Post-Surgery Rehab/Exercises for Colostomy Recovery

Replies
5
Views
1122
PaddyMan
Mar 02, 2024 1:27 am

I'm 2 weeks post-colostomy surgery and looking for some sort of rehab/exercise program to follow to gradually build back to full activity. Is there any physiotherapist on this forum or anyone who was very active prior to their surgery that has a guideline to follow?

Even just exercises (low weight/body weight) that are deemed safe in terms of hernia prevention.

aTraveler
Mar 02, 2024 3:05 am

Routines to ease you back in the flow if you are not currently seeing a PT:

https://www.convatec.com/ostomy-care/living-with-an-ostomy/lifestyle-support/me-recovery-series/

 

past member

After I got my ostomy I found this site and got a lifetime membership. I have had so much help from the core members, things that even the wound care nurses didn't know. If you haven't been through this journey you don't know - only the people that have experienced this first hand truly understand what your going through. The support is enormously helpful getting through this. Afterwards when you start to learn how to deal with this new normal you can begin to help others.  ...mtnman. 

ron in mich
Mar 02, 2024 2:01 pm

Hi Paddy, 2 weeks in is kind of early for working out. You may feel healed on the outside, but internally not so much. If anything, maybe just do some walking and gentle stretching.

TerryLT
Mar 02, 2024 10:20 pm

Two weeks post-surgery is too early to be doing much more than walking, and walking is really good. Another two to four weeks and you could start some gentle exercise, being careful of lifting too much weight or stressing your abdominals too much. You are at very high risk for hernia and need to be cognizant of that. If you Google post-ostomy surgery exercises, you will find lots of info and videos on gentle routines to help you get back in shape. Depending on what your previous level of fitness was, you may not totally get back to where you were. Your risk of hernia will never go away, a sad reality. My post-ostomy workout is not what it used to be, but I'm happy with my fitness level.

Terry

IGGIE
Mar 03, 2024 12:47 pm

Take Ron and Terry's advice and let it all heal or you're going to pop it wide open. Regards, IGGIE

 

Tips on Hernia Prevention with Collin | Hollister

Play
CrappyColon
Mar 05, 2024 10:46 pm

My surgeons/other doctors have always prescribed PT for me after surgeries. If you're doing what a PT says, at least you know the exercises are safe for you to do. At your stage, I think walking is usually the prescription 😀