Recovering After Surgery

zannalee02 · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:03 am Post subject: Recovering After Surgery

Anyone have any experience in this area? I had outpatient surgery last week, and I'm forbidden from lifting things and playing hockey for about a month. Crying or Very sad

I'm allowed some physical activity, but nothing strenous in the midsection. Anyone been here before? I want to make sure I heal completely, but I don't want to lose all of my flexibility and strength in the process. Also not sure how I should handle getting back into hockey-jump right in, or ease back in . . . Any tips, "gentle" stretches/exercises, ideas, or general wisdom would be appreciated!
_________________

"It's never good when you're tending goal and your number is facing out." - Daryl Reaugh

puckstopper35 · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:30 am Post subject:

Finally an area I can help Very Happy

I had hip surgery 4 years ago during the middle of my hockey season, and it sucked.

Are you going to physiotherapy? If not, you could talk to someone there and get them to help you. They'll gently ease you back into things, such as stretching, which will benefit your midsection from the surgery, and you can always ask them about other stretches too.

Obviously because our surgeries were different though it means the recovery method will change. Because mine was on my hip, I was allowed to run/jog for about 6 weeks for fear of wrecking what they had done. I did about 30 minutes walking to begin with until the pain gradually started to go away, then I walked for an hour about 4-5 times a week. I'd also do the stretches my physiotherapist showed me, and kept up with my arm weight lifting. Once my hip was cleared to start some strenuous activity (but not hockey yet), I used the weight machines to begin rebuilding the muscles in my thigh since most of them had lost a lot of strength during that time.

That's pretty much it, as the doctors say you're good to go, you can get back to your normal routine bit by bit. Don't go too fast though, otherwise you'll damage whatever you had repaired and it'll make it all useless.

Hope this helps Very Happy

_________________

GO HARD OR GO HOME.

zannalee02 · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:05 am Post subject:

Thanks a bunch, puckstopper-that does help. As you said, it sucks that this had to be done in the middle of the season, but it couldn't wait. I was having horrible attacks due to gallstones and a resulting infection. So my gallbladder had to come out pronto.

No therapy necessary, and today the doctor said things are looking good. I have to forego lifting and hockey for at least another two weeks, but then I can do whatever doesn't hurt. For now I'll stick to lighter exercise and stretches and work up from there. My abdominal muscles feel incredibly weak. I was able to walk a little the day of surgery, and I went back to work this week, so I imagine my recovery will be a lot easier than yours was! I never realized how closely ALL of our muscles are tied to our core until now. Every little task takes extra planning.

I guess getting back into hockey will depend on whether my right side is strong enough to take a puck. I wonder if there's a way to add a little extra padding, but I've got time to figure that out. At any rate, I will probably make the last month's worth of games, if not a few more.
_________________

"It's never good when you're tending goal and your number is facing out." - Daryl Reaugh

puckstopper35 · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject:

No problem Very Happy

It's a pain in the ass to deal with... and I was on crutches for the first 2 weeks which made it even harder to do anything.

As for adding the extra padding - I'm sure you could. It would just be a matter of what material to put in.

At least you're only out of hockey for two weeks... I was out for 3 months Sad

But now I play 10 times better than before since it's not constantly hurting me Very Happy

_________________

GO HARD OR GO HOME.

zannalee02 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:01 am Post subject:

3 months, yuck! I am really lucky, I'm glad my operation can be done so simply. My goaltending has been pretty bad lately-it's just no fun to play when it hurts. Now that all that extra pain is gone, I'm sure I'll play better. Oh yeah, not almost throwing up in my crease will help, too!
_________________

"It's never good when you're tending goal and your number is facing out." - Daryl Reaugh

montreal961 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:12 am Post subject:

Sucks when that happens, really.
_________________

zannalee02 · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:07 am Post subject:

I get to play with my team next week!!! Very Happy

Played some outdoor roller last night after a month off. I suck, I am slow, and I am weak, but I can play again. Now that I can get back to my normal exercise and activities, that will all come back. At any rate, the Sunday night crowd was glad to have their favorite goalie back! Laughing

_________________

"It's never good when you're tending goal and your number is facing out." - Daryl Reaugh

gimbo726 · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

zannalee02 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:14 am Post subject:

puckstopper35 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

Good to hear zannalee Very Happy

Best of luck on getting back up to speed, it's not as hard as some people make it sound.
_________________

GO HARD OR GO HOME.

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1685

what procedure did you have done...sounds like hyatal hernia to me.
go light and easy for now. This past season had a guy who is 60 have one done in our league, he was a player and he was skating with us again after two weeks.
give it a few days and then just dont push it, problem is not so much doing it as it is over doing, light exercise and not favoring to much actually stimulates healing.

zannalee02 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: