Restrictions with lifting weight?

Have asked this in post-op, but just discovered the resort and feel sure someone will be able to help here.

At this stage of recovery, 13 weeks, what are the recommended restrictions on lifting/carrying weight? I'm talking luggage here, and lifting into the car, not weight training but the same rules would apply surely.

So, all you gym goers, what sorts of weights are you tackling?

All I've attempted is walking to date, 6ks is the maximum. Have done a little swimming, that's it. Hardly at my peak fitness, but feeling good nevertheless.

Thanks alot!
papaya

Hi papaya --

It's hard for me to answer your question because I am over 2 years post-op now and what I'm lifting at the gym now, I would not have attempted anything close to this amount when I was at your stage of recovery. And when I was at your stage of recovery, I was only using light hand-weights (no more than 5 lbs each) and also doing step-aerobics..........I changed over to about a year ago.

My honest opinion is at your stage of the game I would see if I could get someone else to put the luggage in the car. I don't know how heavy your suitcases get but I know our's get pretty heavy and you have to lift it up and over the edge of the trunk. The last thing you need is to hurt yourself........if you've had a good recovery with no problems, you sure don't want to tear anything that is newly healed now. We flew to Texas when I was 5 weeks post-op and I got a neighbor to put our luggage in the car (my dh is a quadraplegic so he can't do it) and when we got to the airport we got an airline employee to put it on a luggage cart I could push and then the guy at the rental car company put it into the car in Texas and my dh got a motel employee to unload it into our room.

My honest opinion is it is better to be safe and not lift the luggage than to do it and be sorry you did. If you want a specific # as to how many pounds it is ok to lift, you might want to call your doc and ask.

Glad you are feeling good!!

Ann
TAH/BSO 1/5/01

Hi papaya

While I admit that I am not into weight lifting and never was, I can say that there is no way that I would have been able to lift luggage in and out of the car at 13 weeks post-op. In fact, I was 5 months post op from a TVH when I decided that it was about time I cleaned out my son's drawers: he was 10 years old by then and there were still some size 6 clothes hanging around his drawers, due to my being ill for 4 years

At one point, I lifted out one damaged drawer and switched it with another one, so that the damaged drawer was now in the lowest position (less stress... and less clothes on/in that drawer). Keep in mind that when I did the switch, both drawers were empty, but I'd been bending/straining/lifting clothes for a few hours by then.

By the end of the afternoon, my tummy was swollen, sore and I was simply exhausted. And I remained swelly, sore and exhausted for the rest of that week-end and it took me a few days before I felt up to par again.

All of this to say that 1) it would be a good idea to ask someone else to do the lifting for you and 2) be sure to check with your doctor, just to see what your restrictions are, if there are any.

And, always, listen to your body: soreness, achiness, fatigue and swelling are all signs that you need to slow down and

Good luck and I wish you a continued uneventful recovery

Boy, am I glad I saw this. I am planning to go back to work at week 12, and I have a large wheeled bag that weighs about 34 pounds that I have to take to every job (I'm a deposition court reporter and it has my steno machine, tripod, paper, laptop and cables in it). I have to somehow come up with a method of getting that in and out of my car. Maybe stick it on the floor in the back seat? I've been using 5 lb weights since week 4 but haven't progressed beyond that, certainly nothing approaching 34 lbs! I'm wondering how on earth I'm going to swing this. I'm self-employed and my disability insurance is going to wonder why I'm not back to work sooner if I try to get more time off. Any suggestions, anyone?
Melinda

Melinda, is your equipment well enough insured that you can leave it in your trunk--that is, not take it home at night? Then, can you simply ask people to give you a hand with it at work sites? Just explain that you're not supposed to be lifting right now and ask if they can help you. Most people are really pretty nice.

Just a thought.

I go to a different attorney's office every day, so I can't leave my stuff there. Also, regarding getting someone to help me, we're talking about litigation attorneys here....help me carry something? hahahaha!

	Quote:
Originally posted by Melinda3 I go to a different attorney's office every day, so I can't leave my stuff there. Also, regarding getting someone to help me, we're talking about litigation attorneys here....help me carry something? hahahaha!

Oh, litigation attorneys. Never mind then. I was thinking there might be paralegals, put-upon legal secretaries, bums on the street--you know, PEOPLE.

Well, you'll have to try to see what works for you. If your backseat is awkward to get to, you might be as well off lifting the stuff into the trunk and being done rather than bending and twisting and lifting all at once.

Melinda, Denise has already offerred really good advice. Here's another possibility: how about storing some of the stuff, especially the heavier stuff, outside of the suitcase? Like the laptop, laptop and steno machines? You could even have it on the front seat with you, where it would be less ackward to get to. As long as you're not indulging into additional bending and twisting, you might find it easier that lugging the full 34 lbs of the suitcase in and out of the car.

Many thanks for your feedback.

Re my luggage debate, unfortunately I would not be able to rely on another person to help as it is related to work. I sometimes pick up clients from the airport and my job stipulates I must offer to carry their luggage. Not all clients accept the offer, and just give me their briefcase or hand luggage. Nevertheless, I have had to cart extremely heavy baggage at times! (the lazy things!)

Because I was so concerned about this, my work arranged a medical with their own doctor. He said to give myself another 2 weeks, upon which date apparently I will magically be able to handle 25kgs.(that's about 50lbs) Considering that up to now all I've done is walking and a little swimming I find that a bit odd. He said just increase my activities. I asked about doing sit-ups, not that I intend to, but was curious to hear his response to that activity. Strangely he advised against it! Work says they have a duty of care towards me and they need to be sure I am fit for the job. Is the doctor a bit out of touch I wonder?

Work has given me the choice to leave it a bit longer than the doctor recommended if I don't feel up to it, then we break for a 6 week recess anyway. (no sick pay for me, so they can afford to be generous!) Then I'm planning to go overseas. So for a total of 10 days work, maybe I should just say no. Rather than take the risk. What do all you lovely sisters think? Will be getting advice off my own GP on Monday.

Melinda - can you decant the items into the car, place the bag behind the passenger seat as it shouldn't now be too heavy to lift, then reload the items into the bag on the pavement once at your destination? Then wheel the bag into work. I had to do a similar thing, and it worked well. You just have to adjust your time schedule to do it, allow an extra 10 mins or so. Or if the machinery is quite durable, flop the case behind passenger seat, using the sill of the car door as leverage, then tumble it out again. I did this with hand luggage at around 12 weeks, but of course it wasn't breakable.