Back to work

I was off work 6 months with each knee. If you can it would be better if you delayed your return as long as possible. People have different circumstances, but the longer the better.

Thanks David

Yes I will bare that in mind. As I sit here now I’m wondering if it’s the right thing to do 😂 I’ll probably change my mind and back at least 10 times before then

Hope you are keeping well 😊

Hi all,

I’m going back to work on the 3rd April. I’ll be 11 weeks post op. I’m doing 2 x 4 hour days at work location and 3 x4 hour days at home. I am really nervous about going back. I feel I have lost some confidence. I am ok local and with local people but not do sure about getting back out there.  I am also quite dedicated to the exercise routine and wonder if I’ll have the energy to do the both. I am quite young for a replacement at 52 and people seem to think I can just snap back and get on with things. I feel some are quite impatient with my rehabilitation.

 Good luck Wendie with your return I hope it all goes well 😃👍

Hi Louise 

Yeah it is daunting for sure. I did suggest to my boss to do 3 days but I’m gojng  to tell him 2 days and see how I manage. Now I’ve read all these replies I’m having doubts 😫 I’ve still got couple I weeks to decide so shall see how I go 

Many thanks for all your replies guys. It’s been massive help 

Good luck with your return Louise. Hope it goes well 😊

Hi wendie I'm 6 months post op and I've been back to work since February on a phased return. Started the first week on 3x 4 hour days, the second week I did 3 normal shifts and have done this ever since by using annual leave up that I was entitled to. Just getting back to full hours now. My biggest problem was feeling so tired, it didn't take long for the energy to be drained out of me. I've got a Fitbit so I'm finding if I do over 15000 steps I have to ice and elevate when I get home. I'm taking less pain killers which is always a positive sign. The job I do is stressful anyway I'm an intensive care nurse so I get drained pretty quickly. For me as soon as I could a decent amount of steps without my knee swelling up I was ready to go back to work. 

Hi Wendy  I had my TKR on the 1st of November what a rollercoaster ride it has been and still is 

due to start work on faced return on 1st of march ,not getting the bend so the surgeon decided to manipulate ,I thought once the manipulation I would be straight back to work the following week ,

how wrong I was , I am now getting a better bend but struggling with pain and walking, so not sure how long I am going to be off now  good luck hope it goes ok ,I am desperate to get back to normality x

Hi Wendie

I went back at 4 weeks phased return for 3 hrs a day for 3 days week 5 was 4 and 5 hours a day full time from week 6. mUCH TOO SOON. Even sitting. I was exhausted ended up having to take Oral morphine some nights again. Felt I had to prove my worth. Physio couldn’t work with me on one occasion as I was so exhausted. Bend 125 straight now -4 at week 10. I’m still

In lots of pain. To add to it all my manager said to me yesterday how it had taken me some time to get back into work. I was so upset. 

It doesn’t pay to kill yourself if you can afford to stay off then do. I couldn’t sadly. 

I’ve never felt exhaustion like this and I can get very tearful with it. My Physio said to see occupational health; work have just said to see how I am next Physio visit. I’m sitting down most of day. Don’t have time to do exercices at work. Please think long and hard about going back. Yes my ROM is good; I look better for doing something but I don’t go out anywhere. I go to work I come home and I go to bed. It’s no life at the mo.