r/ProstateCancer • u/ImaginaryTouch5 • 1d ago
Question Weightlifting after RALP.
I’m 3 weeks out from surgery - recovering as expected-slow and steady. I would love to start returning to my pre surgery regular workout 🏋️ routine but only with 10lb or less weights/dumbbells. That means doing my normal body part routines but with extremely lightweight. Had catheter out last Wednesday the 20th. Still drip 💧 city when I’m up and around - doing Kegels 3-4 times a day. Really hoping to see some sort of change in dripsville soon-I am self admittedly and impatient little bastard but in a good way. It’s just that I have high energy (usually) and look forward to the day I can run and lift again. But I don’t mind at all if it’s baby steps.
Btw - my doc was like your ok to return to regular activity / just what you can tolerate. 😳
Thanks to all of your Warriors in the fight … 💪
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u/North-Pilot2750 1d ago
i, 45 yr old, feel your frustration. prior to my ralp on 1/6 of this year, i had myself in the gym and running and in the best shape i could get in the time i had before my surgery. but the best thing you can do for your body after surgery is rush back to the weight room. for all the reasons already mentioned but also its a mind fuck, pardon my french. even waiting 6 weeks (i had tried to sneak in a little lifting of items around the house before that and it went terribly), when i went back and did light weights, the drip was worse even when trying to clinch and hold it. i was going to the bathroom what felt like every 5-10 minutes. your body just had a major insult (🫡major insult) that being surgery. be patient. a few more weeks to heal and recover is better in the long run than rushing back too soon. hang in there brother, this whole thing is a marathon for life not just a one month sprint.
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u/Complete_Ad_4455 1d ago
Be real careful. Six weeks is just barely recovered as you may find out if you push it. Use the 10 lbs and make them feel heavy. Slow and higher reps. Then go up from there after six weeks not anywhere close to what you were doing pre surgery. Don’t get greedy. One wrong tweak and oh-oh. You had major surgery. Gym rat here.
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u/Natural_Welder_715 1d ago
Worried about the same thing. Can’t imagine what you’re going through. Hope you have a dry spell soon.
My RALP is 12/8 and I’ve been in the gym 6x-7x a week up until then losing my gut. Down almost 50 lbs since diagnosis in March. Another 25 to go if I can. I’m 6’5” so that amount is relative.
268.2 > 222.3 (17.1% of body weight)
I’m going to miss my gym and trainer so much for those few weeks at least. Hoping to get back at it after the 1st of the year.
I hurt my knees running 15+ years ago (and several many times since then) and they are finally feeling pretty good and can go forever on an elliptical. Upping my weights every week. Ramping up my kegels.
It’s been really helping with my anxiety and mental state around this and I don’t want to crash after surgery and fall into a pit.
Best of luck to you brother and a one-way ticket out of dripsville. 💧♥️
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u/panzerhund2384 1d ago
Take your time, I ended up with bilateral inguinal hernia's, kettle bell swings I believe, by exercising too early...not fun
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u/saabdeep 1d ago
Give it time my friend. I've been weightlifting since I was a teenager. Took 6 weeks off and started back the week after. Went right back to deadlifting bench press and squats, albeit with lighter weights. If you were lifting regularly before you'll get back at it no time, and avoid a hernia. All the best.
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u/Upset-Item9756 1d ago
RALP at 49 back in 23’. I’m a long time gym/ powerlifter and my advice would be to take it super slow and lift with your brain and not your muscles. Just because your muscles are capable of lifting heavy doesn’t always mean your insides going to agree. Even though we recover on the outside quickly , the insides take 6 months to one year depending on a variety of factors. I’ve heard of a few horror stories of guys tearing their urethra away from the bladder because of insufficient healing time and unfortunately one of those cases led to permanent incontinence. If you have been lifting for awhile you know how to listen to your body, please be careful.
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u/International_Angle6 1d ago
I'm only about a week and a half out from my surgery, but at my post-op the doctor said not to break a sweat for six weeks, bringing in groceries in is fine but leave that case of Costco water to someone else. He did say that he had patient who was a competitive triathlon athlete, he boasted about getting back to training three weeks outside of surgery... Said the bicycle damaged the healing urethra and permanently stunted his ability to be dry, said he's several years out from surgery now and still leaks. FWIW.
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u/Dabblingman 1d ago
Hey man, you probably get it, but the reason for no weightlifting is the multiple holes they punched in your abdominal walls for the robot. Don't push it on those til they are healed. Hernias ain't no fun! You'll be back soon enough, I promise!