The Cascade Into Chronic Disease After Hysterectomy Is Real… What Can You Do About It?
Plug "hysterectomy + chronic disease" into Google, and you’ll get a scary list… I’m sorry, but WTF? Does having the uterus removed really impact all of this?
The short answer is yes. Research shows a mild to moderately increased risk for all of these health issues after a hysterectomy. Part of that is because hormonal changes can happen more abruptly after a hysterectomy, even when the ovaries are removed.
When Can I Start DOING After My Surgery?
I get it. You’ve read the Google results and seen the complications that can happen after surgery. You want to know how to keep yourself safe.
Your doctor says you’re cleared, but you’re not sure exactly what that means. Cleared for what?
And when? And how much?
The short answer is that it depends.
The long answer is that you have to break the activity down into its parts and look for pressure management and movement compensations.
How Can You Recover Faster?
The modern world puts a lot of pressure on us.
We have 6 weeks to recover, at best, then it’s back to work...
Back to exercise...
Back to family obligations...
All of it.
This hurried mindset is never going to work.
Weak Vs. Tight Pelvic Floor - What’s The Difference?
Most people assume (understandably) that leaking, pelvic pain or prolapse = weakness.
Our muscles function best when they can fully expand AND fully contract. A tight pelvic floor = a pelvic floor that is chronically contracted. Because it’s never moving through a full range of motion, this can lead to weakness over time, BUT the first priority of treatment is relaxation.
This is one of the things I see go wrong most often after a hysterectomy. Kegels are prescribed too soon, too much, and without anything to help relaxation.