How long before I can walk after surgery?

[CutlassCat]

I’m having to plan my surgery around my job, which consists of a lot of walking. There’s no heavy lifting or anything like that, but I average about 12,000 steps a day, with some of those being up and down stairs. I know that everybody is different, but how long would you suggest staying out of work?

[Elyrev]

Everyone is different. I was just implanted 1/20/22. I was up and around the house the next day. And was able to walk about one mile each way to the store on day 3. I walked a half mile each way to my follow up appointment with Dr. Hakky on day 4. By one week walking a couple miles was not a problem. Albeit, there was some reasonable pain and I was not as fast as I would normally be.

[newbie443]

I’m having to plan my surgery around my job, which consists of a lot of walking. There’s no heavy lifting or anything like that, but I average about 12,000 steps a day, with some of those being up and down stairs. I know that everybody is different, but how long would you suggest staying out of work?

A lot depends on you and your doctor. You should ask your doctor as things vary a lot from one doctor to another. You should plan to be as flat as possible for the first 3 days. Cold packs and staying flat for that 3 days is very important. Then you can start moving around a bit more each day after that.

Welcome to the site.

[CutlassCat]

I had a doctor that said that using pills was better than getting an implant. Based on what I’ve seen others say online, he was lying so that he wouldn’t have to do the surgery. Regardless, pills don’t work anymore and they actually make me feel a little sick, so it’s time to move on. I had stopped dealing with doctors because of my new job, but I’m ready to get started again. Thanks for the feedback and advice, guys.

[SearchingUSA]

Definitely talk to your doctor and take the doctor’s advice on walking, I believe it might depend a lot on how the surgery technique, as instructions certainly vary. For instance, my doctor told me to walk as much as possible to assist in recovery, even right after surgery.

I was walking like a cowboy, legs spread wide apart, for at least the first 4 days. I think you’re going to want to be out of work for at least a week.

[Lost Sheep]

Simple hydraulics plainly say that the longer you stay horizontal, the faster swelling goes down and the faster you heal.

There was a fellow who mowed his lawn a day or two after surgery (sorry, I don't have the post he made). He regretted it for more than a week. I take from that story (and my own experience) that if you lay on your back for a week, you might return to work in 10 days. If you try to return to work in 4 days, you may need to go back on leave for two or three weeks.

It is like investing in a retirement fund. It is the up-front investment (taking it easy early on - VERY easy) at first actually will speed your return to work. Returning to work too soon will delay your return to full unimpeded activity.

Just my two cents worth.

I ave a sedentary job. I could have returned to work in a week bu probably would have had to go home to ice down after a half day. I took three weeks, but the third week was more to pamper myself than for necessity. I had the leave time available, so took it.

When I was in the Air Force, I was dedicated to a construction job and was willing to lose leave days to stay on it. My boss said, "Take the leave. If you took leave for unavoidable reaons, we would get along. No one is 100% indispensable." To think otherwise is most often prideful, isn't it?

Take care of yourself and return to full function fully recovered.

[Time2Change]

I basically just sat around for three or four days after surgery, and when I then took a walk, I was weak. So, get moving some soon after surgery. Don't try a lot at first, but don't be sedentary too long.

If your doctor is like mine, you won't be given the okay to go back to work until two weeks after surgery. I have a job that has me on my feet a lot, and I was pretty sore every day after work for a little while. Twelve thousand steps seems like a lot two weeks after surgery. If I were you, I would try to build up to that when you go back.

[Old Guy]

It took me a few months to be able to walk 12,000 steps. Up and down stairs was a good month. But then this was my first surgery ever as an adult, and me and many meds do not get along well.
Since you're used to doing 12,000 a day, I'm going to guess you'll probably handle it way sooner. Just learn to not over-do it or you will regret it later. Like me driving on day 4, took me down for 2 weeks.

[SWorks17]

I agree with all the other guys that have commented, everybody is different and no one heals the same. Definitely follow the doctors orders about lifting and walking.
I’m a avid cyclist and I did a lot of walking at my job too before I retired in 2020, so I’m in pretty good shape and there were a couple times where I over did it walking and lifting something light and I paid for it the next day with pain.
I used a lot of gel ice packs to help with the swelling and pain, all during the day and at night too.
Doctor told me not to take any warm sits baths until he saw me at the 2 weeks post op check up.

Driving was sort of difficult too, when I would first get in, it felt ok but then the pressure from the seat would make the boys and my lower abdomen start aching.

Register with Frank Talk and make you a signature for the bottom of your post so we can understand more about you. Your age, what you’ve used to help with ED and who you are thinking about have the surgery done by. (What facility and doctor) So that guys can direct you to some one who is competent.

Good Luck,
SWorks17

[Lost Sheep]

I had a friend who had his knee joint replaced. A retired policeman, he had a job as security at a local hospital. Walked all night long. I will guess even more than you. He recovered faster than your average knee replacement patient, I suspect because he was accustomed to walking a lot, therefore had good muscle tone.

So it should be with your recovery. But I still advise taking it easy for as long as you can, but that will likely be a shorter time than your average implantee. Tell your surgeon that you are accustomed to a lot of walking and he may adjust his recommendation for returning to work.