Best Ice Pack For Vasectomy? The 103 Latest Answer

overview

A vasectomy is a form of male birth control that cuts off the supply of sperm to your semen. This involves cutting and sealing the tubes that carry the sperm. The vasectomy is low-risk and can usually be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.

Before undergoing a vasectomy, you need to be sure that you do not want to father a child in the future. Although vasectomy reversals are possible, vasectomy should be considered a permanent form of male birth control.

Vasectomy does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Why it’s done

Vasectomy is a safe and effective birth control choice for men who are confident that they do not want to father a child in the future.

Vasectomy is almost 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

Vasectomy is an outpatient procedure with a low risk of complications or side effects.

The cost of a vasectomy is far less than the cost of female sterilization (tubal ligation) or the long-term cost of female contraceptive medications.

A vasectomy means you don’t need to use contraceptive measures, such as B. Putting on a condom.

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risks

A potential problem with a vasectomy is that you may later change your mind about fathering a child. Although it might be possible to reverse your vasectomy, there is no guarantee it will work. Reversal surgery is more complicated than vasectomy, can be expensive, and in some cases is ineffective.

Other techniques are also available to conceive a child after vasectomy, such as: B. in vitro fertilization. However, these techniques are expensive and not always effective. Before having a vasectomy, make sure you don’t want to father a child in the future.

If you have chronic testicular pain or testicular disease, you are not a good candidate for a vasectomy. For most men, a vasectomy causes no significant side effects, and serious complications are rare.

Side effects directly after the operation can be:

Bleeding or a blood clot (hematoma) in the scrotum

blood in your semen

contusion of your scrotum

Surgical site infection

Mild pain or discomfort

swelling

Delayed complications can include:

Chronic pain, which can affect 1% to 2% of people who have surgery

Accumulation of fluid in the testicles, which can cause a dull ache that gets worse with ejaculation

Inflammation from leaking sperm (granuloma)

Pregnancy if your vasectomy fails, which is rare.

An abnormal cyst (spermatocele) that develops in the small, tortuous tube on the upper testicle that collects and transports sperm (the epididymis).

A fluid-filled sac (hydrocele) surrounding a testicle, causing swelling in the scrotum

Unfounded concerns

Many men worry that a vasectomy could cause serious problems — but those fears are unfounded. For example, a vasectomy will not:

Affect your sexual performance. A vasectomy will not affect your sex drive or manhood in any way other than preventing you from conceiving a child. Men have even reported greater sexual satisfaction after a vasectomy.

A vasectomy will not affect your sex drive or manhood in any way other than preventing you from conceiving a child. Men have even reported greater sexual satisfaction after a vasectomy. Permanently damage your genitals. There is a very small risk of injuring your testicles, penis or other parts of your reproductive system during the surgery. In extremely rare cases, a violation of the blood supply can result in the loss of a testicle, but this is unlikely unless your surgeon is experienced.

There is a very small risk of injuring your testicles, penis or other parts of your reproductive system during the surgery. In extremely rare cases, a violation of the blood supply can result in the loss of a testicle, but this is unlikely unless your surgeon is experienced. Increase your risk of certain types of cancer. Although there has been some concern in the past about a possible link between vasectomy and testicular or prostate cancer, there is no proven link.

Although there has been some concern in the past about a possible link between vasectomy and testicular or prostate cancer, there is no proven link. Increase your risk of heart disease. As with cancer fears, there doesn’t seem to be a link between vasectomy and heart problems.

As with cancer fears, there doesn’t seem to be a link between vasectomy and heart problems. Causes severe pain. You may experience mild pain and tugging or pulling during surgery, but severe pain is rare. Likewise, you may experience pain after surgery, but for most men, the pain is minor and goes away after a few days.

How to prepare

food and medicines

Your doctor will likely ask you to stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or other blood-thinning medications a few days before your surgery. These may include warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven, others), heparin, and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).

clothing and personal items

Bring close-fitting underwear or athletic clothing after the procedure to support the scrotum and minimize swelling.

Other Precautions

Shower or bathe on the day of surgery. Be sure to wash your genital area thoroughly. Cut hair if necessary.

