Shoveling

Body: 

First of all, I have to say how grateful I am for this forum. I don't know what I would do without you. I do not have any people I can talk to because prolapse is a delicate and embarrassing subject. That being said, I have a yard work question.

I love to work in the yard. Since this prolapse I have stayed inside and not done anything. I know I cannot carry big bags of potting soil, and I will deal with that, but another issue I have is keeping the edges of my flower beds neat. In the past I used a shovel and went around the beds and cleaned up where the grass was growing in the dirt. Then I would pick up the grass and dispose of it.

Can I still do this?

Meribelle, for the benefit of other members here, I need to point out that you have had hysterectomy, repairs, and vaginal vault prolapse followed by a procedure to sew the vagina shut. Now you have a cystocele. I don't feel that the women here are in any position to tell you what is safe and what is not, we don't give medical advice here. Speak to your doctor and also I'd recommend booking a consult with Christine. - Surviving

A woman who is managing prolapse and has not had surgeries, can certainly do yard work while trying as much as possible to keep the lumbar curvature in place. When lifting, bend from the hips (not the waist) to preserve lumbar curvature, and keep the load close to the body. Don't overdo it. Watch the body angle, try to keep it less than 90 degrees as much as possible to keep the organs pinned over the pubic bones. I do my share of yard work and I can't always stay in ideal posture....but that's what management is all about; knowing how to help ourselves when our symptoms flare. Surviving

I too love working in my yard and garden, being new with this prolapse and having had a knee replaced i can not kneel. wondering how i can pull my weeds so they don't over come the garden and yard? After much rain those weeds are sprouting up fast. How do i keep in ww pulling those weeds?
Lizzydina

Hi Lizzydina,
I've been a cautious gardener for the past few years, but recently have taken on a much bigger project of an allotment. I love it--best therapy ever! But it's definitely been a lesson in just how much I can do--and I really can do a lot!
First of all you can get gardening kneelers / sitters that you might find useful as alows you to sit on them or kneels on a slightly raised platform, with handles to get back up. However that may not work for you at all i know!

I've been thrilled to be reminded of how much I can do as long as I'm in WW posture. And my pop have not felt worse at all. Hoeing would be fine for you if you are gentle. but to be honest I've been doing lots of digging with a lightweight, narrow long fork that I can control easily. I can't dig really really hard ground, but not sure I ever could…I just dig gently & slowly, in posture. I did it really gently at first to see how it went, and slowly built up. then i kneel if I feel up to it, if not gently lean over and pull the weeds, flashing knickers occasionally I'm sure but hey, keeps my body happy as everything falls forwards.
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Sounds like you don't need it, but watering I have two watering cans that i fill half way up each, and that works fine.

start gentle and have faith that if you start in WW and really listen to your body, you'll be fine. as with anything if you're not sure back off and listen.
I've even started gentle mowing recently which was something I was really worried about, but so far so good...

Thank you all for answering me. I appreciate you time. Being outside is usually good therapy for us. Surviving, you condensed my life story pretty well in your post. Thanks.

Maybe I am a little dense, but could you explain the difference in the two types of bending? When I bend over to weed, it is more or less as in a forward yoga bend. Sometimes I bend my knees. I can't really squat because of a knee injury a few years ago. I know it is hard to explain without pictures. Thank you for trying, meribelle

The difference is whether you have retained lumbar curvature, or flattened it out. Bending from the hips, you can keep lumbar curvature in place. It's probably easier to think of bending with lumbar curvature in place. Then, you will automatically bend correctly. - Surviving