Back to work and I'm struggling ...
Posted , 13 users are following.
I was 7 weeks post surgery last Wednesday from a RTHR. I returned to work last Monday full time hours (8am-4.30). Things had changed in the 6 weeks I had been gone. A new computer system which changes the way we do everything had gone live,so the development of processes had been put on hold until I returned. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed by work and was trying to manage this as well as my pain levels. My job involves a lot of up and down, sitting for a period of time, then up and walking, then down again. By Friday night I was in so much pain I could hardly walk and have spent quite a few hours lying down resting it in preparation for this week. I have also been very naughty and have not been doing my physio exercises as they just made it worse. I thought I was getting better and now I have been given a huge reality slap in the face. I also have 2 children 8yo and 11yo so if you were going to tell me to rest more that's not going to happen! LOL Has anyone else experienced this?
3 likes, 18 replies
renee01952 gaylene.g
Posted
wow .... that is a lot to handle - full time after 7 weeks - system changes etc .. no wonder you are not doing that great ..
I am (mandatory) retired so don;t have this experience -
Do you still take medication for pain?
Any way to ask for less physically challenging tasks or perhaps work part time for a couple of weeks?
Sending you healing light and blessings ..
love
renee
hope4cure gaylene.g
Posted
i totally get you predicament. My first hip was done in my 40's an I had 5 kids and worked full time. It was a nightmare. Getting back to work while managing pain is at best tricky and different for everyone. Comfortable chair is essential and watching movements is a pain. Getting up and down & driving all the thing we take for granted are a huge handicap at this stage.
My my job was very accommodating and by law they are required to assist in any way. I don't know it that is your case.. But I could only take one day at a time and had help come clean and take care of things at home. I put on cloths over my head and planned ahead knowing restrictions. After time I was back to normal and doing therapy was the best way to build strength and I drank lots of protein shakes which helped a lot.
Eventually you will find what works for you. It takes time and mindfulness.
Healing blessing aent ur way
HOPE
Crossy24 gaylene.g
Posted
Georgie11 gaylene.g
Posted
I'll be 7 weeks on Tuesday and my GP won't let me go back full time. She's written a letter so I can do six hour days. It started off with three days a week but I'd just have to cram the work in so we agreed on shorter days. I'll be doing two weeks of reduced hours then back to the usual.
I am a little anxious as the same am up and down a lot.
can you reduce hours....or take a sick day midweek for a couple of weeks? It is hard when like me you've already had all the time off but it's not nice suffering either.
i hope you have a better week ahead. 💌🌈💌🌈
gaylene.g
Posted
Work has been fantastic and offered me to go back half days but like Georgie I have used all my sick leave and the surgeon cleared me to go back full time and full duties. Work have got me a stand thingy to go on my desk so I can work either sitting down or standing but I find when I'm standing I'm putting all my weight on my good hip so I've sent myself Outlook reminders to pop up on my computer every 10 mins "stand straight". LOL As you all know it doesn't matter if you stand or sit, you're still putting weight on your hip. The only thing that rests it is laying down.
I am off all my pain meds but have been taking Nurofen during the day as I remember but probably need to switch to Panadol and be more vigilant about taking it BEFORE I'm in pain.
I spoke to my boss today and she has said that I can do reduced hours until I feel like I can do more, so I'll do 8am-2.45 pm, pick up the kids from school then go home and rest while they do their homework. It's just really hard as I know me not being there puts pressure on my colleagues and I feel bad for them, but me first right? Luckily my awesome husband cooked a weeks worth of meals and froze them so I don't have to worry about dinner and he's back on Friday for a week.
I'm very blessed to have such a great employer and husband supporting me. I see my physio on Tuesday so I will have a chat to her about things as well
Thank you again.
Gaylene xxx
PS. Hope - 5 kids - I don't know how you did it! You are my hero!
maggie93798 gaylene.g
Posted
There is the risk that you will have serious pain and need more time off if they do not help you. As a valued member of staff you are entitled to care from your employers. Your GP will almost certainly sign you off if you asked him
gillian18780 gaylene.g
Posted
I can't imagine how difficult it must be to do all that. Can I add just one thing, the aftercare unit at my hospital stresses that the most important thing you can do is keep up your exercises which is the one thing which will strengthen your muscles to supprt the new hip and help get rid of the pain. I know with your schedule it will be difficult to fit more in but it really is worth it if you can.
Best of luck
Gill
lynne09047 gaylene.g
Posted
so sorry to hear all of your worries and pain, I as a self employde muso can start again when I feel like it, but one question, the surgeon that cleared you for fulltime work and duties....has he had a thr?? I'm guessing not!! he learns from a text book, but the reality of it is far more enlightening and painful, I have always been of the mind that to fully inderstand something you have to experience it first hand,
so good luck,
love and best wishes to you, we are always here for you, if you need a friend who's been throught this trauma.
Love
Lynne xxx
ian97093 gaylene.g
Posted
Hope all goes better for you as you learn to prioritise things at work and at home, and keep up the pain meds, thats another reminder for me to still keep my script going, for work, as could need them late at night.
Kind regards Ian.
jhb513 gaylene.g
Posted
Jodi-France gaylene.g
Posted
can you lay flat on your back in bed and keeping your knee straight lift up your heel from the mattress (straight leg lift), can you do that with no groin pain? If you cannot you almost certainly have tendinitis of the psoas muscle.
If you have tendinitis of the psoas muscle it will hurt after you stand up after having been sitting in a chair.
can you be more specific about where the pain is?
gaylene.g Jodi-France
Posted
I can do 20 leg lifts with 2kg weights without groin pain.
The pain is more of an intense ache in my hip and lower back which indicates to me that I'm compensating with my good leg when my new hip gets fatigued. It does hurt when I get up from sitting for a period of time but once I get moving the stiffness eases.
I think I just overdid it last week.
Thank you for replying.
Would you agree?
Jodi-France gaylene.g
Posted
I suggest you try Volterene Pain cream, sold without a doctors prescription. It has a sligtly diffenet name in the UK. Get the 2% not the 1%. It really does work, rub it all over your lower back for that back pain and on your hip (but not on your scar obviously), use it liberally. It takes about 30 minutes for it to work, but it does work. If it doesn't elminate your pain it will knock it down very far. I used Volterene practically every night for 2 years while I delayed getting my hip replaced. It's a bit frustrating because you rub it in and you want it to work immediatelly and it doesn't, but about 3 minutes later you will notice, "Oh my pain has gone." Heck might just order it on the internet and have it delivered at work. You really want the 2%. Best of luck to you.
Jodi-France
Posted
I used it on my knees and ankles & feet when I first started walking again for minor pains after my THR and I was using different muscles than before my THR. Just minor pains, it works GREAT.
amanda1827h gaylene.g
Posted