Arrange a ride home after your surgery to avoid movement and pressure on the surgical area from driving.

What you can expect

Before the intervention

Before you have a vasectomy, your doctor will want to meet with you to make sure it’s the right form of birth control for you.

At the first appointment (counselling visit), be prepared to discuss:

Your understanding that vasectomy is permanent and that it is not a good choice if you plan to father a child in the future

Whether you have children and how your partner feels about the decision to be in a relationship

Other birth control methods available to you

What vasectomy and recovery involves and possible complications

Some general practitioners, or general practitioners, perform vasectomies, but most are performed by doctors who specialize in the male reproductive system (urologists).

A vasectomy is usually performed in a doctor’s office or surgery center under local anesthesia, which means you’ll be awake and have medication to numb the surgical area.

During the procedure

Vasectomy Open pop-up dialog Close vasectomy Vasectomy A vasectomy involves cutting and closing the vas deferens.

A vasectomy usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes. To perform a vasectomy, your doctor will likely follow the following steps:

Numb the surgical area by injecting a local anesthetic into the skin of your scrotum with a small needle.

Make a small cut (incision) in the top of your scrotum once the surgical area is numb. Or, with the “no scalpel” technique, make a small puncture in the scrotum instead of an incision.

Locate the spermatic duct from your testicle (vas deferens).

Retract part of the vas deferens through the incision or puncture.

Cut the vas deferens where it pulled out of the scrotum.

Seal the vas deferens by tying, heat (cauterization), surgical clips, or a combination of methods. Then your doctor will return the ends of the vas deferens to the scrotum.

Close the incision in the surgical area. Stitches or glue can be used. In some cases, the wound may heal on its own over time.

After the procedure

Bruising, swelling, and pain occur after a vasectomy. It usually gets better within a few days. Your doctor will provide you with recovery instructions. Your doctor might tell you the following:

Call right away if you have signs of infection, such as B. Blood oozing from the surgical site; a temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C); redness; or worsening pain or swelling.

Support your scrotum with a bandage and tight-fitting underwear for at least 48 hours after your vasectomy.

Place ice packs on the scrotum for the first two days.

Limit activity after surgery. After the operation you need to rest for 24 hours. You can probably do light activities after two or three days, but you need to avoid exercise, lifting, and heavy work for about a week. Overdoing it can cause pain or bleeding in the scrotum.

Avoid any sexual activity for about a week. When you ejaculate, you may feel pain or notice blood in your semen. If you have sex, use another form of birth control until your doctor confirms there are no sperm in your semen.

You will ejaculate sperm (semen) after a vasectomy, but it no longer contains sperm (the reproductive cells) by the time you’ve ejaculated about 20 times. A vasectomy prevents sperm produced by the testicles from reaching the semen. Instead, the body absorbs the harmless sperm.

Results

A vasectomy does not provide immediate protection against pregnancy. Use an alternative form of birth control until your doctor confirms there are no sperm in your semen. Before having unprotected sex, you must wait several months or more and ejaculate 15 to 20 times or more to remove all of the sperm from your semen.

Most doctors do a semen follow-up six to 12 weeks after surgery to make sure there are no sperm present. You must provide your doctor with sperm samples for testing. To obtain a semen sample, your doctor will have you masturbate and ejaculate into a container or use a special non-lubricated or spermicide condom to collect semen during intercourse. Your semen will then be examined under a microscope to see if sperm are present.

Vasectomy is an effective form of birth control, but it won’t protect you or your partner from sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia or HIV/AIDS. For this reason, you should use other forms of protection, such as condoms, if you’re at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection—even after a vasectomy.

How will sex be? A vasectomy is a procedure performed on the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm into your semen during ejaculation. A vasectomy means that you can no longer conceive your partner. With a success rate of almost 100 percent, it is considered one of the most effective contraceptive methods available. You may have to refrain from sexual activity for a short time after the procedure, but there are usually no long-term effects on sexual function. Read on to learn more about what to expect from sex after your vasectomy.

