My husband was unable to exercise for about a month due to his battery replacement surgery. The surgery itself was minor, missing his exercise classes has had a major impact on him. During that four weeks with no workouts, his already sore right knee got sorer, his left side stiffer, and now he struggles to do even one sit to stand. They were tough before, they are impossible now. We have a friend with PD who is also recovering from cancer treatment and she says the same thing. Not being able to exercise has taken a toll on her leg strength and her ability to care for herself. Her husband is having to step in much more than ever before and things are not getting back to their former normal.

This was a complication we didn’t even consider prior to the surgery. I am pretty sure that my husband’s doctors didn’t either. If so, they might have encouraged lower leg exercises or alternatives he could have done during recovery to help retain his abilities rather than telling him not to do anything. I understand protecting the incision area following the procedure but he lost so much time when he could have, should have, been working on his mobility.

I am going to be sure to mention this to his neurosurgeon and his PCP. I think it is important for everyone to understand the consequences of post-op instructions and figure out ways to keep people moving while still allowing them to recover. My husband has lost mobility that he may never get back simply by following what he was told, there has to be a better way.