Recovery Time

The doctor said recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks, and I am now at 6 weeks. How do you know how long the recovery is supposed to take? I am 33 and usually heal quickly, but I don't know what it feels like to know I'm good to go. Any incite would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

4 Comments

More on recovery times

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-30 08:12:54

Recovery time is subjective. Also there is some question as to what "recovery" really means. Is it back to "normal" - whatever that means? Is it better than before? What do they really mean?

My recovery has gone through stages. At first I was just happy to be alive. Later I wanted to get back to pre-PM normal. Now I don't want to accept anything less than better than what I had before the PM. So my "recovery" has gone through stages.

I had an operation for a ganglion cyst years ago. Doctor told me at that time the tendons would never go back to the strength I had before I had the operation. So that meant I couldn't use that finger in rock climbing where I might have to hold my entire body weight with just that one finger. He was right, the finger has never gone back to the strength it was before I had the operation. But since I don't rock climb, I don't really care it isn't pre-operation perfect. Any time you cut on the body, it will never go back to as good as it was before the cutting.

For me, because I had a lot of trauma before I received the PM, my recovery time went in stages. It also took over a year. That's why I shudder everytime some medical person puts a time limit on recovery. What you may think of as "recovery" may not be what they are describing. While I'm happy I can do some short running and feel I'm fully "recovered", you may not be willing to accept anything less than being able to do a half marathon.

Another thing was the recovery time. For me, I didn't really start to recover until five months out. Having been in some accidents before, I wasn't really surprised. While some people had given me some short term suggestions, another doctor had told me it would be one year. Fortunately I felt his prediction was more accurate so when I didn't meet some goal, I'd just say, "It hasn't been a year yet." and leave it at that. At the year mark I was only about 95% "recovered". I'm very pleased at the progress I made.

Point of all this is that your body will heal at its own rate. You can't put a mark on the calendar and expect to be healed by that time. It just depends upon what your body does. In the meantime keep moving. Take one day at a time. Eventually you'll get to where you want to be.

Recovery times

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-30 10:12:11

Recovery times are subjective. i.e. it should take about 6-8 weeks - for some it's longer for some shorter. Just depends upon you and your conditions. Per sparrow, key is to get moving and keep moving.

There is an adjustment period but the key is to keep moving.

Hope you start feeling better soon.


Thanks

by civilcy - 2014-12-30 11:12:35

Thank you both.

recovery time is as much mental as physical

by justice - 2015-01-03 10:01:06

To make a long story short, I was very active almost immediately after the surgery, and that was 8 months ago.
My recovery was almost immediate, but I have never been able to sit still or worry about my health.
I think the more we worry the longer the recovery takes.

I have no issues or problems and although I should not have done what I did, there has been no ill effects.

After my dual lead implant I was counselled by my Dr. and the staff, but was still groggy from the anesthetic. They went through all the details but I just wanted to get home. When they said I was to be cautious about arm movements etc., I understood them to say 4 days.
So after 4 days I returned to my previously active lifestyle which included moving my boat (44 ft yacht) 550 km.
It was a 5 day trip and involved 44 locks requiring a lot of movement, lifting and stretching.
When I returned for my check up they told me the rest period should have been 4 weeks not 4 days.

The stress and physical activity was at times limiting because of the site pain and sleeping took a while to get used to because I always sleep on mu left side (implant site), but if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing

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