Getting in Shape for Surgery

[Mojo's Mom]

I've been told that I need to get into the best possible aerobic condition before surgery, and I'm curious what others have done.

I'm currently doing 45 minutes on an elliptical trainer 3 times a week, and 30 minutes of swimming 3 times a week. I can't walk any distance without pain due to a pinched nerve at L5 that sends intolerable pain down my left leg.

How fit do I need to be? Am I doing enough?

Surgery is, I hope, more than a year out.

[JenM]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I booked my surgery in November 2009 and just had my surgery this past June. I decided in Sept 2009 I was going to have the surgery and I wanted to get in the best possible shape. I had my second child in 2007 and never lost the baby weight. From Sept '09 to June 2010 I lost around 40 pounds. Then after surgery I lost another 20 (due to meds, I lost my appetite). Anyway, I think it's good that you get in the best possible shape that you can. All I did is walk on the treadmill 5 days a week, for 35-40 minutes and ate pretty good. I cut out all the sodas and fruit drinks, basically just drank milk, water and OJ. Also ate smaller portions. Was shocked the 40 lbs came off so fast. I also had pain limiting me on how much I could exercise. For the past 3 years, I have had throbbing foot pain (which I believe is coming from the S-I joint in the back) which really flares up when I walk, but due to the fact I was having an upcoming surgery, I fought through it and put up with the pain.

So good luck with your workouts. I would definately try to lose some weight as I believe it would be harder to take off the weight once you have the hardware in your back. You'll feel much better. Exercise will also help to alleviate some of your anxiety about the operation, at least it did for me.

Good luck!!

JenM

[debbei]

I walked 5-6 times per week prior to surgery, about 45 min to one hour each. I think I was in good aerobic condition at the time.

Editing to add, if you're looking to lose weight now, remember you'll probably lose some post-surgery. I think I lost 15 (due to pain meds and low appetite) over the first few months, but then once I started eating regularly it came back.

[debbei]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I booked my surgery in November 2009 and just had my surgery this past June. I decided in Sept 2009 I was going to have the surgery and I wanted to get in the best possible shape. I had my second child in 2007 and never lost the baby weight. From Sept '09 to June 2010 I lost around 40 pounds. Then after surgery I lost another 20 (due to meds, I lost my appetite). Anyway, I think it's good that you get in the best possible shape that you can. All I did is walk on the treadmill 5 days a week, for 35-40 minutes and ate pretty good. I cut out all the sodas and fruit drinks, basically just drank milk, water and OJ. Also ate smaller portions. Was shocked the 40 lbs came off so fast. I also had pain limiting me on how much I could exercise. For the past 3 years, I have had throbbing foot pain (which I believe is coming from the S-I joint in the back) which really flares up when I walk, but due to the fact I was having an upcoming surgery, I fought through it and put up with the pain.

So good luck with your workouts. I would definately try to lose some weight as I believe it would be harder to take off the weight once you have the hardware in your back. You'll feel much better. Exercise will also help to alleviate some of your anxiety about the operation, at least it did for me.

Good luck!!

JenM

Jen,
did your foot pain go away? I know that initially you said it did, but then thought you felt it again during your early recovery? Here's hoping it's gone for good.

FYI, it's not harder to take weight off with hardware in the back. At this point for me, it's easier because I feel so good. My surgeon thinks it is very important to exercise regularly post-surgery as well. Since my spine has totally fused, I can do normal exercises with absolutely no problems or pain whatsoever. I've been exercising regularly since this past January and lost about 15 lbs. I'm happy with how I look AND how I feel now.

Yesterday at my zumba class, one of the men said, 'oh Debbe your back must be feeling REALLY good; look how you're jumping!' That made me feel really good. I feel normal now.

[Mojo's Mom]

I am 5'10" and 125 pounds, so I don't think I had better lose any weight!

I was more concerned about getting into shape in terms of aerobic fitness and overall strength.

