Lifting

my Doctor hasn't given me a clear answer on when I could start lifting say fifty pounds. I sure do not want to go backwards and after reading where some have had troubles after 6 weeks, I'm thinking 8 weeks after my open surgery. What I have to do is pull the back tires off my wife's car to check the rear brakes. I think a spring has broken on the drum brakes on this 15 year old car from the noise.

Randy

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12/06/07 DaVinci and LRP

Randy--The general rule of thumb with abdominal surgery is a wait of 6 to 8 weeks before lifting more than 10 lbs. The surgery requires an incision thru skin, fat, muscle layers and peritoneum.

Recovery is usually rapid--the peritoneum, skin and fatty layer heal within days. Muscle takes the strain of intra-abdominal pressure and requires healing in two stages: (1) A thickened inflexible scar forms with nerve endings (2) Scar tissue becomes flexible and adapts to movement.

Healing must be allowed to occur to prevent weakness in the scar line and potential for rupture or herniation of the abdomen thru the weakened muscles. Exercise can begin at about 6 weeks and gradually build up to full use of the muscles.

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Age 59 PSA 2.6 PSA velocity quadrupled in 1 yr 

Great information Tim. You know, I really didn't want to pull those wheels off. My wife threatened me a few minutes ago if she saw me the jack. I read a couple of post by people that lift weights and the problems they were having at 6 weeks.

Randy

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12/06/07 DaVinci and LRP

WD -- Wait at least 8 weeks before wrestling with tires or you'll wind up giving money to your doctor and your mechanic.
Trust me, it takes time for the internal muscles to heal.

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D.O.B - 8/9/52

PSA: First ever was 9.8 in late Oct. ‘06, two weeks later, 10.1

DRE: Negative

Biopsy results 11/22/06.  Both lobes involved.  Six out of eight cores positive - from 100 percent to 90, to 60, to 50, two 20s and two zeros.

Gleason 3+3 = 6

Da Vinci Robotic RP surgery, City of Hope, Jan 12, 2007

Post surgery pathology – Organ confined, Gleason still 6, margins clear.  Volume of tumor much less than biopsy suggested.  12 percent overall.

First post-surgery PSA -- Undetectable, 2/20/07

Second post-surgery PSA -- Undetectable, 9/11/07

Tim and Pianoman, I took your advice and carried the car to the shop. It might cost me a couple hundred but that beats the doctor's bills.

Thanks guys.

Randy

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12/06/07 DaVinci and LRP