I lose the cath, I plan to begin my outdoor walking and will likely build up to the 5 mile mark within a week or two. I think waiting until the 8 week mark to run is a good idea, and will plan that way. next, I will shoot for a mid to late February ski trip (whooohoooo) and will post back the results of that when it happens. Thanks again for all your thoughts.
Posted 12/1/2013 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you!

Keep up the good work,
Posted 12/2/2013 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
I was back on the bike at 4 weeks for short rides 20 min or so. At 14 weeks I did a 42 mile mountain bike race that I do every year. I was only 2 minutes slower than the previous year. Fitness came back very quick for me and I hope you do the same.

Tim
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply