Yippee - I can go back to work!

marion1952
marion1952 Member Posts: 963
edited 14. Aug 2010, 06:33 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi Folks

Just to say I went to see the Occupational Health doctor today and he is happy for me to go back to work on a 'phased return' as from next Monday.

I will do 4 hours a day for 3 days next week; then 4 hours a day for 4 days the following week and gradually increase the number of hours and days until about 6 weeks when I could do 7 hours a day, 5 days a week (ie full time).

My leg/foot still swells up during the day, so the reduced hours will be really helpful. He said I shouldn't be doing any work which requires me to sit in one position for any length of time for 2-3 months too.

I'm very happy..

Marion
«1

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    TERRIFIC! :D Go gently tho, don't undo all your good work of the past few weeks in one mad blast. I am very, very pleased for you. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • chris7
    chris7 Bots Posts: 2,696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Marion :D

    Goodness that is good to hear, so glad you are pleased and do hope all goes well for you. Am sure it will be very tiring at first but hope each day gets a little easier. Well done.
    take care
    Chris x
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wow Marion, I'm glad that you are going back and with great arrangements in place. Will your equipment be ready for Monday? Get some extra dinners cooked and in the freezer to make life a bit easier the first few days back. Looks like those corridors will be well trod .. with you getting up regularly to walk and move about.

    Not moving wont be a problem when I go back, the problem will be sitting/resting enough ...

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    What lovely words to hear, Marion, being given the ok to return to work gradually building up the hours.

    You have done so very well.

    Good on you!

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Speedy

    No - my new equipment won't be ready for Monday, so I will be taking 2 cushions in to raise my chair height.. I'm really pleased to just be doing 4 hours a day initially. My office is on a very long, smooth corridor (perfect for roller skating .. if only!) - so it will be good physiotherapy for me to walk up and down it!!

    BW

    Marion
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI, the corridor will be great for building up systematically the walking without the crutch.

    Just be careful if it is wet weather and you are using the crutch - as your crutch might slip.

    Make sure the cushions are big enough - I'm not implying you have a big bottom - but I took a smallish one out with me as it was smaller to carry etc and it wasn't comfy.

    Are you going to use your footstall?

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Speedy - good point about the cushions..
    Actually, funny you should mention it, but since my hip op my b.t.m has gone smaller/flatter - I think it's something to do with the muscles being cut through during the op.. (I'm not complaining though - silver lining and all that !)

    I'm not sure whether my sloping footstool will be comfortable as yet .. it will be trial and error I think....

    Marion
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion,

    I am so pleased to read that :D:D So as soon as you got the equipment in you will be skateboarding down the corridor :wink: Its nice when employers help and well done for such a speedy recovery. ((( ))) an h and pats to your girls and slurps from this lot. Cris xx

    Hi Speedy :D xx
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning marion

    That is great news for you

    Take the first few times easy and rest when you get home

    Love from Julie xx :)
  • moogiemouse1
    moogiemouse1 Member Posts: 28
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Congrats Marion!

    It all sounds great – I have a sloping footstool which I find quite handy and my cushion adds extra comfort too! I also have a long smooth walk that goes through the factory downstairs where I have been practising my ‘crutchless’ walking! One thing I have been suffering with is a touch of sciatica in my operated leg, this happens when I have been sat in my office chair for too long (I try to get up for a stretch every half hour or so – I have started drinking loads of water, this means I have to pop out to the ladies quite frequently thereby getting a bit of excersise!) and by about three o’clock it can be quite painful- work are getting me a chair that slopes forward when I lean forward which means I am not overstretching the muscles on the back of my legs which should help! But watch out for that.

    Good luck on your return – it’s nice to feel you are getting back to normal a bit isn’t it! xx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,788
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hoorah Marion!!!!!!!

