Exercise Suggestions

SusanB2014
SusanB2014 Member Posts: 17

Hi, I'm over 6 weeks post op for an open partial nephrectomy and am still having pain/issues at my kidney site. Anyone have any suggestions as to what type of exercise would help ease the discomfort. I am unable to jog or do anything that causes any jarring and I miss cardio exercise. Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • avdoty
    avdoty Member Posts: 62
    Post op exercise

    The first exercise I could do after my partial was swimming. It felt really strange stretching for each stroke but I think it really helped. Time on a stationary bike could be pretty good as well. I waited a while to take my first real bike ride. I've had a few crashes and didn't feel comfortable with the idea of taking any chances of that happening until my insides felt relatively normal.  Good luck.  

  • SusanB2014
    SusanB2014 Member Posts: 17
    avdoty said:

    Post op exercise

    The first exercise I could do after my partial was swimming. It felt really strange stretching for each stroke but I think it really helped. Time on a stationary bike could be pretty good as well. I waited a while to take my first real bike ride. I've had a few crashes and didn't feel comfortable with the idea of taking any chances of that happening until my insides felt relatively normal.  Good luck.  

    Swimming huh?

    Thanks for your suggestions. My sister also thought swimming might help. Unfortunately I don't love swimming but stationary biking might work. Today I tried some simple yoga for stretching. I guess simple wasn't so simple but it showed me how much I need to get stretching!

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member

    Swimming huh?

    Thanks for your suggestions. My sister also thought swimming might help. Unfortunately I don't love swimming but stationary biking might work. Today I tried some simple yoga for stretching. I guess simple wasn't so simple but it showed me how much I need to get stretching!

    just keep moving

    as your body gets used to the "new" you, things improve. I did the same thing as many of you. I was exercising, golfing, running and riding my motorcycle in about a month. But you can only do as much as your body will allow. There just is no reason to push it. If you progress at the rate your body feels comfortable, you will get to your target conditioning soon enough. I think we get afraid that we will never feel much better than we do after surgery. And we desparately want to be back where we were, and forget the whole nephrectomy thing happened. In the scope of things, a slower recovery is not only fine but preferable. Next year when you look back at this experience, a month or so, here or there, is not going to have been important. Just keep moving. Just get better.

  • SusanB2014
    SusanB2014 Member Posts: 17
    foxhd said:

    just keep moving

    as your body gets used to the "new" you, things improve. I did the same thing as many of you. I was exercising, golfing, running and riding my motorcycle in about a month. But you can only do as much as your body will allow. There just is no reason to push it. If you progress at the rate your body feels comfortable, you will get to your target conditioning soon enough. I think we get afraid that we will never feel much better than we do after surgery. And we desparately want to be back where we were, and forget the whole nephrectomy thing happened. In the scope of things, a slower recovery is not only fine but preferable. Next year when you look back at this experience, a month or so, here or there, is not going to have been important. Just keep moving. Just get better.

    Wow

    You were doing so much just after a month?!! I feel like I've been moving at baby steps.

    i keep losing paragraphs I've written. Why???  

    I also said that I'd keep on moving and hopefully I'll be better than I was pre-surgery.  thanks for the pep talk.

  • avdoty
    avdoty Member Posts: 62

    Wow

    You were doing so much just after a month?!! I feel like I've been moving at baby steps.

    i keep losing paragraphs I've written. Why???  

    I also said that I'd keep on moving and hopefully I'll be better than I was pre-surgery.  thanks for the pep talk.

    Missing paragraphs

    I'm no computer guru but when I have problems with web pages I clear the cookies and the temporary internet files.  Then relaunch the web browser. 

  • SusanB2014
    SusanB2014 Member Posts: 17
    avdoty said:

    Missing paragraphs

    I'm no computer guru but when I have problems with web pages I clear the cookies and the temporary internet files.  Then relaunch the web browser. 

    Paragraphs

    Thanks for the tip avdoty! However I'm posting from an iPad and I think that's what the problem is.

  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    Hi Susan

    Glad your feeling better!  I had a partial open in March.

    I too started swimming at 6 weeks.  Took a couple times for it to feel good, but was back to 1/2 mile twice a week after week.  I also talked to a PT and she gave me exercises to stregthen my core - which you can do with a 5lb weight.  Also some stretches - all felt so good that I am still doing them everyday.  Also a heating pad felt good after a long day.

    Biking was suggested, and I did that as well.  Stationary for awhile since was a bit scared about crashing.  But until you can run, walk..very fast 8-). 

    Can you find a physical therapist or even some personal trainers who know how to deal with "after surgery" people?  I could tell you what I was told and how was told to do them, but would feel better if you could find someone to make sure you're dong them right.

  • Susan, I am a little more

    Susan, I am a little more than 6 weeks out with my surgery on July 10.  I have been walking 6 miles per day.  I have had the urge to jog, but the last few times I tried running, it did not feel right.  No pain, but it did not feel comfortable.  I tried again today while coaching my son's soccer practice by dribbling the ball down the field.  My doctor told me that we are all different and we each have to listen to our bodies. Prior to my surgery, I did not think that walking was good exercise, but I have been speed walking, and I walk on the beach, and that gives me a good workout.  Like you, I do not love swimming, but I have to admit that it is great exercise.  We each have to find what works for us.  Yoga is a great choice for a lot of people.

  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    Just remebered

    I also did step-ups on the first stair at home.  You don't have to go fast, so no "jarring", but it's a great cardio and easy to do. 8-)

  • nsb748
    nsb748 Member Posts: 89
    aamdsi said:

    Just remebered

    I also did step-ups on the first stair at home.  You don't have to go fast, so no "jarring", but it's a great cardio and easy to do. 8-)

    I concur on the swimming and

    I concur on the swimming and biking.  Those worked great for me to avoid the bouncing that comes with jogging and/or running.

    I also reccomend getting into some sort of stretching routine, or possibly even a beginner yoga class. 

  • SusanB2014
    SusanB2014 Member Posts: 17
    Great suggestions!

    Thanks again everyone for your ideas on exercise. I do not have a gym membership nor an exercise bike so I will keep on walking and doing yoga/stretching. I am going to try the step up suggestion as well for some different cardio.