Question:
Why does walking help with the pain after surgery? Or does it?

I keep hearing that walking in the hospital, while it hurts to get out of bed, generally helps to reduce the pain overall. Is this true? Why is this so? Any ideas as to why this helps? I'd appreciate your help on this. I'm one of those who have to understand why things work! Thank you v. much!    — Mary H. (posted on March 29, 2001)

March 29, 2001
I had surgery 2 wks ago and I'm not certain that the walking helps with the pain as much as helping with the recovery and getting rid of the gas and the swelling from surgery. I had very little pain.
   — Theresa M.

March 29, 2001
yes it does help I worked at a hospital as a cna and they always stress walking I know it also helps because I have had 2 c-sections and walked as so as i could and it did help alot. so walk as much as you can handle it it will make you feel better.
   — Angela S.

March 29, 2001
As with other abdominal surgeries, when you have these surgeries everything 'shuts down' in the bowels and needs to get going again. Until that happens, or as that happens, the gas builds up and needs to get moving. Walking helps a lot. This can be very painful. Also, walking helps you avoid blood clots - very important! I believe it also stimulates healing. Follow directions and you'll go far!
   — Cindy H.

March 29, 2001
Walking did not help me with pain at all.... but I did it because of fear of blood clots... I wasn't going to get this far only to die of blood clots in the legs or somewhere ... and it helps with breathing I was having trouble taking a full breath and finally on the second night i got really mad at myself and got up every hour and walked the halls with my breathing thingy and by morning my oxygen levels were normal the nurse who came on in the A.M. asked me " what happened to you ...we were getting worried and now you are in the normal range..." I told her I got mad and just did it
   — Kathleen M.

June 10, 2001
There are many reasons for walking after surgery, and they have all pretty much been stated. By getting up and walking you prevent pneumonia by increasing your lung capacity, you prevent clots by increasing venous blood flow to your legs, you promote healing by increasing blood flow to the post operative area, you increase intestinal mobilization that will help you release gas and avoid a dangerous post operative condition called "paralytic ileus" and most of all you increase your endurance and strength. It also helps to maintain skin integrity by not laying around on our pressure points and developing sore spots over our joints. It used to be said to lay around after surgery, now it's get up and get moving, no matter how much it hurts. A good tip is to get your pain shot, wait 15 min. then get up and get moving. Janet (RN)
   — Janet W.

October 16, 2001
Hi Mary, I'm not sure why it works, but I enjoyed walking much more than laying in bed.
   — Holly S.