Pilates and Gym After Phlebectomy?
I just had my first of 6 varicose vein procedures and opinions about post-op protocol differ wildly, so I’d appreciate your thoughts.
I (45F) go to 5-6 intermediate level Pilates classes in a typical week and strength training 3x a week. I weigh 160 and leg press 300-320 pounds, so this is not just beboping around the gym. And my Pilates classes involve planking into pikes and a lot of oblique resistance training and sustained squatting.
Doc said I could return to Pilates 2 days after the phlebectomy I had last Thursday and go back to the gym after 5 days. Meanwhile, the receptionist strongly urged me to wait two weeks to do anything beyond walking. Dr Google seemed to agree more with the receptionist, but there was a good bit of variation about the range.
Unfortunately, I’ve got two more procedures on back-to-back-Thursdays (radiotherapy and sclerotherapy). After that I’m waiting at least a month before we tackle the other leg so that I can get back into some semblance of routine.
I want to be cautious and heal properly, but the notion of missing 4 weeks of exercise makes me nervous. For context, I’ve lost 140 pounds and I ain’t going back down that road.
So far, I’m wearing my support hose as prescribed, walking, and feeling great. I’m leaning toward going to a beginner Pilates this Wednesday (6 days post op) and skipping any squats and leg-extension moves (since one the veins removed was behind my knee). If that goes well, I’d plan for an intermediate Pilates class the following Wednesday then go back to 5x a week 7 days after my last procedure on this leg. I’d do arms only gym work 7 days after the last procedure and go back to full-on gym routine after 14 days.