How long before I can go to work? Exercise? Drive a car? Have sex?
We advocate walking and light weight lifting immediately after surgery. Although both can theoretically slightly increase the risk of a hernia, it is unlikely that effort that does not cause abdominal pain very much affects the likelihood of developing a hernia. Similarly, if you can hit the brake hard without discomfort and are not taking painkillers then it is ok to drive a car. The discomfort standard should be applied to sex as well: if it doesn’t hurt, go for it.
