[stevenagesteve]

Last week I had emergency abdominal surgery and I can’t find a huge amount of advice on returning to cycling. I know that for the first 4-6 weeks I’m only allowed to walk and cannot lift any significant weight.

Has anyone got any experience of this or useful advice please? I’m guessing climbing and peddling out of the saddle are the things I need to be most wary of.

Topic

[HarryTrauts]

Surgery is major trauma.
Surgery is major trauma. Take your time! While you’ll want to ride as soon as you can, the reality is that might be longer than you like. You can’t ride to get better so get better to ride.

Good luck

[StevePurcell]

I had significant abdominal
I had significant abdominal surgery it was 12 months before I got back on my bike.

[dotdash]

Rest, get better then
Rest, get better then return.

Your fitness will always come back, and it will build quickly.

I’m back up to 40 mile rides after a month and I had 7 months off, I’ve used it to change my training to have more hills.

[stevenagesteve]

Thanks for the advice. Taking
Thanks for the advice. Taking it easy is probably the best plan. Just need to keep walking to try and maintain some fitness until I can at least cycle on the flat.

I’ve got an appointment with a consultant in around 3 weeks as follow up so hopefully he can tell me how I’m doing and how to build up strength.

[ChrisB200SX]

Depends on the surgery, but
Depends on the surgery, but you should be speaking with your specialist/doctor and maybe a physio too.
I’m still recovering from abdominal surgery on Boxing day, I received very little advice except no heavy lifting for 6-7 weeks. It took me a number of weeks to feel like I could get on a bike, let alone ride it, that may have had more to do with the extent of my injuries, but I feel I’m mostly recovering from the surgery. I was told the abdomen will take 12 months to repair!
Hernias could be a major risk. Until you’ve been advised by experts I would recommend taking it VERY easy and stay away from the bike.
On a positive note, to give you hope, I’ve been able to run for about 3 weeks now, rode my MTB two weeks ago… and it was VERY hard work.

[CXR94Di2]

Try and sit on your bike. If
Try and sit on your bike. If it’s excruciating then don’t do it. If it only hurts a little go for a small ride. Better still if you have a exercise bike or turbo trainer at home. Same pain thresholds apply.

[2 Wheeled Idiot]

I wouldn’t ride at all until
I wouldn’t ride at all until you are comfortable day to day….well past the being allowed to walk time.
And when you do come back take it very easy….less than 5 miles and go with someone else that is carrying a mobile, just in case.
I have no first hand experience however and would recommend speaking to your doctor/s for advice.
Hoep its a shortish recovery 🙂

[Author]

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