Post RP, will stairs be a problem right after surgery?

Posted by themurfs @themurfs, Apr 20 10:39am

My husband is having a robotic assisted radical prostatectomy in early June. We will be traveling to Mayo and have secured a place to stay but we were concerned because it has a flight of stairs to get up to the unit. Does anyone know if stairs will be a problem immediately after surgery and the first few days following? Thanks for any feedback!

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

brownsf | @brownsf | Apr 23 9:24pm

I had a robotic RP and, several years later, a robotic partial nephrectomy. The incisions, which are the most likely sources of any pain, are relatively small--much smaller than in open surgery. I had no trouble going up and down stairs. I did feel some mild incision tenderness and used Tylenol for pain. Just to add...I rented a lift chair for a month after each surgery. Very comfortable, very adjustable, raises you to a standing position when wanted, minimizing abdominal stress.

spino | @spino | Apr 24 6:50am

Movement for me was uncomfortable, but I was at home beginning the first night after surgery and I slept every night in my bed on the second floor while spending a lot of the early days in a recliner on the first floor. Because the perineum is what we sit on, sitting is the most uncomfortable, walking, standing, and lying down not so much. A recliner is a good alternative to lower pressure on the perineum.

maxvt | @maxvt | Apr 25 4:45am

My robotic surgery was in August ‘22. I had discomfort but no pain, stayed mostly in bed (no recliner) and had only 4 steps to enter/leave the condo. I was at the grocery store 2-3 days later. It was to be outpatient but surgery was delayed and I only left recovery at 11:30 pm.

I STRONGLY advise having several weeks of Pelvic Floor PT before AND after surgery. With this I was 100% continent. Find a PT clinic where there is a DPT in PT, such as Baylor Scott & White in Austin.

Best o’ luck!

themurfs | @themurfs | Apr 25 7:53am

In reply to @maxvt "My robotic surgery was in August ‘22. I had discomfort but no pain, stayed mostly in..." + (show)

Thank you for this. We live in Oregon and we will be traveling to Mayo in Arizona. I will look today to see if we have a PT here that specializes in this. Thank you!

milans | @milans | Apr 25 10:46am

Thanks for this. My surgery is coming up
In two weeks. I did start PT and have already noted improvement in my preexisting urge inconvenience. It helps to have a better idea of what too expect. Thanks

batsam10 | @batsam10 | Apr 27 3:22pm

No issues with stairs when I got home as long as you go slowly. I’m quite surprised there won’t be an overnight stay after the Prostatectomy. I stayed one night and was sent home the following morning.

I also like to mention that I was surprised at how little the pain was. Uncomfortable the first 2 days but that was it. Make sure to walk as much as possible. I believe that contributed to feeling as well as I did the first week.