Return to Work after ORIF on Tibia and Fibula
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hello
I wanted some opnions/experiences on when I should expect to return to work following a spiral fracture Tibia and Fibula.
I broke the above 5 weeks ago in Asia. I had a Internal Fixation and flew long haul back to the UK for treatment. In UK, almost a week later I had a metal rod put into my right Tibia and a plate in my lower fibula. I have a total of 14 screws and a fibreglass cast. I am still non weight bearing and have only used crutches so far inside my flat and going to the hospital (at which point I am moved to a wheelchair).
My leg and foot swells up if I do not raise this for more than a few minutes. The surgical wounds have been healing ok, I still have no date for PT and have been signed off for 6 weeks from my discharge date. I'm currently on Ibroprofen, Paracetomal and Tramadol which leave me out of it for much of the day. I'm due for a check up a day after I am due back, I may still have a cast on or at least a moonboot.
I work in an office in London, mainly desk based or in a lot of meetings in meeting rooms or breakout areas with the option to work from home. I havent yet been outside of my flat and dread the thought of getting onto a bus and then 2 underground tubes to get to work in rush hour - and not be able to elevate my leg for the swelling. I also, dont envisage working from home will be the most comfortable as I will need my leg raised, I will need a comfortable desk set up with monitors at home also. Mentally, I dont think I can face it, but at the same time I am getting cabin fever.
Can I get thoughts on whether 6 weeks is too soon to return - whether home based or in the office.
0 likes, 3 replies
Llamalah pw365
Posted
I started working from home two days a week once I was off endone, as was required for my work place, which for me was after 1 week - however, I did not have as severe a fracture or level of metal work done (ORIF for fibula, 1 plate and 8 screws). I also only got a comparable 2 hours of work done throughout an entire day vs what I would have gotten done had I been non-injured and in the office.
It was exhausting, even though I was sitting in a bed, with my foot up.
To assist with screen set up, I used chromecast to hooked up to a big tv set up next to the bed, my personal laptop and a work laptop. Also work collegues came to me a few times, 1) to combat the boredom and 2) bring stuff in that I could actually achieve from home.
I had to go into the office for three days that could not be avoided, and I had collegues drive me (I don't work in the downtown city though so this is easier) and they had made sure the areas around my office and desk where clear and easy to manouver around as I was on a knee scooter.
Can you work shorter hours if you do need to go into the office so that you can travel outside of peak hour and avoid the crowds? Is uber an option? Uber Assist was a wonderful thing when I was non-weight bearing.
Jpma51681 pw365
Posted
I broke and dislocated my ankle 13 weeks ago and I am still at home.
To be more clear, I was off from work for the first five weeks (two weeks post-injury/pre-surgery; three weeks post-surgery).
I can't drive and I don't have the same public transportation available to me as you do, but I probably would've dreaded that too.
I, fortunately, had the option to work from home. The first day was horrible. I was sitting at my dining room table with my leg in my boot propped on my dog's kennel (I believe I was still on hydrocodone as well).
The rest of that first week, I worked in my recliner from my laptop. Not productive at all.
I quickly found a desk that small with wheels and held a monitor and my laptop and pulled up to the side of my recliner nicely. I've been working this way since my second week of work (6 weeks post-injury/4 weeks post-surgery). This has worked very well for me.
In retrospect, I do think that returning at 5 weeks post-injury/3 weeks post-surgery was too soon. But since I had to do it, I'm glad I could do it from home. Did I have cabin fever? Yes. But I also didn't have to deal with going through all of the discomfort involved with my injury and recovery in the office.
I believe I am going to be cleared to drive very soon and I am dreading going back to the office. I'm out of my boot and walking in a shoe, but I still keep it propped much of the day and don't walk a ton.
mary102362 pw365
Posted
I broke my ankle on May 2, then had surgery on May 9 where I got a plate and 14 screws. I returned to work for 3 half days on May 28, 29, and 30. It was not good. My foot and ankle swelled tremendously. My sound became infected a few days before I returned to work. I have been on antibiotics ever since May 26. Now my surgical wound is opening and not healing correctly. I have to get something called a Wound VAC to help the wound close. I can see two of the screws holding the plate to my fibula through the gaping holes in my wound. I now believe I should not have returned to work when I did. But, working may not have had anything to do with my current problems. Luckily I am a teach and am now on summer break so I don't have to return to work again until August. I hope you have better luck returning to work than I did.