Hill-walking/hiking after prostatectomy

If you can do it, then great. I would get the doc's advice first, though.

I can only relate my experience...after my surgery in March 2014, I met with my surgeon a week after the surgery to go over the pathology report. I asked if I could gradually resume activities. His answer, yes, in moderation, gradually, his two concerns', resistance training, and riding bikes. He did not say no to either but he said to start slow on the lifting weights and kick the bike riding down the road a few weeks.

So, I resumed resistance training, aerobic conditioning on the elliptical, swimming, walks along the trails near our house, usually 2-3 miles, even played basketball again...

Those were activities I did regularly before the surgery.

So, hiking in the mountains given where you are, almost two months out with no issues, may be fine.

Kevin

For myself, when returning to previous activities after time off from injury, surgery, or just plain sloth, the big risk is doing too much, too soon, too hard. My advice as a retired surgeon is to start at one-third the level you were at before surgery and progressively increase aiming to get back by 6 to 8 weeks. This applies to time, distance, intensity, any parameter. Your future muscles and joints will thank you come May...

I found that those kinds of hikes at 3 months out were doable, but taxing. (2-3 hours was more of a limit than a comfort zone.) I had a lot of pelvic soreness which I now understand to be due to a greatly weakened abdominal core. I'm now out 2 years and have been intentionally strengthening my pelvic floor and abdominal core for about a year. I seldom have that soreness but I have also dropped 20+ pounds. I think my muscle tone is still recovering. I'm 67.
I started biking at 6 months, but was much more limited (bike 30, rest 15, bike 15, rest 10, ...) In particular, it was time on the bike, not exertion. Lifting off the seat as much as possible, finding better seats, etc. By 18 months I could do 2 hours/25 miles flattish. As others have said, particular experiences seem all over the place. My urologist was also of the opinion that I could stretch my limits, but should pay attention to them.

One question: did your surgeon say if there were any effects on your PSA from bike riding, even though your prostrate has been removed? I can’t seem to get a definite answer. Thanks

He nor any of my subsequent medical team have told me not to ride my bike within 72 hours of my PSA test, and I've had a lot in these ten years.

They have told me to try and use the same labs, same time if the day, be well hydrated....

Like you, I haven't found a definitive source so have followed the advice of my medical team. They do say not to exercise the morning of my labs, a hydration issue...

So @jdt, how is recovery going? Have you started uphill walking in moderation? What did the doctor recommend?

Hi, thanks to everyone for all the comments and advice. The reason I posted the question was because my doctor was very vague about when I should start hill-walking again, his advice being: "Take it easy and see how you feel, don't overdo things." So, I'm going on a three-hour walk next week, mostly on the flat, will see how that goes and take it from there!