Post-Top Surgery

[lemmings_r_us]

Hey guys

Comments

[one_misfit]

I was back in the gym at about the 8 week mark, but stuck to cardio esq activities that really didn't involve my upper body. I started hitting the weights again around 12 weeks, and although I felt I was taking it easy I still ended up stretching my scars substantially. I ended yo having a scar revision about a year later, and went even easier at the gym around the 12 week mark (focusing mainly on lower body, and super light weights for upper body stuff, with no 'pressing' type movements) and still managed to stretch my scars somewhat. Although some of it could likely just be blamed on my body and the way it heals, but I always tell people to err on the side of caution. I felt great and at no point did I feel like I was doing enough of anything to cause damage, but I managed to anyways. For what it's worth, I'm generally healthy and my scars generally heal well, so I have reason to believe that my inability to not be active played a direct part in my results. Not what you want to hear I'm sure, but I now have (still) visible scars

[chaoskun1]

[mutated_queer]

I didn't do anything that involved upper body at all for about 3 months. As in not even squatting because of stretching my chest to hold the bar but leg pressing instead. It seems quite a long time but I think it was well worth it because at around 5 weeks your scars are still really able to stretch out a lot. I didn't think it was worth the risk.

When I did start back I did it as a recovery program based on Rippetoe 's method (which I think comes from Bill Starr). Which is low weight, very high rep, daily. if you google like 'rippetoe muscle injury rehab' you should find it, I think it's on the starting strength wiki too. I did it with bench and didn't do any other direct upper body work until I'd done my two weeks of that. But I started things like squatting again when i began the rehab program since it's stretching rather than working it

[lemmings_r_us]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the responses - really appreciate it. It sucks but I know you're all right - gotta wait another month or two to be careful. MQ, Rippetoe suggestion looks really good and OM, thanks for sharing your story - definitely knocked some sense in me. Oh man, back to the couch...and dreaming of boxing....

[mutated_queer]

You could always go a brisk walk or stationary bike but with your arms off the handles so you can't use your upper body to support your weight. You can do pretty much all machine weights for legs. If you like to be active then that's much better than sitting on the couch