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Post Prostatectomy Incontinence: When can I start bicycling again?

Posted by bcarr @bcarr, Mar 25, 2023

My first post here.

I am 66 and had my robotic prostatectomy in August 2022. I have experienced progress with my incontinence and am at 2 light shields and one pull up brief (for security) per 24 hour period. I am doing kegals daily and supported by a physical therapist.

Prior to my surgery I was an avid cyclist bicycling each day for transport and/or recreation. I had to stop for the surgery and have not been on the bike since. I realize this is a queston for my urologist but am curious to know if anyone with my history has ridden bicycles following prostate surgery (and subsequent incontinence) and suffered any ill effects. My obvious concern is not doing harm to my "plumbing" which may still be healing and may interupt progress toward reaching continence.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

mtb63 | @mtb63 | Mar 10 1:51pm

Hello fellow riders and PC survivors - hope this thread is still alive (I have read and greatly-appreciate all previous posts!)... 63 years, I am 6 months post N-SRP... (not sure % of nerve-sparing?)... daily mountain bike rider normally... have not been on bike in 6 months... still dealing with some incontinence (improved substantially since catheter removal - but progress is incremental). Want desperately to ride again - but still feel "pain" or "tenderness" along perineum (bike seat area) when pressure applied, and along urethra track after doing 3-4 sets of kegels daily... just bought new ERGON SMC Sport Gel Saddle (specific size and design to remove direct pressure on perineum) but still hesitant to ride due to pain/tenderness. I am remaining active with hiking, stationary recumbent bike, TRX/X-fit workouts - but NEED to bike!
*Any experience/advice from anyone who has been down this path?
*I also just started trying red light therapy (Infrared and near-IR) on perineum area - anyone tried/had success with/ or was cautioned against red light for this area?
Thanks much and best to all!!!

REPLY
2 replies
trusam1 | @trusam1 | Mar 10 9:15pm
In reply to @mtb63 "Hello fellow riders and PC survivors - hope this thread is still alive (I have read..." + (show)
@mtb63

Hello fellow riders and PC survivors - hope this thread is still alive (I have read and greatly-appreciate all previous posts!)... 63 years, I am 6 months post N-SRP... (not sure % of nerve-sparing?)... daily mountain bike rider normally... have not been on bike in 6 months... still dealing with some incontinence (improved substantially since catheter removal - but progress is incremental). Want desperately to ride again - but still feel "pain" or "tenderness" along perineum (bike seat area) when pressure applied, and along urethra track after doing 3-4 sets of kegels daily... just bought new ERGON SMC Sport Gel Saddle (specific size and design to remove direct pressure on perineum) but still hesitant to ride due to pain/tenderness. I am remaining active with hiking, stationary recumbent bike, TRX/X-fit workouts - but NEED to bike!
*Any experience/advice from anyone who has been down this path?
*I also just started trying red light therapy (Infrared and near-IR) on perineum area - anyone tried/had success with/ or was cautioned against red light for this area?
Thanks much and best to all!!!

Jump to this post

I returned to cycling three months after surgery. Mountain, gravel, time trial (triathlons), indoor trainer (Zwift), and standard road biking with long climbs (1-2 hours of climbing). I never had pain in the perineum. I have used saddles with a center cut-out for the past twenty five years. I started with 15 minutes indoors; when that went OK I progressively increased riding time by 15-20 minutes 3 times a week. A professional bike fit to ensure the saddle is not too high is essential IMO. Knees should remained flexed by about 15 degrees with the pedal at its lowest point.

REPLY
1 reply
mtb63 | @mtb63 | Mar 11 12:19pm
In reply to @trusam1 "I returned to cycling three months after surgery. Mountain, gravel, time trial (triathlons), indoor trainer (Zwift),..." + (show)
@trusam1

I returned to cycling three months after surgery. Mountain, gravel, time trial (triathlons), indoor trainer (Zwift), and standard road biking with long climbs (1-2 hours of climbing). I never had pain in the perineum. I have used saddles with a center cut-out for the past twenty five years. I started with 15 minutes indoors; when that went OK I progressively increased riding time by 15-20 minutes 3 times a week. A professional bike fit to ensure the saddle is not too high is essential IMO. Knees should remained flexed by about 15 degrees with the pedal at its lowest point.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the quick reply @trusam1 - much appreciated! Super-helpful with your progressive-return plan! I am thinking similarly. Glad to hear your return to cycling has been a success! I am a 35+-year mt biker and coach/instructor (not riding has had significant impact on me - mostly for the mental health benefits...). Bikes are custom-fit and seats are A-1 [I also have a pretty cool device for my seats that allows for angle change - depending on terrain (climb-descend-trail)] - to take pressure off and provide support (I have no stake in the product - but, now that I think about it, it could help men with these issues?): it's called an "Aenomaly Switchgrade" (can't post link - but it will come up on google I'm sure).
Anyways, I am hoping this feeling of "tenderness" or whatever it is goes away. I have been riding NordicTrack recumbent with "bench" style seat for 20-45 minutes without a problem for the past 3 months. I will likely start trying short, easy terrain rides in the next few weeks and see how it goes. Thank you again!

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 16 2:56pm
In reply to @mtb63 "Hello fellow riders and PC survivors - hope this thread is still alive (I have read..." + (show)
@mtb63

Hello fellow riders and PC survivors - hope this thread is still alive (I have read and greatly-appreciate all previous posts!)... 63 years, I am 6 months post N-SRP... (not sure % of nerve-sparing?)... daily mountain bike rider normally... have not been on bike in 6 months... still dealing with some incontinence (improved substantially since catheter removal - but progress is incremental). Want desperately to ride again - but still feel "pain" or "tenderness" along perineum (bike seat area) when pressure applied, and along urethra track after doing 3-4 sets of kegels daily... just bought new ERGON SMC Sport Gel Saddle (specific size and design to remove direct pressure on perineum) but still hesitant to ride due to pain/tenderness. I am remaining active with hiking, stationary recumbent bike, TRX/X-fit workouts - but NEED to bike!
*Any experience/advice from anyone who has been down this path?
*I also just started trying red light therapy (Infrared and near-IR) on perineum area - anyone tried/had success with/ or was cautioned against red light for this area?
Thanks much and best to all!!!

Jump to this post

@mtb63, you might also be interested in these related discussions:
- Cycling after radical prostatectomy (RP)? Increase risk of recurrence?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cycling-after-rp/
- Hill-walking/hiking after prostatectomy
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hill-walkinghiking-after-prostatectomy/
Keep up the kegels👍 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/prostate-cancer/?search=kegel#discussion-listview

Have you talked about the tenderness in the perineum with your surgeon or with a physical therapist?

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