Working out after RARP

You can search here, this topic has been widely covered. My understanding is you should stay away from anything strenuous for at least a month maybe 6 weeks. Check with your surgeon.

One big concern is you're very susceptible to hernia for a while after surgery. I did a lot of walking just to keep moving in the first few weeks after surgery. I went about daily activities as well, shopping, errands etc.. At two weeks I wouldn't attempt, yoga, body weight routines or weight routines yet. At least not without clearance from the surgeon.

Good Luck to you!

I agree. I had what I would call a rather uneventful surgery. I had been active prior. However Covid hit and closed all the gyms. I tried to do some moderately active things in the yard and projects at about 3 weeks and started bleeding. I stuck to the walking and Dr's instructions. I also kept my walking to easy or moderate. Probably about the 6 weeks. I have wondered if that may have led to the fact I have incontinence. I had testing at Mayo last year and testing revealed no apparent issues. Its 6-8 weeks of pretty important weeks out of your life. I would just walk and take it easy.

I was very active before RARP as well and I mostly stuck to walking. You'll feel better far sooner than your body is healed. I can tell you that my capacity to do manual labor projects around my house - as in all day, sweaty heavy lifting wipe-your-butt-out type projects - is still not where it was pre-RARP from 7 months ago. Healing takes time.

After catheter removal I started walking on the the treadmill - not too slowly but let your body be your guide.
I would recommend no inclines initially but if you feel no hitches in your stitches, do what feels comfortable.

I had RARP on 6/18. Prior to surgery, I was running 5-6 days per week and working out 3 days per week. I love running and tolerate weight training because I know it's good for me. My surgeon told me I could get back into running and very light weights after four weeks, although the official orders said no lifting >10lbs for six weeks.

I started walking the night of surgery and had progressed up to six miles at a time by week four. At that point, I started running again at a very slow pace, 20 minutes at first and gradually increasing distance and days. I'm back to 5-6 days per week, anywhere from 20 minutes up to six miles (favorite hilly course). I'm still running at slower average pace than before surgery and haven't started back with treadmill HIIT workouts yet. I've also started working out again with light weights, low intensity, and no core-specific exercises yet. I think I tested those waters around 5 weeks but have been much more hesitant with weights for fear of a hernia.

I'm happy with my pain-free progress and am taking a long view for returning to 'good' physical fitness. No hurries, no worries.

Make no mistake; RARP is major surgery. Those internal stitches need time to heal. I had RARP 14 months ago. I strictly followed my doctors orders to lift nothing greater than 10 lbs for 6 weeks after the catheter came out. Even after the 6 weeks I eased back into my workouts. I still had some perinium pain when I sat on a very narrow bench in the gym, so I listened to my body and avoided the narrow benches for a while longer until that pain went away. I think it paid off as I had a fairly uneventful recovery and I'm very much back to normal now. Best wishes.

The moral of the story, I think, from me, @heavyphil, @psychometric and @retireditguy is to listen to your doctor (6 weeks at least for lifts over 10-15lbs) and listen to your body.

While my perineal pain is pretty much in the rear-view mirror, my incisions still itch and one that didn't close properly still hurts from time to time - this past weekend I had quite a bit of pain with it. Don't push it.

I was given strict instructions to not lift anything over 10 pounds for a full 6 weeks after RARP. I was encouraged to walk move etc but not push myself run bike etc. There were a couple of times where I moved too quickly and I felt the Sutures Stitches etc. My first PT sessions were slow and easy. My surgeon told me that the six week limit was so that I did not get a hernia. They also said that If I did get a hernia and had to have additional surgery to repair it the recovery after that would be long difficult and painful. As pointed out RARP is Major surgery it's not a procedure. Mine was done in May and some of my dissolvable stitches are just now working themselves to the surface and finally out.

The final stitch will still be working itself out for a while. I think my final stitch on my last incision finally came out. Itched like mad, finally stopped scabbing. My surgery was end of January.

just turned 75. Had RARP about 12 years ago, All PSAs had been undetectable until they weren't 3 years ago. Had 37 salvage radiation Tx. Most recent PSA last week showed decrease from .18 to .16 over last three months. I lift heavy weights 4xweek and walk 30-35 miles/week, 30 minute sessions on treadmill at 3 mph and incline of 8 gradually increasing to 15 and feel great. So am an advocate of exercise. Don't sit around and wait to die. Also helping my son coach my grandson in baseball. Now on active surveillance with PSA every 3 months, which keeps you a bit anxious as that approaches but try not to be overwhelmed.