How Soon Can I Have Sex After a Vasectomy? After your vasectomy, you will have two incisions that need to heal. In some cases you will have stitches in your scrotum. In general, you should wait until you feel no pain or swelling around the surgical site before having sex. This may mean waiting a week or more after your procedure. Having sex immediately after surgery could reopen the incisions and allow bacteria to enter the wound. This could potentially lead to an infection. Condoms are generally not an effective means of protecting the incisions. The surgical site is usually too far above the condom opening to cover.

Does sex after a vasectomy hurt? The following symptoms may occur after the procedure: slight pain

Pain and bruising around your scrotum

blood in your semen

swelling in your scrotum and genital area

Blood clots in the scrotum These symptoms can last from a few days to a few weeks. Sex requires a lot of movement and action. If you experience pain, soreness, or swelling, sexual activity can increase and even prolong your discomfort. Once your symptoms have subsided and the incisions have healed, you should be able to engage in sexual activity without irritating the surgical site.

How long should I worry about conceiving? You will not be sterile straight away. Many men still have sperm for a few months afterwards. You must ejaculate 20 or more times before your semen is sperm-free. Your doctor will analyze your semen six to 12 weeks after your vasectomy. This test measures the amount of sperm left in your semen. If your semen is already sperm-free, your doctor will let you know. You or your partner must use birth control until your doctor confirms your semen does not contain sperm. Condoms, birth control pills, or medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera) shots can help you avoid pregnancy until the effects of the vasectomy are permanent.

Will a vasectomy affect my sex drive? The amount of sperm in your semen has no known connection to your sex drive. But worrying about a baby, taking on more responsibility because of an unwanted pregnancy, or spending money on birth control can all impact your mental health. After a vasectomy, you may find that your confidence to engage in sexual activity increases without these concerns. For that reason, it’s not surprising to hear that some research suggests that your sex drive may improve after a vasectomy.

Can I get an erection after a vasectomy? A vasectomy does not affect the hormones, body processes, or penile structures that affect your ability to get an erection. If you didn’t have trouble getting an erection before your vasectomy, you shouldn’t have any trouble afterward. See your doctor if you notice changes in your erection after a vasectomy. Another underlying medical condition or complication of the surgery may be the cause.

Will ejaculation feel different after a vasectomy? Your semen quality, quantity, and texture will not noticeably change after a vasectomy. The feeling of ejaculating during an orgasm shouldn’t feel any different at all. You may find that your first few ejaculations after the procedure are uncomfortable. This discomfort will subside over time. But if the feeling persists after a month or so, see your doctor. Although rare, post-vasectomy pain syndrome can result from nerve damage or sperm buildup in the vas deferens. Your doctor can assess your symptoms and advise you on next steps.

Following your doctor’s instructions for vasectomy recovery can help you return to your normal activities more quickly and reduce your risk of complications. Here are a few tips for a speedy recovery.

1. Wear supportive underwear immediately after your vasectomy

Wear supportive underwear or a jockstrap day and night for the duration recommended by your surgeon. This strap reduces tension on the spermatic cords, the structures that run to each testicle and contain the vas deferens, the surrounding tissues, and the blood supply to the testicles.

Be sure to change your underwear every day and put a bandage under your underwear for more support.

2. Manage your discomfort with Tylenol and ice packs

Expect some pain, swelling, and bruising for a few days after a vasectomy. Try Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain, but avoid blood-thinning medications like Bayer (aspirin) and Aleve (naproxen) as they can cause post-operative bleeding.

Wrap an ice pack in a towel and gently place it on the scrotum for the first two days to reduce swelling and minimize discomfort. Apply the pack for 20 minutes several times a day. If you don’t have one on hand, you can use a frozen bag of veggies or a thin, folded washcloth.

3. Take the prescribed medication – both before and after the vasectomy

Getting older, eating poorly, smoking, taking corticosteroids (drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, allergies, and many other conditions), having immune system problems, or diabetes can put you at a higher risk of infection after a vasectomy.

If you have any of these risk factors, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics before your procedure. Take these medications as prescribed after the surgery.

4. Keep the surgical site clean and dry

Maintaining good hygiene is crucial to reducing your risk of infection. If your surgeon allows you to shower — which may be the day after your vasectomy — gently wash the area with soap and water. Be sure to thoroughly dry your genital area by gently patting with a towel or using a hair dryer.

