Went back to work this week

speedalong

Hi,

Almost 6 months post hip op and I went back to work this week, (I know this isn't the working forum, but hardly anyone responds on that forum and I'm not seeking advice, just support!!)


Yesterday I went in for meetings and to did some paperwork and I started back phased return officially today. Just two mornings this week, building up to four full days over the next 4 weeks.

My boss is lending me his office chair, but I'm struggling to get down to the children when they are sat at the tables - their chairs total height (including back) is below my knee to give you some idea! Leaning/bending forwards from sitting is the only way I can reach them and not a great postural position for hip op peeps. I spent some time high kneeling opposite them - but can only manage so much of that. I ache from leaning forward to work with them. Hope my new equipment comes double quick.

Came home, had some lunch and then slept for two hours!!

Speedy

dreamdaisy

Congratulations on your first day back, I am glad it went well and I hope you have had enough rest - I bet you sleep well tonight! Same again tomorrow? When do you hope to get the gear you need? DD

mirabella

Hi just happened to read your message about going back to work,you say you are 6 months after hip op,does it really take that long?? I am in my 9th wk now after mine still am on crutches,and knee and below still quite swollen.I did have girdle stone procedure which lasted 4months previous to op.How long was it before you could walk proporly,I am so desperate to do that? Mirabella

speedalong

Hi DD,

as long as my brain turns off ok (racing thoughts of school!) I should sleep well!

My equipment has been ordered - yesterday - my boss says - and since he has lent me his chair (and no doubt wants it back) I'm sure this really is the case. We have chosen local suppliers where possible - so hoping equipment comes asap!!

Speedy

nearlybionic

Hi Speedalong
I did reply to your other post, a really long reply, and it disappeared!! Grrr!
Well done on your return to work. I hope your equipment arrives soon, as I don`t like the sound of the leaning forward etc...
I`m glad you are having a phased return , as 4 days would be too much at first, you need to build it up. I went back at 4 months post THR on a very phased return, and remember being tired after the short days. When you are at home in recovery you start to feel like you are ready for work, but that is whe you are pottering and can rest whenever you need to. Take it easy when you can .
I am hoping to go back (again) next week.
NB

janie68

Hi Speedy

Well done on your return to work!

It sounds as though you are enjoying it? It'll take time to adjust and you're doing thr right thing in resting afterwards.

Good luck

Janie xx

woodbon

Hello,
I'm glad that you are back at work, but it sounds as if they should have managed to get you the proper equipement in first. Still, it must have been nice to be part of the adult world again, but you must be careful and not overdo things especially if you haven't got the equipement you need in place yet. I hope it makes a big difference when it comes. I can understand the pain bending, I remeber when I went back to work for a while, bending to deal with the elderly, was not easy!

Still early days and you've made a start! Good for you!
Love Sue

speedalong

Hi Mirabella,

different folks return to work at different times - depends on what the job entails. I teach children with special needs - which is very physical. After my first hip op (years ago) I went back to work sooner - because I was teaching in mainstream then.

I walk around the house, school, local shops etc without a crutch, but use a single crutch if I want to walk a distance (several miles) or if I need to be quick. My hip was partially dislocated since my mid 20's (I'm now 43,) so my body has/is adapting to having the hip back in it's socket too.

What have you been advised re the crutches? Have you been told you must still use both? Do you experience pain if you fully weight bear on your op leg? If not, have you experimented using one crutch (on the non-op side)? How do you move around at home?

Re the swelling - are you elevating your leg plenty? After my op, I found a session up on the bed each afternoon really helped. A friend also put a row of pillows under the foot end of my mattress (leaving them sticking out a bit at the end, so they don't disappear/dislodge) and that meant all the swelling went down each night too.

Do you have a physio programme? Are you still taking anti-inflammatories?

I haven't heard of girdle stone procedure - what it that?

Keep us posted with your progress.

Speedy

marion1952

Hi Speedy

Well done .. I've been thinking about you ..

Be careful with the headmaster's echair - I sat on an ordinary office chair last Saturday for a few hours and it was too low and too deep and it has really 'upset' my new hip.. I don't think there's any permanent damage done, but it's been troubling me for the last 5 days...

My Access to Work office equipment came through very quickly indeed .. I hope yours arrives soon..

Please take care!!

Marion x

speedalong

Hi NB,

how did you cope with getting down to the little people on your caseload post-op?

My phased return is over 4 weeks - so hoping I build up stamina sharpish.

Are you going back on restricted duties? I hope it goes well for you too. Is it worth you having an ATW assessment too?

Speedy

speedalong

Hi Janie, mmm - enjoying it - bits of it. I will enjoy it more when I have my equipment and have licked the class into shape and tidied and sorted out the new classroom ...

Hi Sue, the children are TINY - think toddler size!! When seated they are below my knee (and I'm only 5'2!) My new chair has a seat that can be angled to slope - so that should make the bending to their level easier on the hips and back?! Children and elderly - similiar in many respects!!

Speedy

speedalong

Hi Marion,

I set his chair up so it was high enough - but then of course I was bending down - oh so low to the children who sit on ordinary chairs (minute chairs!) Height is less of an issue for the children who are in special seating too - but even with them you have to lean forward. I don't recall sitting back in his chair - I think I spent most of my time leaning forward ...

I never realised what a problem chair would be post-op. I don't recall this from last time... but guess it was the same and eventually we cope with a wider range of chairs - even though some are real no-nos. I hope you hip gets over it's sitting on that chair soon.

How long did your ATW equipment take? I'm pinning my hopes on it making a real difference. Though of course if I was with the older children as before, this would all be less of an issue ...

Speedy

PS have already disgarded the crutch inside school ...just using it in the carpark and to get to class first thing.

nearlybionic

Hi Speedalong
I didn`t do home visits for about 8 weeks when I went back, and am not again this time. My role was office based at first , then clinics, and eventually home visits. I had a full assessment when I went back alst time, resulting in new chair, suitable desk, footrest, and `trolley` to transport stuff to and from car. (however I did need to lift this into and out of the car, which I am not happy to do now).
I did find some aspects of work difficult , due to low seating, restricted space, etc.. and this is what concerns me now.
I am on restricted duties on my return, reduced hours, will need further workplace adjustments, and of course a phased return. I am supposed to see my manager and HR on Friday to discuss this (no time set yet :roll: ) and it will be reassessed after my next ortho appointment.
I hope your return continues to go well and you get your equipment asap!!
NB

skezier

Oh Speedy how did I miss this?! :oops:

You going to feel wished by the time you get home flower for a min or two but hopefully after you finish your return you will be back on top of it all.

I don't know how you can bend and get down easier and the only thing I can do is send you a ((( ))) and a hope you will soon free u totally. Cris xx

Wonkylegs

Ouch speedy,..... I feel for you. THose small chairs are no use really are they?

I think we should use the swedish (I think) idea of adjustable chairs that have all the users at the same height (so they can all use 'adult' height tables, but the chair adjusts so that they suit the size of child. (sorry - not explained that very well :oops: )

keep smiling and I really hope you manage ok.

hugs
WOnky

julie47

Hi speedy

sorry I am late in congratulating you :oops:

Congratulations on getting back into work. I am not surprised you slept on returning home.

I bet you felt real pleased with yourself. I am pleased for you

Take care
Juliepf x

ritwren

Sorry I've not been around Speedy. Well done getting back to work and I hope they can get you what you need double quick. I'm not surprised you slept when you got home I'm sure you were exhausted.Hang in there and best of luck with your phased return. If it gets too much without the proper equipment 'tho you'll need to say.
big hugs, rita

frogmorton

oh Speeedy

i am so very pleased for you being back at work with the kids.

It will be so good for you

Well done.

I do hope the bits and peices arrive soon to help you to do the work a bit more comfortably though.

Love

toni xx

speedalong

Hi NB,

Thanks for reply, have had trouble getting back on forum.

Your phased return (first time round,) sounded better organised and thought out than mine. I was straight in to teaching again ... if I hadn't stayed on after my meeting on Tuesday - to print off plans, resources etc and met with my job share teacher a couple of times at her house, I'd have just have gone in to the class cold, as it were!

My main problem is the size of the chairs and tables that the ambulant children sit on - and getting down to their level. If I was with older children - this wouldn't be an issue :roll: :roll: :roll: Speedy

speedalong

Hi Toni,

re equipment - so do I!! Am also it hoping it DOES make a massive difference ....

Speedy

speedalong

Hi Cris,

have had trouble getting back on the forum ... very frustrating!! Sorted now though.

Was very wiped out after the first morning, slightly less so yesterday. Some pain in my bottom and lower back from leaning forward to reach the children. Day of recuperation today!! Been piffling!

Haven't caught up with your thread yet. Hope you are doing as ok and your body is behaving to the best of it's ability and the lodgers are not up to any more mischief.

Speedy

speedalong

Hi Wonky, now that would be great.

Julie - guess it is a case of building up my stamina again!!

Rita, hope all goes well with you. If the equipment doesn't arrive and I'm struggling too much ... I WILL have to feed this back. My boss did say at the meeting with ER that he would meet with me at the end of each week to see how things were going etc but of course he is never there!

Speedy

julie47

Hi speedy

Been thinking :?

Could you use a gas office chair that goes up an down. That way you could be at the same level as the children when you want to be and the correct height for desk when you want to be.

juliepf x

speedalong

Hi Julie, great minds think alike! That was what I was hoping and my new equipment will be - however they have a minimum height ... I suppose because most peeps work at desks and so they don't go down very low. The chap from ATW was clever though and the teaching chair he has recommended goes down as low as they go and you can tilt the seat so in effect I will be able to lean forward and not be beyond 90 degrees, hoping that will help.

Of course if they dug me a pit - I could sit in it and the children could sit round the edge and I could be on their level then!! Or, they could sit on a stage ....

Speedy

Poppyg1rl

Hi Speedy,
Was wondering how u had got on going back to work, so glad that u ok and coping. Good that they'll get u the tilting chair. I've only got 2 little ones to c/mind today and they both at nursery till 3 so putting my feet up while I can! Btw I've asked Ofsted re the childcare student assistant and they say they'll get back to me, knowing Ofsted it could be a while! Anyway glad ur ok Poppy Xxx

barbara12

Hi Speedy
Know wonder you are tired, I do hope they get the equipment you need very soon, I can only imagine how hard it is trying to get down to the children's level.
Good Luck with everything, and keep us updated.
Love
Barbara x