When Can I Start Swinging Golf Clubs After Surgery?

I'm almost 7 weeks out from surgery. I go now with my boys, but I just putt and chip from close to the green. The nurse said probably 3 to 4 months to swing. Any golfers out there? How long did you wait?

Not sure there's a right or wrong answer to that, as everyone will heal at their own pace. I wouldn't want to go through a full swing and tear something internally; then you'll really be “out” for a while.

Hi kill,

  That golf swing of yours really puts some stress on those abdominal muscles.......the same ones that were just split and stitched back together.  I'd plan on working out your abdomen, slowly advancing in the range of the exercises and build up your muscles' strength and flexibility, rather than waiting for a time doing relatively nothing and then shocking the shit out of them.  Besides the muscles themselves there's also 3 layers of fascia to consider that cover the abdominal muscles.  Each layer has a different amount of flexibility, and once cut and sewn back together develop scar tissue.........that's NOT very flexible.  Tears in the fascia are usually the beginnings of an unstoppable hernia.  So building up the flexibility of the muscles and adjoining fascia is really important before going ape shit with the clubs.  Just take it slow and steadily increase your range of motion, etc, building up to the range of your full swing.  That might sound like overkill, but you only have to tear that fascia once and you've got trouble.  As for the actual time if you just chose to wait and do noting in the interim..........I don't know.  I'm curious to hear what the other golfers on here have to say.  I've always heard 6 months to get back to 'normal'.......but everyone's 'normal' is different.  

;O) 

I have been doing quite a bit in the 6 weeks since surgery: walking, stair climbing, and ab work. I started cycling today. However, a hernia is my biggest fear with this new urostomy. I have been going to the golf courses with my sons, but I just putt and chip from close to the green. I'll continue my exercise regimen and look at starting an easy full swing of the clubs sometime in April or May, depending on how I feel.

I was hoping a golfer would chime in and say when they started and how they did.

My surgeon gave me these guidelines to start about 3 months after RC (after 3 month follow-up scan):

Wedges only for 2 weeks.

High irons next 2 weeks.

Mid irons next 2 weeks.

Low irons/hybrids next 2 weeks.

Driver/fairway woods next 2 weeks.

I went to the driving range 2-3 times a week - once I started playing, I began with 9 holes for a couple of rounds and added a few more holes every couple of rounds.
Doc emphasized being very mindful of any sharp pains or discomfort more than general soreness - obviously stop immediately in that case. I did use a stealth belt the first few rounds until I got comfortable with how I would handle it. That would be good for racquetball as they have a hard insert to protect the stoma. I was almost 70 when I had surgery after about 3 1/2 years of treatments for 2 cancers. Just to give you a frame of reference. My surgery was in April 2021, and I'm playing regularly and also doing yoga, walking, and going to the gym.
Good luck and keep it in the short stuff!

Avoiding Ostomy Bag Leaking | Managing Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden

Just join this site! I had my surgery on August 24, 2022 - played my first 18 holes on November 30, 2022. I played once a week, then twice a week, and now I play 3-4 times a week. I went from a 7 handicap to a 15 and now back to a 9. It's been a long 20 months, but I'm glad to be playing again and being somewhat competitive. Billy

Do you use the stealth belt regularly?
Which stealth belt? The one for $155 or the Amazon one for $40?
Also, vertical or horizontal belt?