Remember that while you can shower, you shouldn’t bathe or swim in a tub of water for five days.

5. Limit your activity for at least 24 hours

After the procedure you need to rest for at least 24 hours. For 2 to 3 days you should limit yourself to light activities. Avoid exercise and lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least a week after surgery. If you strain too hard, you can reopen your incisions or cause bleeding in the scrotum or increase your pain.

6. Return to work when you’re ready

If you are not experiencing severe discomfort, you should be able to return to work, as long as it is non-physical activity, 1 to 2 days after your vasectomy. If your work involves more strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting or driving, ask your doctor when you can return to work.

7. Avoid sex and ejaculation for up to a week after the vasectomy

Avoid sex and ejaculation for a week after a vasectomy to allow the incision or small opening in the scrotum to heal and seal the severed ends of the vas.

When you resume sexual activity you may notice blood in your semen or feel more pain. This is common for the first few ejaculations. It can also take several months (20 to 30 ejaculations) before your semen is completely free of sperm. Use another form of birth control until your doctor has checked your semen again and given you the all-clear.

8. Watch for signs of infection

Call your doctor at once if you notice signs of infection, such as such as a high temperature (above 100.4 F or 38 C) or blood leaking from the incision site, or if you notice an increase in pain, swelling, or bruising. Infections occur in about 1-2 percent of vasectomy patients. These are usually minor and respond well to treatment with antibiotics and antimicrobial creams. More severe infections are rare.

Men who engage in heavy lifting, stretching, or physical labor may want to wait longer before returning to work. Complications can arise if the sutures are accidentally pulled or if the surgical area is subjected to too much stress. Patients need to be detailed with their physicians about the specific tasks they perform at work to determine when is the best time to return to work.

Common postoperative side effects

Once the anesthesia wears off, it’s normal for men to experience genital pain and discomfort after a vasectomy. These are normal vasectomy side effects of the surgery. Doctors recommend applying cold compresses to the swollen area. A mild pain reliever relieves the pain. It is important to relax right after the operation and avoid putting pressure on the area as much as possible. Patients should not try to drive themselves home as this would only increase the pain and discomfort at the surgical site.

Vasectomy is the most effective, permanent method of surgical birth control. Compared to other contraceptives, it has one of the fewest side effects considering pregnancy is a side effect of alternative contraceptive failure. No deaths have been attributed to vasectomy in the United States. Large-scale studies show that the overall incidence of complications is less than 5 per 100 vasectomies performed.

Mild side effects immediately after the vasectomy may include discomfort, swelling, and/or bruising of the scrotal skin, all of which usually resolve without treatment. Some men (about 1 in 20) experience swelling and mild pain in one or both testicles between three days and six months after the procedure. This is likely due to an exaggerated form of the body’s natural response to the obstruction caused by the vasectomy. It usually responds well to an anti-inflammatory drug (such as ibuprofen) 400-600 mg 3 times a day and almost never lasts more than a week or two, but in rare patients, less than 1 in 100, swelling and discomfort occurs for more than once and/or severe enough to require prescription pain relievers, stronger anti-inflammatory drugs, and one or more days off work. About 1 in 100 men will develop a grape-sized hematoma (blood clot) on one side after using the spray applicator for anesthesia. This causes more intense and longer-lasting (7-10 days) side discomfort, but does not usually require prescription painkillers.

Early complications such as bleeding and infection can occasionally occur after any surgery. Based on large studies, the overall incidence of either hematoma (a blood clot in the scrotum) or infection is less than 2% of vasectomies performed.

The following data is provided by Dr. Stein and Dr. Curington of Tampa, Florida. Together they have performed over 40,000 vasectomies.

Fifteen patients have developed blood clots in the scrotum. Twelve did not require surgical drainage, but swelling kept them quite tender for 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively. One man required same-day hospitalization and surgical drainage of the blood clot under general anesthesia in the operating room, another required surgical drainage through a 1-2 inch incision in the office, and a third elected to have partial removal of an old clot about one month after his intervention. Three major infections have emerged: the patients had persistent discomfort and progressive swelling on one side, were unresponsive to oral antibiotics, and eventually matured into a painful walnut-sized abscess that required drainage through a half-inch incision and two weeks of local wound care. Two minor infections caused swelling at the vasectomy site and in one case even difficulty urinating, but they responded quickly to antibiotics. It is understood that these are the prices for their office, but it is to be expected that they will be similar in different vasectomy practices. In the long term, vasectomy can lead to the following conditions:

1. A sperm granuloma is a pea-sized, sometimes tender mass that develops when the body reacts to and shields sperm that may exit the lower (testicle) end of the cut vas. A sperm granuloma can actually increase the likelihood of reversal success.