[KathK]

Hi,
I had also walked about 4-5 times a week for 3-4 miles each time. I was never "a runner" :-).

In addition, about 7 months prior to my surgery, I started to use weight machines at the YMCA about 3 times a week. I really focused on increasing the strength in my arms, legs, and abdomen. I had no back pain prior to surgery, so this was not hard for me to do.

The year prior to my surgery, I had lost about 20 pounds.

Went I had my pre-opt with Dr. Lenke, his focus was solely on aerobic exercise. I believe that the surgeons want your heart and lungs to be strong for the surgery.

I'm surprised now that though I still weight the same 123 lbs I did prior to surgery, but weight seems to have moved from my legs (muscle tone is way down) to my abdomen (swelling). Oh well, this will hopefully resolve itself over time.

I still believe that it is good to have strong arms to lift yourself up and out of chairs (triceps important).

[Mojo's Mom]

Kathy, my spine specialist said the same thing about stressing aerobic exercise, and I assumed the same reason you say, they want your circulatory system strong for the surgery. I've just been wondering how much is enough and what other people have done. Probably the more, the better.

And strength makes sense, too.

[Pooka1]

If I was getting in shape for surgery, I would NOT eat this...

http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/?p=461189619

or this...

http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/?p=239234457

[debbei]

If I was getting in shape for surgery, I would NOT eat this...

http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/?p=461189619

or this...

http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/?p=239234457

Sharon,
I think I"m going to be sick...especially after looking at #1!!

[Pooka1]

Sharon,
I think I"m going to be sick...especially after looking at #1!!

Me too, especially because I've been a vegetarian since April 1981.

[Susie*Bee]

Mojo's Mom-- my surgeon explained to me that since this is a stressful surgery that can last several hours, it is very taxing on the patient. He said it is important to go into it with your heart in fairly good condition. You don't have to workout like a super jock, but he told me to at least do some stationary bike or treadmill exercising for those last few months that would work my heart. So I worked diligently to do that. Any aerobic workouts are great. Some of us can't do strenuous stuff, but we can still get our hearts pumping while sitting on a bike (recumbants are pretty good for bad backs) or walking faster on a treadmill. As far as dieting, for overweight people-- it's good to lose a little weight, but not at the cost of good nutrition. You need to be in good condition that way, also, when you head in for surgery. So those of you who want to diet, do it in a wise way. I lost about 20 lbs. prior to my surgery, but following Weight Watchers, with my surgeon's ok. BTW, I did not lose any with my surgery and in fact gained back some. Best wishes to all of you with surgeries coming up. You'll get through it all fine.

[JenniferG]

Leading up to surgery we kayaked on weekends and I walked about 4 x week. In the fortnight before surgery, we went on holidays and we kayaked or power walked every day for about 4 hours. I haven't regained that level of fitness though I still walk and we kayak occasionally. The fitness had me feeling as though I could tackle anything and the fear of surgery was greatly diminished.

[Confusedmom]

One surgeon also suggested I do pilates and yoga to work on flexibility before surgery.

So, I think cardio is most important, followed by strength and flexibility training. In the ideal world we'd all be working out multiple hours a day, but personally I'm going for about five sessions a week, 45 min to 1 hr each, always including cardio and trying to incorporate other elements as well.

Evelyn

[Back-out]

This is a GREAT thread!
Thank you.
(Now I feel so "holy" from reading it, I don't have to actually DO anything today...)

[jrnyc]

oh my gosh, JenG...if i could kayak, i swear i'd forget the surgery!

i used to go to the gym 3-4 times a week, even when i worked 2 jobs!! (i was devoted!)
then when the pain got so much worse, i could barely go at all, even when i wasnt working!!
i can no longer do the recumbent bike, the one that i worked my way up on for a total of 60 minutes at a time....and the weight machines...especially the lower body ones...long gone...

congratulations that you could ever kayak...
(from a city girl who hardly knew what it was til i looked it up! )

jess