Hernia  Recovery  Chart  

 
Day   Pain  Level   Work  &  School   Activity  at  Home  &  Work   Exercise  &  Athletics  
 
0-­‐4     Moderate   Patients  should   No  important  plans  or   No  athletic  activity  should  
First   pain,  often   expect  to  be  off  from   events  should  be   be  performed  during  the  
weekend   requires  oral   work  or  school  for   considered  for  this  time   first  weekend  
prescribed   this  time  period   period.  Only  basic  daily  
pain  pills   functions  should  be  
(Percocet,   performed:  walking  
Codeine)   around  the  house,  visiting  
the  store,  eating  at  home  
4-­‐7     Mild  pain,   Most  patients  will  be   Most  patients  will  be  able   Some  light  stretching,  
First   occasional   able  to  return  to   to  resume  light  activities   biking,  walking  and  other  
week   pain  pill  or   work  or  school  by   around  the  house  and  at   slow  paced  activities  can  be  
Tylenol  &   post  operative  day  4,   work  or  school     performed  
Advil   no  lifting,  expect  to  
be  50%-­‐75%  
7-­‐14   Occasional   All  patients  will  be   Patients  will  be  able  to   Jogging,  biking,  yoga,  
Second   discomfort,   able  to  return  to   resume  most  activities   Pilates,  leisurely  tennis,  
week   some   work  or  school  but   around  home  and  work   light  weights  at  the  gym  
stiffness  or   with  lifting   that  do  not  include  lifting   (less  than  20  pounds)  
soreness,   limitations  of  less   more  than  20  pounds  
Tylenol  or   than  20  pounds,  
Advil   expect  to  be  75%  
14-­‐21   Oral   All  patients  will  be   Return  to  normal  home   Running,  cycling,  yoga,  
Third   medicines   able  to  return  to   and  work  activities  without   Pilates,  core  training,  
week   are  not   work  or  school  but   heavy  lifting  (more  than  20   swimming,  surfing,  tennis,  
usually   with  lifting   pounds)   golf,  light  weights  at  the  
required   limitations  of  less   gym  (less  than  20  pounds)  
than  20  pounds,  
expect  to  be  85%  
After   Oral   Patients  will  be  able   Return  to  normal  home   Patients  can  return  to  all  
third   medicines   to  perform  all   and  work  activities   athletic  activities  including  
week   are  not   activities  at  work  or   including  any  heavy  lifting   contact  sports,  heavy  lifting  
usually   school  without   that  is  required   (squats,  dead  lifts,  bench  
required   limitations,  expect  to   press,  etc),  as  well  as  
be  95%   training  and  competitions.  
 
Although  this  chart  was  compiled  based  on  the  average  recovery  of  numerous  hernia  patients,  each  
person  will  recover  differently.  The  most  important  aspect  of  recovery  is  to  listen  to  your  individual  
body:  if  it  hurts  –  stop,  if  it’s  sore  –  ice  it  and  take  a  day  off.    Also,  keep  in  mind  that  it’s  not  uncommon  
for  patients  to  feel  pulling,  tugging,  aches,  burning,  heaviness,  swelling,  occasional  sharp  pains,  and  
overall  ‘discomfort’  for  weeks  to  months  after  hernia  surgery.  Sexual  activity  can  be  resumed  when  it  
is  comfortable  to  do  so.  
 

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