You can't do that! Or can you...?

JerzyGrrl
JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

One of the advantages to ending pain meds three days after surgery, my body is definitely more that willing to let me know if I shouldn't be doing something. 

I've attempted a very brief very simplified Tai Chi practice a few times since surgery. Nice. Yesterday, my brain and all of my body was really getting into the practice... Until I started to do a movement that involved twisting my torso and shoulder to the kidney-owie side.  NO! NO! NO! NO! yelled my innards. Gracious. The other times, I'd not really twisted much at all, but twisting a bit more had just felt like the right thing to do yesterday. Until I did it. 

Today when I told the surgeon how I'd been feeling better, getting more active, BUT let him know about how I wasn't ready for the twisting by demonstrating just the beginning of the movement (but not so it hurt), he pretty much echo'd the feelings of my innards. "I'm surprised you can move like that at all, but things are still healing!" I let him know that wasn't a problem! I'd realized I had to pay more attention and wasn't going to over twist or over move like that for a while. 

I'd love to be back to cycling, even just using a trainer with my bike in the house (I have one that is extremely variable, so I can even set it up to pedal with almost no resistance at all). I'd asked the surgeon so many questions about when I would be able to do this or that. He was really nice about it, did some great active listening, let me know he realized that I really wanted to get back to working out, and that while the time for that isn't here yet it is coming. 

That was a good reminder.  I'm not there yet. I'm getting there. I can't do that now. I will be able to do that.  Later in the day, I did a short errand and when I got back home, NOTHING hurt or was sore or even twinge-y. Ooh. That's kind of cool, even if it was only for a little bit. 

Comments

  • mlph4021
    mlph4021 Member Posts: 76 Member
    #2
    I am

    Starting to notice I can do so many things again too. The only pain I have left now is where my biggest (4-5 inch) insision is. If I bend or turn a certain way, it feels like it is going to split open. Which I know it won't, but still the strangest sensation. I tried to google last night how long it would take that to go away, and came up empty. 

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,042 Member
    edited January 2017 #3
    Understanding anatomy helps a bit

    There is skin; and depending upon where the incision is located, and least 3-4 different muscles that must be opened; then the peritoneal cavity sheath, and that is before they put the retractors in place to hold the opening in place during the actual search, find, and remove.  Which entails, lifting the kidney away from the body, clipping and/or suturing blood vessels and nerves.  Once the kidney is out of the way, the Dr. will explore the surrounding areas for any possible mets in tissue, nodes, or other organs.  Then the close-each layer must be sutured together with dissolving sutures.  Of course, all of those items don't like to be tampered with and are sore, so they respond by telling you to cut back or just STOP annoying them.

    As everyone else has repeated, you have tried to do too much too soon.  The massage was a good idea...I've had one every month since 1999, since I flew half way round the world to be with my daughter's family for the birth of their second child.  A massage can help just relax, or relax especially tight muscles.

    As before, pace yourself, be kind to your body, and let it heal at it's own speed.  Your job at this time is to nourish it, rest it, and treat it gently.

    Hugs,

    donna_lee

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