2. Some patients (perhaps 5%) experience periodic tenderness of the epididymis, the tube behind the testicles where sperm is reabsorbed by white blood cells, after vasectomy. Because this resorption process is a form of inflammation, it almost always responds to a short course (3 to 7 days) of an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome is defined as testicular pain (on one or both sides) for more than 3 months after a vasectomy that is severe enough to interfere with daily activities and prompt a patient to seek medical attention. Because pain is so subjective, reported rates vary, but compiled data suggest it is a significant problem for 1-2% of vasectomy patients. A vasectomy reversal, removal of the epididymis, or a special procedure called neurolysis (all major procedures) may be needed to relieve symptoms. Two of my vasectomy patients were so bothered by mild discomfort on one side that they considered having the epididymis removed on that side; three others had intermittent bilateral discomfort severe enough to undergo vasectomy reversal; and three others have undergone neurolysis, which involves dividing nerves through small groin incisions to reduce pain. Since 1983, a number of patients have experienced persistent pain at the vasectomy site. One patient’s pain was so severe that he was unable to work for a month after the procedure. About 2 patients per year (about 1 in 1500) develop persistent tenderness at the vasectomy site, eventually deciding to have another minor in-office vasectomy procedure on one side to remove the tender site.

For example, out of more than 40,000 patients, eight (about 1 in 5,000) have considered or needed a second major pain management procedure, and another 20 (about 1 in 1,500) required a second minor pain management procedure.

3. Recanalization is the restoration of sperm flow from the testicle to the rest of the reproductive tract due to the merging of the cut ends of the vases after vasectomy. Most early recanalizations occur during the healing process, are detected at the time of sperm follow-up (live sperm are seen), unwanted pregnancy does not occur if the couple was using other forms of contraception as recommended. Of course, it requires the procedure to be repeated, and the second procedure is free. By the end of 1990 when Dr. Stein began severing the vessel ends with a tiny staple, he had 3 patients out of about 1500 (1 in 500) with this complication. Since then, about 38,000 vasectomies have had 10 premature failures (1 in 3,500). One was on a man who presented quite a vasectomy challenge as a baby due to scars from scrotum surgery. Four other men had live sperm on all samples examined 6 months after their vasectomy, and six others had no live sperm eight months after the vasectomy, but had enough non-live sperm that he decided to repeat the procedure. Late recanalization, the return of live sperm to the semen at some point after the semen has been confirmed by microscopic examination to be free of sperm, is also very rare. dr Stein describes how this problem occurred 13 times. Examples: (1) A man whose vasectomy was performed in 1988 and whose semen was sperm-free three months later gave birth to his wife in 1991 and his semen showed live sperm at the time (she never became pregnant again and he returned for a vasectomy reversal in the year 2005 to which he was sperm free again), (2) another patient whose vasectomy was performed in 2000 had no sperm in his semen two months later, but his wife became pregnant almost 4 years later and a semen check revealed a very low sperm count, (3) a man whose wife became pregnant about 16 months after a vasectomy and semen test negative (she had miscarried, so there was no live birth); (4) a man who underwent a vasectomy and whose semen was sperm-free in early 2005 had a partner pregnant in late 2006; even then no sperm was found in his semen, but DNA tests confirmed his paternity (the veritable “one came through”); (5) a man whose semen showed no sperm at 8 weeks conceived his wife at 14 weeks and was confirmed to have sperm in his semen at 20 weeks (super early recanalization); and (6) a 29-year-old man with no children conceived his 24-year-old partner about 3 years after his vasectomy; He had sperm in his semen and had a repeat vasectomy while she was terminating the pregnancy. From these 13 cases and reports in the literature, it is clear that late failure resulting in pregnancy is possible but rare, with a probability of about 1 in 3000, a failure rate much lower than any other form of contraception.

