Heavy lifting with chest muscles can be resumed 5 to 6 weeks after surgery. To explain it in more detail, you can lift 5 pounds at most until day 21, and then 20 to 25 pounds until the end. It is recommended to avoid lifting more than 10 pounds for about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, and this happens occasionally. This weight is slightly more than that of a gallon of milk.
By week four, you may be able to resume most of your normal activities, such as driving and returning to work. However, you should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for a few more weeks. You may also start to notice that the scars are starting to clear up. It is very important that you follow all instructions given to you by the surgery team when you return home from the hospital.
For several weeks after surgery, you should not lift your arms more than 90 degrees from your body or above your head. You should also not push, pull, or lift objects that weigh more than five pounds during these four weeks. This ensures that your scars heal well and don't stretch or enlarge. Any physical activity that could cause an increase in heart rate or that you start to sweat should be avoided for at least three weeks. Heavy lifting and chest exercises should be avoided for at least 5 to 6 weeks.
Generally speaking, your employer is required to grant you an adequate amount of time off for both surgery and recovery. Our team will provide you with a note from the doctor regarding your activity restrictions. The note will not include any information about the nature of your procedure. Your employer is not required to know what type of procedure you have undergone. The length of recovery from major surgery will vary depending on individual cure rates and the specific surgery.
You can usually expect the initial recovery period to last 1 to 2 weeks, followed by several weeks of gradual improvement and return to more strenuous activities. Full recovery usually takes 6 to 8 weeks, although final results may take several months to a year in appearing.
