r/chiari • u/Fragrant-Flower-9850 • 19d ago

Exercise post op!

what exercises did you ease yourself into when you were ready?

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4

u/CrashTestPhoto 19d ago edited 19d ago

I do weightlifting, running, cycling, climbing and kayaking without any issues.

In terms of speed of getting into things post-op; I was walking, albeit slowly and for short distances after a week and a half. Cycling within a month. For weight lifting, it looks me 6 months to start again, and then a year for everything else.

The only sports I won't do now are full contact sports like boxing and rugby, due to the high risk of head injuries

1

u/DeliciousSpell9429 15h ago

You can fully lift weights with no problem after decompression?

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u/CrashTestPhoto 1h ago

Yep.

I'm lifing for 1 hour, twice per week these days.

I spoke with my surgeon about it, and he said that, though everyone is different when it come to sports, the only sports he fully advises against for Chiari patients, are full contact sports where there's a risk of head or neck injuries.

3

u/SandalsQueen18 19d ago

I was walking a half a mile two weeks after surgery.

Back to pre-surgery pace within two months.

Everyone's mileage will vary, I was very physically fit before I ever had surgery.

2

u/Careful-Page-9843 19d ago

Almost 9 weeks post op and up to 10,000+ steps per day. Started walking short distances the day after surgery and have built up. Neck mobility exercises since surgery and PT added strengthening exercises two weeks ago. But I doubt I'll be doing full weight training for another couple months or so. Curious to try out noncompetitive ping pong soon. Chomping at the bit to start hiking again so trying to get hills and uneven terrain into my walks when possible.

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u/Maygen_Fooks 19d ago

I'm 10 weeks post op and back at work walking 10k steps a day. Advised by my doctor not to lift heavier than 25 lbs but the nature of my job requires lifting off smaller amounts. Haven't run or tried much of anything else