Mr Elijah Ablorsu MD, FRCS, FEBS
Rehabilitation after hernia surgery
Key remainders of recovery:
1. Every body heals at a a different pace. It takes time. Be patient.
2. Listen to your body. If you experience pain or weaknes, give yourself rest.
3. Slowly build up intensity of physical activities and exercise.
2. Listen to your body. If you experience pain or weaknes, give yourself rest.
3. Slowly build up intensity of physical activities and exercise.
Day 1 after surgery:
Goal:
• To overcome the effect of anesthesia
• Control post-operative pain and fatigue
• To avoid straining at stool
• Control post-operative pain and fatigue
• To avoid straining at stool
Rehabilitation:
♦ Rest
♦ Regular oral pain medication
♦ Start indoor activities
♦ Adequate fluid intake (more than 2l/day) and high fiber diet
Week 0-2
Goal:
• Prevent wound infection• Control post-operative pain
• Return to normal activities
Rehabilitation: ♦ Basic activities of daily living (avoid lifting > 10kg)
♦ Self-monitoring of body temperature, swelling at surgical side, urination problem
♦ Oral pain control as required
♦ Wound dressing removal
• Exercise:Gentle stretching (adductors, trunk rotation)
• Walking 15-30 min twice a day (at a beginning avoid stairs)
Important: careful self-monitoring, progress activities only if not pain!!!
Week 2-4
Goal:
• To prepare return to non-strenuous work
• Build up
• Build up
Rehabilitation:
♦ Normal activity of daily living
♦ Return to non-strenuous/sedentary work
♦ Exercise:
• Cardiovascular
♦ Return to non-strenuous/sedentary work
♦ Exercise:
• Cardiovascular
· Walking > 30min
· Bike (easy gear, progressing from 15 to 30 min)
· Swimming (if wounds healed)
• Stretchin
· Bike (easy gear, progressing from 15 to 30 min)
· Swimming (if wounds healed)
• Stretchin
• Strengthening (dynamic core program, focus on spine and breathing)
Week 4-8
Goal:
• To prepare to return to work
• Full physical activities
• Full physical activities
Rehabilitation:
♦ Continue Stretching and Cardio program
♦ Begin dynamic sports (football, golf, rocket sports, running)
♦ Start advanced strength program
♦ Begin dynamic sports (football, golf, rocket sports, running)
♦ Start advanced strength program
Important: if you feel some pain the next day when exercise, avoid sport until that has cleared and then reassume at the same intensity!!!