Getting back to exercise after prostate surgery
Leaks after a prostatectomy are common and usually improve. A practical guide to returning to movement without organising your life around a toilet.
Leaks after a prostatectomy are common and usually improve. A practical guide to returning to movement without organising your life around a toilet.
Bladder control after prostate surgery is one of the most common worries men have, and one of the least discussed. The reassuring part: for most men, control improves steadily over the months that follow. The frustrating part: the early stretch can keep you from the exercise that actually helps recovery.
Pelvic-floor exercises, ideally taught by a men's-health physiotherapist, are the single most evidence-backed thing you can do. Done consistently, they shorten the timeline for a lot of men. Ask your surgical team for a referral - it is a standard part of good aftercare.
Walking, then gradually more, is good for you on every measure. The barrier is rarely the body - it is the fear of a leak mid-session. Reliable, discreet underwear removes that barrier so you can get back to the Grampians walk, the gym, the morning routine, without scouting for the nearest toilet.
Recovery is not linear. Judge it month to month, not morning to morning. And if things plateau or you have pain, bladder infections, or blood, loop your GP back in - that is exactly what they are there for.
Pads catch. Underwear contains. The difference sounds small until you have worn both on a long day - here is what it means in practice.
Leaking after birth is common - and very rarely talked about honestly. A plain-language look at what to expect and the small things that genuinely help.