Recovering after surgery

I guess you and me are in the same boat. I had some work on my hand a few weeks back and haven't been able to hit the bike with exams right after. Lucky for me, I got a part-time job at a local gym so I expect to be back in shape rather quickly.

I did finish one light ride about a week ago (five weeks after the surgery) and I didn't feel too bad. I couldn't nail out my typical wattage and I hit my LT a lot sooner. Anyway, best of luck in the upcoming season, hope you get back in shape quickly. 😉

DCWD said:

Hey guys,
I've been off the bike for 4 weeks after a surgery - the doc recommended no riding for 4-6 weeks, so I'll probably start up with some light spinning this weekend. I'm wondering what to expect of myself after such a long rest. So far, I've only gained a few pounds, but that's the wrong direction from my plan for the year. Anybody have experience getting back in the saddle after a mandatory break? How did you find yourselves reacting as you stepped up the intensity of your workouts (harder than you thought it would be, made you re-think starting back up again when you did, feel any of those internal stiches popping or stinging, etc)?

I broke my leg in a motorcycle accident 8 months ago and have just started again. When i say "Start Again" for me it really feels like i have had to start again. I should actually say that I had 2 screws put into my Tibia right at the Knee. I had broken a "Chunk" off the top of the Tibia.

Lucky for you it has only been about six weeks so your performance wont take as long to come back, i am stil working at 70-80% max HR and find it hard to keep going after about 40-45min.

I found my performance after a three-month recovery to be somewhat mixed. I had a shoulder injury, so I was able to spin at the gym after a month or so, but found it very difficult to stay motivated and within tolerable levels of pain/discomfort, so my fitness slipped. Anyway, once I got back on the road, it was clear that my endurance had declined. I still felt like I had a similar level of power, but could not sustain it nearly as long. This got me into trouble, because I would ride at my old intensities and quickly run out of gas. The regular centuries I had done before seemed like an entirely exhausting proposal - I could last a little more than half that distance to start. It didn't help that I was hit with two colds soon after I started training again.

I put on about five pounds (up from 165), and found I stayed at 170 until I started feeling that I could once again push myself towards my pre-injury levels. I'm back down to my fighting weight now.

I was elated to be back on the bike again, no matter that I felt weaker, slower and had lungs that wouldn't cooperate. There was no chance I was going to pack it in. I did occasionally notice old "growing pains" creeping in (e.g., ITB friction, etc.), but just like the first time I experienced these little pains, I knew they'd pass as I built strength and treated them the same way I did before.

* Edit: I should note that I felt like I had the same power as before, but the gearing I was using on the same inclines, before and after indicated somewhat otherwise.

DCWD said:

Hey guys,
I've been off the bike for 4 weeks after a surgery - the doc recommended no riding for 4-6 weeks, so I'll probably start up with some light spinning this weekend. I'm wondering what to expect of myself after such a long rest. So far, I've only gained a few pounds, but that's the wrong direction from my plan for the year. Anybody have experience getting back in the saddle after a mandatory break? How did you find yourselves reacting as you stepped up the intensity of your workouts (harder than you thought it would be, made you re-think starting back up again when you did, feel any of those internal stiches popping or stinging, etc)?

It all depends on the type of surgery and magnitude of the procedure. For example I had a major abdominal operation 5 years ago. It took a significant effort 8 days after to walk 4.4 miles in just one hour. Three weeks after I took a 12 mile ride and it was one of the most difficult rides I have undertaken.

Thanks. Kind of what I was expecting. Any bad experiences out there? Anybody start pushing too hard and have to do another week or two of recuperation?

I am at four months post open heart surgery. After having a valve replaced and an aneurism repaired. After two months off the bike I was able to get back on the windtrainer. With another month on the trainer before heading back on the road.

My fitness is just starting to come back and feel good again, as I think it is related to my resting heart rate which is finally starting to get back to close to pre-op.

Have heard of stories of coming back to early from similar surgery and the consequences aren't good. Don't rush it..