4. Antisperm antibodies appear in the blood of about half of patients undergoing a vasectomy, and patients who develop antibodies are less likely to induce pregnancy, even if a successful reversal of the vasectomy allows sperm to return to the penetrate ejaculate. These antibodies otherwise have no effect on the state of health.

5. An article reporting a modest association between vasectomy and prostate cancer was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) on September 20, 2014. Based on an updated meta-analysis of this and many other articles that have addressed the topic over the years, the American Urological Association reaffirmed on November 7, 2014 that vasectomy is not a risk factor for prostate cancer and it is not necessary for physicians to consider prostate cancer in their routinely discuss preoperative counseling for vasectomy patients. The most recent article confirming this lack of association appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on March 6, 2017.

Only 5% of what you ejaculate comes from the testicles. The rest comes from the prostate and associated glands. So, yes, you will still produce essentially the same volume and appearance of liquid as before, but without the sperm.

granuloma pain. About 1% of men contact me for weeks to months after a vasectomy with the concern, “There’s a lump down there and it hurts if I touch it.” This is inflammation around the vasectomy site that is likely to be the result that the body is exposed to sperm that escaped either during surgery or afterwards. There is a sphere of white blood cells that actively recycles your sperm, resulting in higher levels of inflammatory mediators in that region. It is self-limiting and goes away soon enough and can be helped by taking ibuprofen regularly for several days. Rarely, some men require steroids to reduce this inflammation.

Congestive epididymitis. Rarely (1 to 2%), men present with an episode of scrotal pain several months or years after vasectomy. There may even be swelling, but no fever or granuloma is present. This is classic congestive epididymitis, in which the increase in sperm production (which may be cyclical) peaks and thus stretching of the epididymis occurs. I’m trying to do a vasectomy higher up from the epididymis to leave plenty of “piping” to relieve the stretch. Ice, ibuprofen, and time help the most. We recommend using heat baths to reduce sperm production and ice for comfort. Ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. Very rarely, a vasectomy reversal is required to alleviate this phenomenon.

A vasectomy is a minor procedure that blocks the flow of sperm to the semen. It is a common form of male birth control that involves cutting and sealing the vas deferens. The sperm that can no longer get into the semen are absorbed by the body.

Vasectomy carries a low risk of problems, but some men develop post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS). PVPS involves chronic pain in one or both testicles that is still present three months after the procedure. Pain can range from an infrequent, dull ache to a sharp, constant ache that can interfere with daily living. For some men, the pain is severe enough to seek treatment.

granuloma pain. About 1% of men contact me for weeks to months after a vasectomy with the concern, “There’s a lump down there and it hurts if I touch it.” This is inflammation around the vasectomy site that is likely to be the result that the body is exposed to sperm that escaped either during surgery or afterwards. There is a sphere of white blood cells that actively recycles your sperm, resulting in higher levels of inflammatory mediators in that region. It is self-limiting and goes away soon enough and can be helped by taking ibuprofen regularly for several days. Rarely, some men require steroids to reduce this inflammation.

Congestive epididymitis. Rarely (1 to 2%), men present with an episode of scrotal pain several months or years after vasectomy. There may even be swelling, but no fever or granuloma is present. This is classic congestive epididymitis, in which the increase in sperm production (which may be cyclical) peaks and thus stretching of the epididymis occurs. I’m trying to do a vasectomy higher up from the epididymis to leave plenty of “piping” to relieve the stretch. Ice, ibuprofen, and time help the most. We recommend using heat baths to reduce sperm production and ice for comfort. Ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. Very rarely, a vasectomy reversal is required to alleviate this phenomenon.

Activity:

Go straight home and do as little as possible for the rest of the day and the next. Walk as little as possible for a whole week. No sport! No gardening! No fooling around with the kids! Nothing! I mean it that way. Yes, you can go to the bathroom, but only if you absolutely have to (kidding). Don’t lift anything over 15 pounds for the first two days and 50 pounds for the first week. If in doubt, don’t! You can gradually increase your activity from day to day, but remember to always play it safe.