Core Exercises After Surgery & Beyond

The only warning I got was not to lift anything that is super heavy.

As far as how soon.. I was on light duty for 6 weeks after surgery.

Glad to hear your feeling better.

Hi there. I had the same questions after my surgery. I have later read that you should avoid heavy core training for a long time after surgery because you might develop more adhesions. Try google 'scartissue exercise' and 'adhesions exercise'.
I begun very soft,rehabilitating exercises just a few weeks after surgery. My last sugery was january 2012 and I am still very carefull though now my philosophy is doing yoga every day unless it feels wrong.
I have read about other people in here going abou it very different from me. Doing more hard exercise, going mountainclimbing etc just a few months after takedown. So all in all I think you are the only one who can tell what's good for you, by listening to the response of you body when exerciseing.

So glad you are feeling better. I think yoga is a great way to get started because it allows you to take things at your own pace. I'd hold off on pilates, that may be a bit much at first. I would say it is a little early yet for running. It took me a full year to feel like I could bounce up and down without my insides falling out!

For other future readers, I had a K-pouch for 2 1/2 years before going to a perm ileo. The old k-pouch stoma scar took forever to heal up. I still feel it when doing core work. But it has gotten better slowly but surly. Must be hard to close up a "wound" that has been open for so long. The muscles take awhile to figure out what's going on. For years that scar would twinge and twitch every time I did core work. It was a crazy feeling. Hope that helps others with the same experience feel more "normal."

Good luck with your recovery!

Rachel

Thank you for the suggestions!

lynne I do/did all sorts of exercising with my ileos. Running swiming, lifting weights, pilates, yoga.

for a starter program... I might suggest you do restorative yoga with a very good experienced teacher who can help you with the props to make sure you are comfortable. Also swimming.
You definitely could do pilates. But I would only recommend doing it one-to-one with a very experienced teacher. Pilates is great at helping build back up the core, fix hip problems, etc.. Pilates helped me so much after previous surgeries.

Also you could try a couch to 5K type of running program. Basically a slow introduction to running. Running definitely is not too jarring at all; however since you are not tremendously far past surgery your whole body is probably still recovering so you don't want to overwork too much.

So in summary if I was your trainer, I would initially have you do restorative yoga 2-3 times per week. Swim maybe two times a week. And start into a couch to 5K program.
good luck girl!

Great suggestions! Very helpful on all fronts. I've never heard of restorative yoga so will definitely check it out. I wish we lived closer so I could hire you to be my trainer. You rock!

Lynne,
I have a k pouch with an abdominal stoma so I get the point and the problem...I had hernia problems due to working out too soon post op (4-6 weeks post op) and I did stupid stuff like stair master, hill climbing etc to try and strengthen up my whole body...I paid with repeat peri-stomal hernias (hernia around the stoma...you don't want one).
Later on I finally figured out that my health came first...so, I started using the 2 sizes of yoga balls behind my back, gently rolling from side to side, back and forth with my feet both on the ground or pushed up against the wall (the sofa)....it felt like play, not work but boy did I muscle my abs fast! It still feels way too easy but the result is great...and it doesn't hurt my stoma or abdomen...
I am slowly building up my core strength including my back muscles and it helps a lot without the risk.
Sharon

Hi Sharon,
Can you explain the yoga ball thing in more detail? I recently had another resection, and stoma revision due to adhesions causing an obstruction. I really want to start my exercise routine again, but don't want to hurt myself. It's only been 3 weeks.

Thanks,
Shari

Shari,
3 Weeks is way too soon to start any abdominal exercises...I would wait until at least 6...then I would start out slowly.
I have 3 different sized balls...the biggest is the huge Swiss ball, it stands about 2 1/2 feet tall and I keep it blown up to just under full pressure.
Basically I start out by sitting on it, both feet flat on the floor and try to find my center of balance. I hold my arms out to the sides and then I then bounce slowly up and down (like little kiddies do) without getting too rough. Keep your back strait. Tighten your tummy muscles.
After 1 or 2 minutes I stop, breath deeply and then repeat (3-5xs in all)...then I slowly slide forward down on the ball, keeping it at my back. I keep my feet on the floor and my back as strait as I can. I then do deep breathing and ity-bity, teeny-tiny situps...I just tighten my abs and raise my upper body a couple of inches at a time. I also rock back & forth/side to side in tiny movements.
Next (facing the sofa or a wall), I get my balance and then put one foot after the other flat against the wall (mean that my butt is hanging in the air between the ball and the wall). I then use my feet/legs to rock back and forth/side to side.
Doesn't feel like hard work, doesn't really raise a sweat but in a few weeks you really start to feel the difference.
Just don't over do it!
Sharon

Thank you Sharon! I won't begin yet, but I will start shopping for balls!