Running post prostatectomy

That’s great news Chipster. I was training for an ultra when I was diagnosed last year. I stopped running whilst I sorted my head out and never got started again. One of my main targets now is to get running again, so it’s very encouraging reading this thread 👍

Thanks for this thread!

Please help and advise if you can.

I had my RP mid July and have just started running again, but it’s not easy. After the first few steps there is a strong pressure on the bladder and in the urethra. I need to pee after a few seconds, again after 4 kilometers and again at around 8 KM. After that the pain drops but those first 8 KM are very uncomfortable.

So far, I haven’t run more than 12 KM. 
Has anyone experienced similar? Please share your thoughts.

Hi Hoham and other runners,

Hi fellow trail runners- I am 69, 6 weeks after robotic prostatectomy. I've been walking two miles a day and added a tiny bit of jogging during walk after 4 weeks. My morning routine for decades has been up at 5am, big glass of water, large cup of green tea (this encourages my bowel movement before morning run around 8am). Seems strange but I don't need a pad from 5-8am and get very clear nerve signals when it's time to pee and my pelvic muscles are strong because I've been doing the exercises for two years prior to surgery, while on Active Surveillance.

I tried my favorite hilly trail route a few days ago first hiking. It felt great going uphill, had pad on but no leakage going uphill, then some on the flats and downhill, maybe pad halffull. Then I ran it two days later. No pad for uphill 1.5 miles then had to stick pad in, but was super excited to complete 3 mile run (very slow jog) .

I just got tested by local pelvic PT and my pelvic floor muscles are working great in all ways. She says I have to add complexity like other movements and muscles to strengthen while activating the continence muscles. She also said ok to keep running even if I get a little more incontinence later in day.

I'm hoping to hear from you other older runners in this thread.

Thanks,

Brian CA trail half marathoner

Hi Steve-thanks for your sharing. Congratulations on all the progress you have made. Sorry about the bursitis.

i start week 8 of recovery on Monday. I haven't heard anyone speak of this but if I start my trail run on a medium grade uphill very slow my heart rate immediately goes up to 150 which almost 100% shuts down the bodies pee response. I keep up the heart rate above 150 on the flat and downhill (2 to 3 miles) My legs, running body feels great after the rest from surgery, so it's that runner's high to be back on the trails again. I do wear pad but almost no leaking.

I'm doing better at night. One alarm set for three hours--wake up with strong urge but PV floor muscles are stronger now so I can make it to jon for a big pee with no leaks, then I sleep about 3 more hours and wake witthout alarm. Very minimal pee in pad overnight. Then I wear no pad from 4am until 9 when i sit and meditate and write, then go for walk or run.

The jury is out on my afternoon to evening slow leaking into pads while on kitchen duty. (I wish i had a maid) My wife has it worse than me with nerve pain from breast cancer treatments and can't use her arms. I tried that incontinence clamp for during my kitchen time. At first it worked nicely. Second time it didn't and I had misgivings about clamping down on my private fellow!!! My pelvic PT is giving me more exercises that integrate PF muscle with other muscle groups and movements, and she said to lay down for short rests with legs up on pillows in afternoon, evening. I hope i start to improve. On a leaky day I can go through about 4 pads from 2pm to 9pm, and it's not any great pain but a sucky feeling having the pee seep out.

I want to start training for our local, Santa Rosa, CA Annadel Half marathon next April. It's a very technical hilly rocky course. Last year I only ran the 10K of it because I was recovering from inguinal hernia surgery. I will have to do extra conditioning along with my running to  get legs strong enough to endure the course, but that should be good for my continence too, I hope. 

Best Healing to you,

Brian M from the California trails

If it is any reassurance my experience (not running but quite a lot of walking/hiking) is similar that my sphincters hold pretty well against exercise in the mornings but leaks become more of an issue as the day goes on. To be fair, that makes sense scientifically.

Hi everyone. It’s now 14 months since my operation on 01/11/2023 and as previously reported still dry. I run most days and feel good. I do my pelvic exercises daily. I have some discomfort in my pelvic area but put that down to the exercises. Does anyone else have that pain?