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RARP recovery time

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User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 10:32

Good morning all,

I had my RARP 8 weeks ago, which I was dreading, and my stomach still aches a fair bit which is holding me back from being as active as I would like, I'm a bit concerned that too much or the wrong exercise might make the healing time worse! I understand that it was a major operation and that everyone heals differently but was wondering how long other people take to heal and for the aching to disappear. 

I'm doing a lot of walking but finding it really difficult to work out what other exercises it is ok for me to be doing - any thoughts would be really appreciated.

Just a bit of info re my PC background:

My PSA was 13.8, the Gleason score both prior to and following RARP was 3+4 and was T2C both before and after.  I consider myself extremely lucky to have had full nerve sparing, Complete Urethral Preservation (CUP) which gave full bladder control after TWOC.  The operation was performed with NeuroSafe and pathology showed negative margins so at the moment all the signs are good.  However, it will be another 4 weeks before I have my first PSA so still slightly nervous.   

Thanks

Nick.

Edited by member 02 Nov 2025 at 18:10  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 20:46
Wingers, that sounds very positive. Eight weeks is a point where you can start thinking of increasing your exercise levels. The usual problem is that people want to do things much earlier, and don't recognise that their small scars don't reflect quite how major the operation has been for their insides.

It depends on what your normal exercise activities are. Walking is great. Cycling because it puts pressure where your perineum may be sensitive is something to start very gently and with a saddle that has a central cut-out. I suspect you need to be pretty cautious with anything that needs a lot of core strength (weight lifting, or other gym stuff) but you can plan to work towards it.

User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 21:06
Nick

I had a RARP in Jan ,my post surgery histology was T2c Gleason 3/4 .

having read quite a few posts on here I think ,my recovery was pretty normal ,I played 9 holes of golf after 12 weeks

Without any adverse effects.My advise would be to err on the safe side and don't overdo things

Good Luck with your recovery

John

User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 22:06

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 I think ,my recovery was pretty normal ,I played 9 holes of golf after 12 weeks

It seems par for the course. 😉

Edited by member 03 Nov 2025 at 09:05  | Reason: Add wink

User
Posted 03 Nov 2025 at 09:13

Hi, Nick.

I find it interesting that you had CUP. Recently I started a conversation on it. Which didn't produce much interest. 

 I thought the procedure was a huge advance and was only being trialled?

Great news that post-op report was good. 

Good luck with your first PSA test result after surgery.👍

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 16:02

Good move going private Nick, my situation sounds exactly the same , I had zero faith in the NHS surgeon who also told me he would only might be able to save the nerves on one side ( no,promises even in that ) I certainly felt that I would be a number to him nothing more so I self funded and had nearly full nerve sparing by a well regarded surgeon at London Bridge , he also did neurosafe and I to was completely dry after TWOC 

im 11 weeks post surgery and have felt pretty good throughout although I do still get the odd twinge in the area of the scar if I do to much, personally I’m leaving all types of stomach excersise for at least another month as I think that’s where it’s still most delicate 

wish you well with it mate 

Nick

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 16:48

Hi Nick,

I remember speaking to you prior to us having surgery and it's really good to hear that you Op also went well.

I still find it amazing that my NHS surgeon wanted to perorm a non-nerve sparing operation whilst the 2nd opinion surgeon was confident he would be able to perform a full nerve sparing Op! I'm certainly glad that I was in the lucky position of being able to self fund and select a well regarded surgeon.

I think you're right, I'll be leaving the stomach exercises for a while yet. I probably do too much already but I've been finding it quite difficult just sitting down and taking it easy - but as my wife says I need to be patient!

All the best with your continued recovery.

Nick

 

 

Edited by member 04 Nov 2025 at 16:49  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 20:33

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I'm really thinking about exercises such as sit-ups, press-ups and some general stomach based stretches as I'm feeling a bit flabby in the stomach muscle area but I'm really not sure at which point I can resume these without doing more damage.

