Can you exercise with appendicitis?

Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
Updated on February 26, 2025
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During the acute onset of appendicitis, it is not suitable to exercise. This is because the patient's immune system is weakened, and exercise can exacerbate the spread of inflammation, making the appendix more likely to perforate. In cases of chronic appendicitis, as well as during the recovery period after appendix surgery, moderate activities can be performed. Exercise can be carried out after the stitches are removed, but the intensity of the exercise should not be too high. It is necessary to progress gradually, and an abdominal binder should be used to protect the incision site. It's also important to strengthen nutrition, improve physical fitness, and eat more coarse grains to maintain smooth bowel movements.

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Early symptoms of appendicitis

What are the initial symptoms of appendicitis? It is characterized by abdominal pain. The main symptom is abdominal pain that appears around the upper abdomen or navel, and some patients may also experience nausea and vomiting. Generally, two to three hours later, the abdominal pain gradually shifts to the lower right abdomen, which we clinically refer to as migratory right lower abdominal pain. This symptom accounts for about 80% of clinical cases, while some patients present directly with pain in the lower right abdomen, without transitional abdominal pain. Therefore, the primary symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain, as described in these two scenarios. However, physical examination is also very important, typically revealing localized fixed tenderness in the lower right abdomen as the main clinical manifestation.

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How long to rest after appendicitis surgery?

After appendicitis surgery, patients need at least two weeks of rest because they are generally weak and unable to work or perform physical labor. It is important to intensify care, especially in protecting the surgical incision, with regular dressing changes until the sutures are removed and no further dressing changes are needed. Dietary management should be improved by consuming more vegetables and fruits to ensure smooth bowel movements. Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy is a common method for appendicitis surgery, as it involves less bleeding during the operation and faster recovery, allowing most patients to be discharged three days after the surgery.

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Does chronic appendicitis cause fever?

Chronic appendicitis is a common gastrointestinal disease. Whether chronic appendicitis causes fever depends on the control of the inflammation. Most cases of chronic appendicitis do not involve fever, but some cases may exhibit a low fever when the inflammation is not well controlled. A very small percentage of chronic appendicitis cases can undergo acute episodes and develop suppurative infections, leading to perforation of the appendix and diffuse peritonitis, septicemia, and septic shock; in such acute episodes of chronic appendicitis, a high fever can occur.

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Causes of Appendicitis

The appendix is connected to the cecum at one end, has a narrow lumen, and is rich in lymphatic tissue. The anatomical basis of the appendix makes it prone to inflammation. Generally, appendicitis is caused by different obstructions in the appendix, such as fecaliths, fecal masses, food residues, and parasites like roundworms, which can all lead to obstruction of the appendix and trigger acute appendicitis. Additionally, gastrointestinal dysfunction can also cause spasms and contractions of the muscles in the appendix wall, affecting the emptying of the appendix and its blood circulation, leading to inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis requires timely treatment, and surgery might be necessary for symptomatic support.

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Is appendicitis contagious?

Appendicitis is an inflammation that occurs in the lumen of the appendix, including acute appendicitis and chronic appendicitis. Appendicitis is not contagious, as it is not an infectious disease, but rather a purulent inflammation. Therefore, there is no need to isolate patients with appendicitis. Appendicitis usually requires surgical removal, but it is important to note that surgery should not be performed if acute appendicitis has been present for more than 72 hours, or if an abscess has formed. The majority of surgeries are performed using laparoscopic appendectomy, a method which allows for a faster recovery post-operation.