New to cycling and a bit confused – need some guidance

[Nick74]

Hey brothers, I have a question about cycling because I’m a bit confused and could use some guidance.
At my last appointment, my nurse practitioner told me to inflate to the max, hold it for 5 minutes, then deflate. I asked him how many times per day, and he said as many times as I want, which honestly didn’t make much sense to me.So right now, what I’m doing is:
• Inflate to max for 5 minutes
• Deflate
• I repeat this 4 times in the morning and 4 times at nightBut after reading different experiences here, I’m wondering if this is really the best approach.
Should I instead:
• Inflate to max and hold it for 20–30 minutes straight?
• Maybe do some light walking or pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises while inflated?
• Or is the short 5-minute multiple sets approach better early on?I’m about 4 weeks post-op, just started cycling, and I don’t want to overdo it or do something counterproductive. I want to stretch safely but also make progress.Any advice from those further along would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance, brothers.

[tomas1]

I think we all started cycling differently.
I was given no instructions and had to just wing it.
I think the important thing is to cycle each day though.
I wouldn't limit the inflate time unless it becomes uncomfortable.

[Rider1400]

When I got mine almost 4 years the common practice was 30 minutes twice a day. At the very beginning I did good to get ten and then would get to hurting too much but by pressing thru within a few weeks was up to 30 minutes twice a day. Would occasionally go over a bit. It was a big talk to do the Perito exercises after 6-8 weeks when it wasn’t so sore. That’s where you pump up as hard as possible wrap one hand around the shaft midpoint and bend the top half forward backwards, left and right.
Clavell and Perito have video series on YouTube that cove dozens of issues including cycling. They are all good to watch and you can pick up on a lot of good information about implants

[UpNorth]

At four weeks you are probably in enough pain when pumping that you don’t get to max.?

I pumped as much as I could and kept it there till pain was brutal. Backed off and did it again. Backed off and pumped it up and stopped just before I thought it was going into the intense pain threshold and left it there. I did Different things at that point. Basic chores, shower, whatever then pumped it up a bit more for a bit before deflating. Even left it inflated while I slept.

Hope that helps.

[LGXDownunder]

Nick, There is a lot of variation in protocols between different surgeons, for cycling and just about everything else. I can only share what I have done, which seems to have worked for me. I continue to cycle daily based on the initial protocol but I've added to it and adjusted it over time. I'm sure everyone will give you a different opinion.

I could only start cycling after my 6 weeks appointment to activate my implant. Before that I had been left erect since surgery. My doc's instructions were to cycle twice a day for 15 minutes, plus do Perito style bending exercises while erect, then try to pump more and repeat. His version of Perito is a variation on the original. I have to bend my penis as far as possible at each of the cardinal compass point positions, and hold it there for as long as possible. I usually get tired of holding after 30 to 60 seconds. And I mostly repeat that routine three times in each cycling session. Doc also told me that if I want to focus on restoring length, then concentrate on holding the downward (south) position bent as far and long as I can tolerate.

Discomfort also plays a big part. Early on I could only bend, hold or pump to what my pain tolerance was at that stage. At 11 months post op I can pretty much do whatever I like with zero to minimal discomfort. Now I only start to feel any significant pain after more than an hour at absolutely maximum inflation. Even then I can push through it. It's just more comfortable to deflate at that point. I can quickly recover and go again, but usually I've had enough by then and often have other things to do.

Once my pain level was tolerable, probably at around 8 to 10 weeks post op, fairly quickly I started to introduce a long cycling session of up to an hour or more on days when I'm not having sex, in addition to the 15 minutes morning and evening. I still try and do that now but frequency depends on other commitments.

I wouldn't stress too much about exactly following a particular regime. Do follow your doc's instructions as best you can but listen to your own body. If anything is too painful, stop. Try again later. It sounds like he has given you some license to use your own judgement in any case. Personally I think longer sessions can help overcome discomfort sooner and may also help with restoring size. But it's only anecdotal based on my own experience.

I still do pelvic floor/kegel exercises but not while erect. I only do them because I had a lot of continence problems post prostatectomy and it's ongoing therapy so I don't go backwards. I sometimes go for a walk partially inflated but not with more than 10 quick pumps. Firstly, even that is hard to conceal, secondly more than that and it gets very uncomfortable walking around.

[GoodWood]

I suspect that when it comes to cycling there really isn’t a wrong answer. As long as you pump to max on a regular basis and put your penis through some bending movement, either by doing Perito exercises, or my favorite, having sex (which I jokingly call “modified Perito exercises” LOL) you’ll make progress.

Progress will be rapid initially and then will slow. That’s to be expected. But most importantly just enjoy and revel in the fact that you have a functioning penis again.