Given the operation involved some cuts through the abdominal wall, I would be cautious about putting too much pressure on it until you are confident in some lesser exercises. Maybe start with some gentle leg lifts (which need the core abdominal muscles to brace against), and if those can be maintained for several days without discomfort move on to press-ups from your knees.

Sit-ups are pretty uncompromising in making big demands on your abdominal muscles, you would want to be very confident on lesser exercises before trying them. You don't want to tear a part-healed surgical wound!

User
Posted 05 Nov 2025 at 07:28

Everyone is different in their recovery. I gradually increased walking so by 5 months post op I could do easily 10 miles /30,000 steps. I waited 6 months before going back to gym but even then I was only a gradual increase in activity. 9 months post op I was still feeling twinges around the scars and was sent for a scan to make sure there were no underlying issues. Revealed all clear and surgeon said recovery grumbles. All I can say is less is more and take your time. I’m now over 2 years post op and am now back to doing what I was pre op albeit avoiding sit ups and excess abdominal exercises ( fear / caution/ excuses!) There are guys in our support grip who admit they did too much too soon post op and suffered hernias. Good luck with the recovery. 

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User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 20:46
Wingers, that sounds very positive. Eight weeks is a point where you can start thinking of increasing your exercise levels. The usual problem is that people want to do things much earlier, and don't recognise that their small scars don't reflect quite how major the operation has been for their insides.

It depends on what your normal exercise activities are. Walking is great. Cycling because it puts pressure where your perineum may be sensitive is something to start very gently and with a saddle that has a central cut-out. I suspect you need to be pretty cautious with anything that needs a lot of core strength (weight lifting, or other gym stuff) but you can plan to work towards it.

User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 21:06
Nick

I had a RARP in Jan ,my post surgery histology was T2c Gleason 3/4 .

having read quite a few posts on here I think ,my recovery was pretty normal ,I played 9 holes of golf after 12 weeks

Without any adverse effects.My advise would be to err on the safe side and don't overdo things

Good Luck with your recovery

John

User
Posted 02 Nov 2025 at 22:06

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 I think ,my recovery was pretty normal ,I played 9 holes of golf after 12 weeks

It seems par for the course. 😉

Edited by member 03 Nov 2025 at 09:05  | Reason: Add wink

User
Posted 03 Nov 2025 at 09:13

Hi, Nick.

I find it interesting that you had CUP. Recently I started a conversation on it. Which didn't produce much interest. 

 I thought the procedure was a huge advance and was only being trialled?

Great news that post-op report was good. 

Good luck with your first PSA test result after surgery.👍

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 08:22

Thanks J-B,

I'm really thinking about exercises such as sit-ups, press-ups and some general stomach based stretches as I'm feeling a bit flabby in the stomach muscle area but I'm really not sure at which point I can resume these without doing more damage. 

I guess that I'm a bit suprised that I still ache nearly 9 weeks after surgery - I guess it's just a question of time.

Thanks

Nick. 

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 08:35

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply.  It sounds as if we were in very similar positions re the post surgery histology. I'm now very nearly 9 weeks post surgery and I guess I was really expecting to be ache free a this stage but then I was probably being over optimistic! 

If I can be in a similar position to you at 12 weeks then I will definitely be pleased. I'm not a golfer but I do sail dinghies and am just itching to get back on the water but I guess I'll just need to be patient!

Thanks

Nick.

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 09:01

Hi Adrian,

Thanks for your message and good wishes.

I think the idea of CUP has been around for a little while and understand that it is being trialed but I know that the surgeon I opted for regularly performs it where appropriate.  In my case my wife talked me into having the surgery performed privately.  I didn't feel happy with the NHS surgeon who wanted to perform a non nerve sparing procedure which seemed at odds (from my simplistic perspective) with the information I was being presented with. Following a lot of research reading various medical papers on the subject I got a 2nd opinion from a surgeon who performs Complete Urethral Preservation (CUP) and operated making use of NeuroSAFE.  That 2nd opinion suggested that it was very likely that CUP was appropriate and that full nerve sparing could be safely be achieved but that those final decisions would be made during surgery.

