REHAB

mrshisname
mrshisname Member Posts: 186
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
I just want to say, that anyone contemplating surgery (DaVinci or open) needs to go into this knowing that they have DAILY work ahead of them. Daily kegel exercises, daily use of the vacuum pump (which our insurance actually paid for! and our urologist had already checked out and had it waiting for us at time of cath removal), use of meds for ED.
I think hubby is doing so well because he is so devoted to his rehab. "Do the rehab" is what the PA who took his catheter out told us, and he has truly followed everything she instructed him to do. As a result, he is quite happy with how far he has already progressed. I had heard horror stories of men's penises being atrophied because in the past, it was just oh well it is what it is. Now the urologist (if he is a good one) has a protocol for rehab that will get good results. Do your research, get your mind set, and get your rehab going as soon as possible (and as soon as allowed by your urologist).
Additionally, I am a very firm believer that the result of your surgery will be a direct reflection of the experience of your surgeon. We surgeon-shopped for 5 or 6 weeks of appointments (as well as seeing rad oncologist) before we finally picked the 4th surgeon we visited with. This is a highly important decision.
We are grateful that we had the means to do all this. We feel blessed it was caught early. We celebrate my husband's 52nd birthday tomorrow, 29 years of marriage in October, and we are celebrating his choice and celebrating his commitment to recovery.

Comments

  • BRONX52
    BRONX52 Member Posts: 156
    #2
    GOOD INFO FOR ALL---I HAD DAVINCI IN FEB AND MY UROLOGIST HAD ME SEE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST BEFORE THE SURGERY AS WELL AS AFTER. PRACTICED ALL SORTS OF EXCERCISES RELATED TO YOUR PELVIS AND ESTABLISHED A BASELINE. THEN WHEN I WENT BACK AFTER SURGERY I HAD A GOAL TO GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ORIGINAL BASELINE. IT PAID OFF. I ONLY HAD A SLIGHT LEAKAGE AFTER THE CATHETER CAME OUT AND INCONTENANCE IS NOT AN ISSUE !!! DRY !!! THE EXERCISES WORKED FOR ME AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT
  • JR1949
    JR1949 Member Posts: 230
    #3
    BRONX52 said:

    GOOD INFO FOR ALL---I HAD DAVINCI IN FEB AND MY UROLOGIST HAD ME SEE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST BEFORE THE SURGERY AS WELL AS AFTER. PRACTICED ALL SORTS OF EXCERCISES RELATED TO YOUR PELVIS AND ESTABLISHED A BASELINE. THEN WHEN I WENT BACK AFTER SURGERY I HAD A GOAL TO GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ORIGINAL BASELINE. IT PAID OFF. I ONLY HAD A SLIGHT LEAKAGE AFTER THE CATHETER CAME OUT AND INCONTENANCE IS NOT AN ISSUE !!! DRY !!! THE EXERCISES WORKED FOR ME AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT

    Thanks for the information about rehab mrshisname and BRONX52. I had radical prostatectomy March 09 and rehab was not even mentioned to me other than practice kegels and drink plenty of water. When I asked my urologist who also was my surgeon about rehab he told me that it did not help. I am still incontinent 1 yr 2 months post op. It has gotten better as I used to use 5-7 pads with diaper every day and now use 3-4 pads with diaper. I admit I did not practice kegels much until last month or so, but I am getting a little frustrated now. I did have a scope of uretha last Friday and uro found I only had a pin size hole in my bladder to empty into uretha. Scar tissue was removed by laser. I do pee a much stronger stream but pad use is a little worse. I hope this will get with better with time. I know I need to give time for healing. If my incontinence does not get better, then I intend to get second opinion about rehab with exercises for pelvic area.

Discussion Boards