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Posted , 13 users are following.

jools2512
jools2512

I am due for total hip replacement in two weeks time, and I am unsure what I should do about work. I am employed as a nurse in the NHS, and after op cancellation in July decided I would rather stay at work. Partly because I am worried I may have to drop down into half pay if my recovery is slow, but also to keep myself occupied and keeping active. I've found that although I was promised 'light duties' this has only happened when there are enough staff, and I have been back in the very physical side of things. I am now struggling quite a lot, but my bosses don't seem concerned and have given me rota up until the evening before the operation. Occupational health have made me feel like I'm getting an ingrown toenail removed rather than major surgery! Is it reasonable to say I need to finish now? Surely if phased return happens, is there no option for a phased finish. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

1 like, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • renee01952
    renee01952 jools2512

    Posted

    Dear Jools, 

    How ironic .... Are you having the surgery at the same hospital you work in ? 

    I am sorry but I find this so unacceptable that you are put in this situation --- you are facing a needed, life changing surgery - still working and taking care of others, patients - 

    If this is not enough,you also have to worry about losing your job, or not being able to return -  

    Please take care of Jools first - you are the most important person in your life  - 

    I am so so sorry darling - it'll take a lot of courage - but look at you now, you are crying and dreading to go to work - 

    wishing you a lot of courage, light and love and come here anytime okay ..

    please keep in touch - 

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • jools2512
      jools2512 renee01952

      Posted

      Renee, thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement.. you're right, I will have to be courageous, I'm just not good at being sick myself I guess!. I'm a patient of the trust I work for, but thanks to the marvellous physio I saw at the beginning I ended up being referred directly to the surgeon she knew, and who operates on the NHS electives at a local private hospital. If I had carried on trying to battle with the GP I probably would now only be at the stage of getting an MRI, if at all, as my x-ray showed hardly anything at the time, which was a completely different story on scan. 

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK jools2512

    Posted

    I stopped work the day before my THR, and had a phased return.  I worked in the Civil Service (now retired), and they were marvellous about it, especially as I had to have 5 months off work due to surgical and hospital errors.  I did not need 'phased finish' as I was doing a desk job.  They phased me back in over a month or so, and even gave me extra physio. 

    This is NO SIMPLE OPERATION, it's major surgery, but due to the attitude of surgeons and the media, it's dismissed as 'routine'. The recovery is no 'walk in the park', it's agony, and seems to go on forever.  It took me about 18 months to feel anything like normal.

    See my website for my recovery blog, and top tips from hippies on this forum. 

    The website address is in my personal info here ...

       https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025

    and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at

       https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147

    Best wishes

    Graham - 🚀💃 🤸    ¯\_(?)_/¯

  • judith12644
    judith12644 jools2512

    Posted

    Hi, I teach, and I worked until the day before my THR. I had my op in July so that I had the summer holiday to recover. I went in for a few meetings at week 6/7, and I went back properly at week 10. I do remember being quite tired at first. My GP was v helpful though, and was willing to sign me off for as long as I wanted, and also mentioned a phased return. I didn't really need that so much, because I only work part time, 3 days a week.

    Teaching is very tiring, but your job is really very physical. You certainly mustn't rush back, your health is the most important thing. I'm surprised your department aren't a bit more sympathetic.

    Good luck, Judith

  • lynne43902
    lynne43902 jools2512

    Posted

    Hi Lovely 

    Reading your story is like reading mine !

    I too am a nurse in the good old NHS ...

    And like you I struggled on with normal duties ..... despite it being well documented that I was struggling , the lack of staff made it impossible to have light duties 

    3 weeks before my op I just couldn't get through the day and I went to see my gp who did me a form to say I should have reduced shifts but not go on reduced oay.... it's called a fitness to work paper .... like the reverse of a phased return 

    I took it in and HR and my line manager said no way......   so I went off sick there and then......    after 30 years of pacing the hospital my hip would take no more....and neither would I 

    That was may..... and now I'm due back next week or I'll go on half pay but I still have my holidays to take so I've got until mid October thank God as I'm just about turning the corner and beginning to feel more like me! 

    Your post struck a chord ......   our caring profession don't seem to want to care for their own these days....    they want us to keep going till we are on our last legs or hips eh!! Lol

    Take good care and I hope you are ok 

    Lynne xxx

    • jools2512
      jools2512 lynne43902

      Posted

      I wonder if in years to come there will be a government warning for those who nursed 30 years ago ( a bit like the ads saying cigarettes are bad for your health!), and all the claims companies offering to get cash for your injuries!? Its hard these days with new lifting and sliding gear for manual handling, let alone when we did the 'australian' lift, amongst others! I will be able to self certificate at the end of this week, and then the hospital have said they issue a long sick note post op, so I have every intention of taking what I need. I feel I should not have had to sacrifice annual leave in order to work a shorter amount of hours, but at 4 days instead of 3. The reality is after I have left late each day I have probably nearly worked a full week, for which they have taken a  days holiday off me to boot. 

    • lynne43902
      lynne43902 jools2512

      Posted

      Aww I know Cariad, if I think of how many Australian lifts I was called to do cos I happened to be good at it... God only knows the damage we caused or rather the NHS caused ....... imagine asking the students of today to take the full weight of a man on your back and move him up the bed!!!!  They would tell you where to go I'm sure!!! Lol

      Still... what's done is done , just wish we were shown the same respect as the police of our generation and retire at 50....    in our dreams eh Hun?? 

      Any way take care of yourself and keep us updated of your progress from time to time 

      Be kind to yourself

      Lynne xxx

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