Robot-assisted prostatectomy: How soon can I play golf again?

Posted by davidbrandi01 @davidbrandi01, 5 days ago

My Gleason score is4+4 (8). Localized in the prostate only. Waiting for surgery date. How soon after surgery could I play 18 holes of golf ?

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jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | 5 days ago

3 weeks probably.

stevecando54 | @stevecando54 | 5 days ago

I think you have to consider if you've played golf in the past, just saying

chipe | @chipe | 5 days ago

In reply to @stevecando54 "I think you have to consider if you've played golf in the past, just saying" + (show)

🙂

chipe | @chipe | 5 days ago

Depending on where you live, I would give it about 3-4 weeks. Just to let the incisions (interior/exterior) heal up.

davidbrandi01 | @davidbrandi01 | 5 days ago

In reply to @stevecando54 "I think you have to consider if you've played golf in the past, just saying" + (show)

I am 75 and play twice a week. Looking for March date. We get rain and snow starting now until March so this is perfect 😎

jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | 5 days ago

In reply to @davidbrandi01 "I am 75 and play twice a week. Looking for March date. We get rain and..." + (show)

At 75 you may not recover as quickly so it may take you four weeks or five weeks. No way to really know.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 5 days ago

@davidbrandi01, I expanded the title of your discussion to reflect your question and to bring other golfers into the discussion. Here are some related discussions:

- Recovery after Robotic Prostatectomy
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recovery-after-robotic-prostatectomy/
See all https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/prostate-cancer/?search=prostatectomy%20what%20to%20expect&index=discussions

What do you think about making a plan for a gradual return to the game? There's many aspects to the game that you could introduce before doing a full 18 holes, right?

- Ride in the cart and "coach" your golf-mates. Make sure you're ready for the jostling (and that your mates are ready for your backseat commentary. 🙂
- Walk. Keep up your stride to walk the green.
- Putting practice.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who has never played golf and never had a prostate. 😉 I'm just spitballing about ideas you can bring to your surgeon.

peterj116 | @peterj116 | 4 days ago

I've never played, either.
But twisting your body to swing & leaning down to place the ball?
You can try it, but you won't like it.

Play pre-surgery, but afterwards, stick to golfing video games for a while.

tomf | @tomf | 4 days ago

I waited 6 weeks after my RALP to play golf and pickleball. My wounds were healed fairly well and I had walked a lot by then to get back in some shape. My biggest concern was the incontinence that I still exhibited. I changed pads at the turn which slowed us down but my friends were very accommodating. I will say my first few rounds were tentative swings at best.

ricardo7 | @ricardo7 | 4 days ago

I don’t play golf but I’d give it 6 weeks. Golf is a sudden motion and involves all the core muscles. I know one guy who played after 4 weeks and he undid a lot of what had been done. He needed a follow up operation and is out of action for several more weeks now. Everyone is different but recover fully first