    I hope it goes really well for you...


    and your phased return means you will be able to let us know how you are getting on too :wink:

    Bet you will be nervous sunday night, but once you have been in one day - you will feel like you've never been away :)

    Love

    Toni xx
  • dachshund
    dachshund Member Posts: 9,089
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion.
    I'm so pleased for you all the hard work you did in the begining has paid off.
    good for you take care.
    joan xx
    take care
    joan xx
  • ironic
    ironic Member Posts: 2,361
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion,
    That is good news. I'm so glad that you will be able to ease into work. I'm sure you will be tired at first but wow to be getting back to normal.

    Happy skateboarding. :D

    Lv, Ix
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion
    That is such good news, you have really done well, and been so good at supporting others having there ops.
    You take it easy , It s good that you can build up your hours, at least you will feel more human.
    Good Luck
    Lots of love and hugs ((((()))))
    Barbara xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks very much everyone, for your good wishes.. I admit I am a little apprehensive about Monday!!

    Hi Mooglemouse
    Interesting that you mention the sciatica ... I have had 3 episodes of (bad) pain in my unoperated leg in the last few weeks - all of which have occurred after sitting for 1-2 hours (eg in a restaurant and also after my daughter's graduation ceremony).. I think they were probably sciatica too.. I will have to make sure I move frequently when I go back to work... (The Access to Work physio noticed that I lean towards my unoperated side - so I don't think that helps).

    Hi Cris
    Hope you are all OK down there in beautiful Cornwall.. Have you got an 'easy' weekend or are you very busy again??


    Marion x
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You'll be fine, by the end of the day you'll feel that you've never been away!!

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning Marion,

    Hey w got sun today! Got to get in gear and get moving though :roll: Did the fell asleep in the armchair again... woke at 5 and felt paralyzed as the neck was so bad :lol::lol: Taken me ages to get it to stop saying I was :lol: Never learn eh?!

    Hope it warms up but for once no rain or cloud :D

    Hoe you have a good day and slurps to the 2 girls. Cris xx
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    great about the return to work and that things are sorted so not going to be to much of shock to system good luck feel sure all will be well val
    val
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,788
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Marion

    I think it is tomorrow you go back in :?:

    Can I wish you all the very best and hope you have a great day.

    rest up when you get home and look forward to hearing how you got on.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion, wishing you a good first day at work tomorrow. Have you got the "Sunday night" feeling? (Unless this is a teacher-only thing?)

    Speedy

    (The Sunday night feeling is when you know the weekend is really over as you have to rush around getting everything ready for the next day ...)
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone

    Thanks for all your good wishes..

    Yes, Speedy, I am busy writing my list of things to do when I get into work tomorrow!

    Have been out and bought a few new clothes this weekend, as I have been living in £3.00 vest tops from asda for the last 3 months!!

    Just can't find my work glasses (specs) though - they seem to have disappeared over the last 3 months.

    I've decided to work Monday, Wed and Friday this week (nicely spread out - and we have cakes on Fridays, so don't want to miss that).

    Have put my spare raised toilet seat in the boot of my car in case the disabled loo is too low for me!

    Oh gosh - forget to get a new alarm clock! Will have to bang my head on the pillow 7 times to make sure I get up at 7 am!!

    Cris - sun - what's sun?? I haven't seen any since June! Sorry to read about the road rage man and your egg disaster in the new car. You MUST get to bed at night - that 5 minute doze in the chair that turns into a 5 hour sleep is NOT good for your neck or back or shoulders ...

    Marion x
  • denpen
    denpen Member Posts: 389
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion
    Thats great news, well done, at least you seem to have a understanding company to work for, I have to broach the same thing with my manager, I live in hope. lol.
    Denise
  • Rainbow77
    Rainbow77 Member Posts: 275
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion

    Great news

    I hope you got on really well today

    Fayann xxx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,788
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh Marion!!

    You sound totally organised :wink:

    I do hope all has gone well for your first day

    Wise to spread the days out like that - rest in between.

    Love and hugs

    toni xx
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marion, how was your day? Hope you didn't oversleep .. I need at least two alarm clocks!!

    Rest up, now.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.