The operation went well and it seems to me that CUP might well be a major step forward as I'm told by the surgeon that 60% of men operated on in this way retain 100% control of their bladder immediately following TWOC - which I personally think is a big deal!  I believe that there are a small number of NHS surgeons who operate using both CUP and NeuroSAFE techniques.

These are of course just my thoughts based on my experience.

Thanks

Nick 

 

Edited by member 04 Nov 2025 at 09:02  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 16:02

Good move going private Nick, my situation sounds exactly the same , I had zero faith in the NHS surgeon who also told me he would only might be able to save the nerves on one side ( no,promises even in that ) I certainly felt that I would be a number to him nothing more so I self funded and had nearly full nerve sparing by a well regarded surgeon at London Bridge , he also did neurosafe and I to was completely dry after TWOC 

im 11 weeks post surgery and have felt pretty good throughout although I do still get the odd twinge in the area of the scar if I do to much, personally I’m leaving all types of stomach excersise for at least another month as I think that’s where it’s still most delicate 

wish you well with it mate 

Nick

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 16:48

Hi Nick,

I remember speaking to you prior to us having surgery and it's really good to hear that you Op also went well.

I still find it amazing that my NHS surgeon wanted to perorm a non-nerve sparing operation whilst the 2nd opinion surgeon was confident he would be able to perform a full nerve sparing Op! I'm certainly glad that I was in the lucky position of being able to self fund and select a well regarded surgeon.

I think you're right, I'll be leaving the stomach exercises for a while yet. I probably do too much already but I've been finding it quite difficult just sitting down and taking it easy - but as my wife says I need to be patient!

All the best with your continued recovery.

Nick

 

 

Edited by member 04 Nov 2025 at 16:49  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Nov 2025 at 20:33

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I'm really thinking about exercises such as sit-ups, press-ups and some general stomach based stretches as I'm feeling a bit flabby in the stomach muscle area but I'm really not sure at which point I can resume these without doing more damage.

Given the operation involved some cuts through the abdominal wall, I would be cautious about putting too much pressure on it until you are confident in some lesser exercises. Maybe start with some gentle leg lifts (which need the core abdominal muscles to brace against), and if those can be maintained for several days without discomfort move on to press-ups from your knees.

Sit-ups are pretty uncompromising in making big demands on your abdominal muscles, you would want to be very confident on lesser exercises before trying them. You don't want to tear a part-healed surgical wound!

User
Posted 05 Nov 2025 at 07:28

Everyone is different in their recovery. I gradually increased walking so by 5 months post op I could do easily 10 miles /30,000 steps. I waited 6 months before going back to gym but even then I was only a gradual increase in activity. 9 months post op I was still feeling twinges around the scars and was sent for a scan to make sure there were no underlying issues. Revealed all clear and surgeon said recovery grumbles. All I can say is less is more and take your time. I’m now over 2 years post op and am now back to doing what I was pre op albeit avoiding sit ups and excess abdominal exercises ( fear / caution/ excuses!) There are guys in our support grip who admit they did too much too soon post op and suffered hernias. Good luck with the recovery. 

User
Posted 06 Nov 2025 at 09:33

Thanks for the reply J-B,

I think you're absolutely right.  I've given this a lot of thought lately and I think that I now need to very gradually increase the exercises that I do as I really do not wish to slow the recovery down.  It's so tempting to do too much too soon!

Thanks

Nick.

User
Posted 06 Nov 2025 at 09:41

Thanks MGOR,

It's really interesting to hear that you were still experiencing twinges around the scars at 9 months post Op. I've been having them a fair bit lately and was getting a bit concerned but then I guess at 9 weeks post Op it's probably a bit too soon to expect them to have disappeared completely.  In reality I've also probably been doing a bit too much lately!

I'll be taking my time from now on.  Thanks for the advice.

Nick.

User
Posted 06 Nov 2025 at 13:33
Still get them 10 years later if I cough while seated - please explain!
 
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