I asked my surgeon whether what I had seen on this site about not doing the breaststroke when swimming. He said that whilst crawl and backstroke are preferable that there is no harm to be done doing the breaststroke after 4-6 weeks as long as you take it carefully and by the way use the steps to get in the pool rather than jumping into the shallow end.
more to follow
This has boosted my spirits. Iv always loved swimming but i find it hard as i cant get my bad leg to kick. Hopefully after my op ill be able to swim a lot better
I had to stop swimming a couple of months before my op because it was hurting so much and was doing me no good. Planning to give it a go this week to see if the consultant is right.
I know that feeling. I hope it will greatly improve my swimming. Goodluck
Good luck Colin. I've just had my op - really looking forward to getting back to swimming in a few weeks. I can only do breast stroke
My consultant said the same thing. He is happy for me to do breaststroke as long as it feels comfortable doing it.
🏊🏻 I think my Christmas present to myself may be a swim membership at our local leisure centre!
Great idea though my surgeon also said that hippies shouldn't go swimming in community pools until their wound has healed because of the threat of infection. Yes news to me also-- thought the chlorine &other additives got rid of all the nasties but apparently not.
What sort of timescale is your surgeon thinking of then Colin? More like 12 weeks than 6?
It's once the wound has healed ie about 4 weeks. I could have gone sooner than my 6 weeks, actually it will be 7 weeks when I start but having read on here that we shouldn't do the breaststroke and passed that wrong info onto others, I had deferred my swimming. Back in the swim sext week though.
Great! I'm really looking forward to being in the water again.
Colin
Was that a typo or is there really a swim sext near to you?
Chris
Oops! I wish. It's not only my golf that I've had to abandon for a while
That is nice to hear. I also had to stop swimming a month or so before my op, because ow.
Swimming is a pretty big part of my centering/stress relief, so I really can't wait to be cleared to get back in the water. I found a therapist who loves hydrotherapy, and we're just waiting for my wound to heal over and the thumbsup from GP to start.
I think the breast stroke limitations are more of a blanket safety restriction. Your GP sounds like he has the right of it; if it feels good, proceed with caution, like most new experiences post op.
Let us know how it goes! I still have 2-3 weeks before I'm cleared to dive in, but would love to hear from you.
Rob
Hi colin
I had my post op consultation at 7 weeks and Surgeon was happy for me to use public swiming baths then.
Having said that, my scar had healed well and there were no other health problems.
Hi Colin I am now 5 months post op I have been going to the gym since 6 weeks also I have been going to Aquarobics for 3 months and also walk and do exercises in the water myself.I was aware that you should not do the breaststroke and I first started working the non op leg and gradually using the op leg,it just comes naturally( let it happen) .Good luck Michael.
Hope that doesn't mean that you swim in circles :-)
Haha might aswell be 😂i dont get very far
I feel like nemo