Recovering from surgery, but want to get back...

[SexyGuy]

Hey All.

Recently had a pilonidal cyst removed from my tailbone area (see here if you don't know what it is) about 3, almost 4, weeks ago, and my doctor has told me to take it easy and not do much lower body exercise. Main reason why: don't want to rip open my scar. But he did say I could do light cardio and upper body weight-lifting. I do have P90X, but my doctor told me verbatim NOT to do it

With that said, I made up a plan for myself (6'1", 172 lbs) specifically for my upper body, and I was wondering if you all could critique it

Monday: Upper Back, Biceps, Shoulders, Abs
-Ab-X (from P90X)
-Twisting shoulder press (15 reps/2 sets)
-Dumbbell upright row (15 reps/2 sets)
-Piston Upright Row (15 reps/2 sets)
-Dumbbell Bent-over row (15 reps/2 sets)
-Y/T/I (15 reps/2 sets)

Tuesday: Cardio (in the form of Yoga-X and a light jog in the park).

Wednesday: Chest, Triceps, Abs
-Push-ups (20 reps/2 sets)
-Tricep Kickbacks (15 reps/2 sets)
-Plyometric Push-ups (15 reps/2 sets)
-Bench Dips (10 reps/2 sets)
-Dumbbell Bench Press (15 reps/2 sets)
-AB-X

Thursday: Cardio (in the form of Kenpo-X or a light jog in the park)

Friday: Lower Back, Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Abs
-Back extensions (10 reps/2 sets)
-Y/T/I (10 reps/2 sets)
-Forearm curls and twists (15 reps/2 sets)
-Superman (12 reps/2 sets)
-Bicep Curls (12 reps/2 sets)

Saturday: Cardio (Jogging)

So what do you guys think? Right now, I want to use this recovery time to not only heal from my surgery (which I am beautifully!), but also to build up my upper body strength (which is about nothing lol). I'm open to suggestions and rewrites

 

[KaraBulut]

You should run this past your surgeon.

There's a lot of gradation in the depth of a Pilonidal cyst repair. Some can be superficial but others can be very deep with multiple tunneling channels of infection. Sometimes the site will be left open to heal via secondary intention but other times, the surgeon chooses to suture the site. Only your surgeon knows exactly what he did during surgery.

There's a lot of exercises in your list that will strain or stretch the lumbar and ileosacral areas of your back. Your doctor needs to be the one to sign off on those exercises.

 

[SexyGuy]

Hmm.... Thank s KaraBulut. I hadn't thought of that - I'll talk to him (or email him for that matter) and see what he says.

If you don't mind, could you point out which exercises I could do (i.e., the ones that don't stretch the lumbar or ileosacral areas)?

 

[KaraBulut]

The ones that I see that should be relatively safe are ones that isolate the shoulder, chest and arms.

So, bicep curls, triceps extension, chest flys on a flat bench- these are all things that don't place any stress on the lower back. I wouldn't suggest rows or anything that involves bending at the waist until you've cleared it with your surgeon.

I've seen patients who were required to lay flat- preferably on their stomach when possible- for weeks after their pilonidal surgery. It's good that you're looking to return to activity- it will help you regain strength and get back into normal. But start slow- this is one of those surgeries where surgeons really want you to take it easy.

 

[Seasoned]

I can't help with the strengthening plan, but as someone recovering from back to back surgeries I want to wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[bendted]

I'm amazed that doesn't rip open when taking a dump or at the very least be excruciatingly painful..

 

[kallipolis]

So what do you guys think? Right now, I want to use this recovery time to not only heal from my surgery (which I am beautifully!), but also to build up my upper body strength (which is about nothing lol). I'm open to suggestions and rewrites

If you are able to accept a little advice from a poster who has been weight training, longer than you have been alive, I would first advise you to avoid any weight training for at least three months from the date of your surgery.

Concentrate on recovering from your surgery. Eat and drink healthily. Take walks in your local park, or woodland where you can appreciate the beauty of the local scenery. Avoid jogging. Focus on long walks. Ensure that you are receiving sufficient quality sleep.

When you do eventually begin weight training it is wise to begin at a slow pace, and gradually increase your resistance training over a period of months. An over ambitious approach to weight training will often create painful injuries, and a loss of interest as a result of an obsessive short term approach to producing pleasing results.

The programme that you have posted is far too ambitious for a beginner of any age. Everything in moderation and you may well do as I have done, and embrace weight training as a life long hobby, that contributes significantly to improving ones appearance, and well being.

 

[Lostlover]

I had one of these. And the doctor (Brett Favre's sister of all people, one of my favorite athletes) and her aide held me down without telling me what would happen and went in with a scapel. She did this analgesics too.

Take it slow. The cysts were painful for me. I could barely walk.

 

[SexyGuy]

I'm amazed that doesn't rip open when taking a dump or at the very least be excruciatingly painful..

Actually, it doesn't hurt at all. My incision was quite small (only 6 cm long by 2 cm wide, maybe 0.75 cm deep) and when I do have to take a dump I don't force it - I just let nature go its course.