how do you decide when to return to work?

[Mike A]

Hi there, this question is aimed at back-care therapists, and fellow back-pain folk.

For the therapists - when do you advise that your clients with back probs return to work? Do you encourage them to return as soon as they can - so final recovery occurs whilst they are back-at-work? Or do you encourage them to take as much time off - and recover to as close to 100% as possible, before returning?

For fellow back-pain folk (or parents/spouses of back-pain folk) - did you/they go back to work early (before full recovery) and have problems, or was it a good thing? Or did you/they wait until it was fully recovered, before returning? What did your GP advise?

I'm asking this because my mobility has greatly improved... I can now walk for an hour (very slowly)... and I am sleeping better. However the rest of the problems are still there (can't sit in a chair, can't tie shoe-laces/put on trousers, can't put arm above head) which cause a lot of pain. Should I be considering returning to work soon, or should I wait a bit longer? Oh, by the way, I have a IT (desk) job.

I'd appreciate people's thoughts on this please. Thanks!

N

 

[Erellajutlect]

As a therapist, generally I would tell the client to speak to their doctor or go by their own feelingsabout returning to work - I do not take responsibility for making their decisions - I am not paid or insured for that.

In this instance you say you can't sit in a chair and yet you work in IT - how will you manage this? I would certainly say stay off until you feel that the job willnot create more discomfort/pain, and it doesn't sound like you are at that stage yet.

This is just an opinion however, I would expect you to act on your medical advice and your own feelings about it.

 

[ekpnmwfp]

My advice would be to get back as soon as you can. From a psychological point of view the longer we think of ourselves as invalids the more vulnerable to long term chronic pain we become. Self respect is a big issue in a healthy body and mind.
From reading your posts you have made really good progress very recently, and hopefully it won't be too long before you can get back in there.
Adapt your work setting to your injury. Have a health and safety assessment of your work station. Go back part-time to begin with. Get up and walk around every 10 minutes or so.
Sharon
Sharon.

 

[Amber Mbing]

This is very very useful, and thanks to both of you. I went to my osteopath (who is delighted with the progress I have made in the last 2 weeks). I asked him about returning to work, and his suggestion was to return when I feel ready. He also said the same as you Spinal Music, that the longer you have off work the harder it is to return. I have just come off the phone from "Working Back Scotland" who are a charity (?) with occupational health advisors on staff, who help you return to work. I've been off work for 6 weeks, and that feels like a very long time to me. They also said to go back as soon as possible. They also suggested a "Phased Return" - which I'd not heard of before - but involves returning gradually (for a few hours a day, for example), and that makes me feel less nervous.

I'm glad to this from all of you, because my fear was to return too soon, cause myself more problems, and then have to take time off again. I have an appointment with the GP tomorrow, who is an a*se, and he may well have his own ideas re when I should return.

Thanks so much for your comments. I feel better about this.

N x

 

[Soccer Babe]

A little footnote to this thread:

I saw my GP yesterday, and he advised that it would be good for me to return to work Wed 28 June... so that is a little under 2 weeks time. I sort of feel that it is a little too early - but that is partially because I still have pain, so it is perhaps natural to feel nervous. I also spoke to my work's occupational health unit, and they have given me an appointment to discuss my needs, and to discuss a phased return to work.

 

[andypandy]

I hope you continue to make the sort of progress you've made in the last two weeks.