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MarkWestman
Trad climber
Talkeetna, Alaska
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 27, 2016 - 09:53pm PT
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I am interested to hear from anyone who has had open abdominal surgery, and your experiences in recovery and getting back into rock climbing.
I had a very invasive, major open surgery on May 12th involving a 9" diagonal incision from midline to my left side. My recovery has gone really well and after a conservative but steady progression of exercises, I'm now able to lift weights, hangboard, and do pull ups, and about a week ago I climbed for the first time. So far so good.
I'm basically on the program of doing nothing that causes pain, obviously, and because of work commitments I don't have any plans for serious climbing until October, by which point I'll be five months post-op.
But I'd appreciate hearing about others experiences- how long it took to get back to full strength, how long you "guarded" the area, any complications you experienced. I'm obviously wary of tearing a hernia and so even when I get back into it full swing this fall I intend to spend the first month or two just cruising nice long moderates (not to mention that this whole process has weakened me and I need to rebuild my base).
Thank you in advance.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Jul 27, 2016 - 09:57pm PT
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I had a large hernia (open surgery) 20 odd years ago repaired the old fashioned way.
So nothing like your surgery but it took me a few years to really be pain-free.
It'd strike at odd times, often a couple days after a particularly hard climb.
Just take it slow. Blowing your bowels out is to be avoided.
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jstan
climber
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Jul 27, 2016 - 09:57pm PT
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A couple days after my 8" abdominal surgery in 1996 I worked on my roof under the 240V power line. Had to do extreme sit ups. Got a minor hernia. Doctor put in some sort of fiberglass(?) sheet. No pain.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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Jul 27, 2016 - 10:19pm PT
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Listen to the reminders when you may have pushed too hard.
You didn't become the climber you are by being a wimp, this is not scaled on that metric.
Rebuilding your base may be one of the more rewarding challenges you've had!
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MarkWestman
Trad climber
Talkeetna, Alaska
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2016 - 01:48pm PT
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Rebuilding your base may be one of the more rewarding challenges you've had!
I am in fact very much looking forward to this part, as well as the refreshing nature of a fall road trip that is free from the pressure of climbing any particular routes, or grades. Rather, time spent in nature with friends, and experiencing the simplicity of movement over rock is all I desire.
After spending much of my spring months this year wondering if I would still be alive in the autumn, that I can even dare to dream of something so comparatively trifling as going climbing again only expands the gratitude I have for each day of my life.
Thank you for sharing your advice and experiences.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:07pm PT
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Just take it slow. Blowing your bowels out is to be avoided.
I've had left and right inguinal hernia repairs (old-fashioned, not laproscopic) in my 40's. The advice above is the best I could have given.
The surgeries did give me an unexpected boon, however. About two weeks after my first surgery, my surgeon said it was OK to play golf, as long as I took it easy. The first round I played after surgery was in the week of the US Open, and my club had a tournament where they pretended to be the USGA. They took away all but the farthest back tees, narrowed the fairways, let the rough grow, double-cut the greens, and placed the flagsticks in malicious (and, in at least one case, illegal) locations on the greens.
Because of the surgery, I had to slow down my swing, which resulted in an abnormally low score. I finished third in the tourney, which netted me a decent sum, not to mention certain bragging rights in the clubhouse. So if you participate in that rare golfing/climbing biathalon, the surgery may benefit you on the course.
John
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clode
Trad climber
portland, or
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:21pm PT
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In 2000, at age 45, I had to have hernia surgery. I was playing in a pick-up Ultimate Frisbee game, and played as though I was the age as most of the players on the PSU campus where I worked (i.e., 20-somethings). Doh! I discovered the hard way that while my mind remembered what I could do at 20, my body couldn't! Needless to say, the surgery was successful, and the recovery time was about 1 month of taking it easy and taking the bus, not my bike, to work. Soon thereafter I was able too play and run again, pain free. But since then I have made conscious efforts to go slower and not try to keep up with 20-somethings!
I like your attitude of going out to enjoy whatever it is you can do, and don't focus on trying to achieve any certain grade or route difficulties. Remember, cherish every day! The best day climbing (and retreating, if necessary), is the one where you come back, uninjured, to enjoy a beer (OK, several), talking about your day out and more to come!
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Pewf
climber
Gunnison, CO
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Aug 12, 2016 - 12:19pm PT
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Lying around recovering from a hysterectomy and repair to my pelvic floor on Monday. I'm having a hard time with the notion that I'm not going to do myself any favors by overextending as a means to get stronger, faster. At least not yet.
I'm concerned about long-term core strength. I had some older damage from childbirth but suspect that I aggravated the herniation by lifting heavy stuff (and maybe by an aggressive core-strength program?). Hoping the doc can give me some good advice on strengthening without injuring.
But comparing the little laparoscopic incisions to open surgery, I feel really lucky. A robot did my actual procedure, which was neat.
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Aug 12, 2016 - 12:39pm PT
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Currently two days in from my Open Inguinal Hernia repair with a six inch incision.
In talking with the Surgeon he tells me that it takes 6 weeks before enough muscle tissue has bonded into the mesh insert to stand a reasonable chance of not pulling free - but only with light to moderate stresses. It won't be until 12 weeks that the mesh will be considered fully bonded and the repair deemed complete.
As for the next 2 weeks - I'm told to avoid hard coughs, sneezes or even laughs as the intra-abdominal pressure can reach a point where the mesh sutures could pull free.
Found a quick read from the BCMJ that follows this general timeline with explanation of the forces involved.
http://www.bcmj.org/articles/timing-return-work-after-hernia-repair-recommendations-based-literature-review
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