My confusing Return to Work plan
 

Saw my MD today who was supposed to have the report from the last assessment I had done by the WCB hired guns team.

(Remember that? The thread is called Functional Assessment Evaluation, if you want to read the back story)

Ok so, he didn't have it. Instead we discussed my progress. At five months PCS I am improving but still have a ways to go. (See signature lines for details)

Anyway later, after I left, he apparently reached WCB who faxed him the report. It states that I'm to attend daily vestibular therapy for six weeks, then return to work on a graduated basis as such:

2hours/5 days a week on week 1
4hours/5 days a week on week 2
6hours/5 days a week on week 3
8hours/5 days a week on week 4 (full time)

However when I was in his office he stated he did not think I was ready for an aggressive return to work plan.

My confusion is this: isn't the plan I just described pretty darn aggressive or is that just a standard workers comp RTW plan?

I'm trying to stay in the moment here and just focus on the fact that I have six weeks yet to heal. Positive mentality. But. I think the RTW plan stinks. And I'm confused as to what the heck my doc is thinking by agreeing to it?

I doubt this is carved in stone. When there is an absence of better ideas, it is not uncommon for a plan to be made out of pure conjecture. The vestibular therapy is conjecture too.

Try to relax and go with it documenting in your journal along the way. If you struggle the first week of work, you can ask to extend the 2 hours per day.

Try to relax. You don't have any better ideas than they have. You just have anxiety. Go with the flow for 6 weeks and see where you are then.

My best to you.

Nailed it Mark, I am freeeeeaking out. Anxiety high, pain high, (not sure which caused which today, chicken/egg) ears full, and still able to laugh at myself a little.

Time to attempt sleep. Tomorrow is a new day!

I knew you had your doctors appt and was hoping you'd update us! Mark is spot on with this, your anxiety about the return is going to be your toughest fight here! It's understandable to be worried.

At any stage of this it can be changed if your doctor feels it's necessary or if your therapist doesn't feel you're ready. A good therapist will be golden because they will spend much more time with you and do tests etc that they can use in reports to WCB.

I find it a little odd that your vestibular therapy is daily. I see my therapist weekly or every two weeks and in between I do the exercises myself. I wonder what they're going to do with you every day. Is it just vestibular therapy or is it physical or occupational also? When does that start? Please share what they're having you do as I'm still having dizziness as one of my biggest issues.

I hope you are able to find a way to remain calm and take this all one day only at a time. I was not succeeding in that and have found low dose medication helpful. it might be an option for you if needed in the future.

Good luck to you! You've come a long way!

CC

Returning to work
 

I was supposed to go back to work next week to ease back in per doctors plan. I was to work Tues and Thurs to have a day off in the middle and weekends to recover. My HR won't allow it. They want me back all or nothing and I think the doctor is right -- to ease back in. (I am better, but also wonder about a relapse) I have my union looking into this and need to work on my rights too -- but going back to work does make me nervous a bit because I did that once and it didn't go so well.

It seems to me that no one, no doctor, not you, certainly not the Human Resources dept, really know **for sure** how to ease back to work, or there are guidelines, but you have to listen to yourself, watch what happens to avoid a relapse.

Keep us posted about returning to work. It is on my mind too as I prepare yet another week of lessons for school.

Take care,

poetry mom aka JJ

Your plan looks reasonable to me, but you should be allowed to cut back if its too much, you don't want to relapse, and surely neither does your employer want you to. I agreed the following because it takes 45 mins drive to work and 45 back to home:

5hr day In the first week.
2 x 5hrs 2nd week.
2 x 5hrs and 1 x 8hr 3rd week - just done this.
3 x 8hrs 4th week.

I will then agree another part time 4 week plan, possibly moving upto full time during this.

I think what works depends on the individual, I hope it works for you. Expect to be tired, but you will gain confidence and strength the more you do. Good luck with your return!

Poetrymom - you have to do this gradually, all or nothing is very unreasonable of HR, and to ask this is very unrealistic.

I would agree that your anxiety is bothering your perception over the planning.

I would also recommend that you demand your PCP only agree to this with his/hers and the Vestibular Therapists ability to recommendations to extend the weekly plans as they see the needs during your evaluations since you will be visiting the therapist regularly...and that therapist should be having regular contact with your PCP .

Hang in there.

Best Wishes.........:grouphug:

Stay in the moment Ms. Rrio. It sounds to me like your doctor was not agreeing to that plan. I also think that is an aggressive return to work plan. You said your doctor wants you to ease back in slowly. I am not sure he is agreeing with their plan. I think this plan can be changed as needed. I don't think it is written in stone. This is the plan they would like to have you accomplish but if you need to take it slower, I think they will be accommodating to you. You seem an important employee for your employer and I am sure they want you back but want you back ok and working good. Not pushing you too hard and causing more problems or loosing you.
You also still have the six weeks to go. That is almost two months. You reported in your signature that your speech (stuttering) is improving quite a bit and the prism glasses were helpful. This is progress. You still have the six weeks. Go through that first and then see how you feel. If you are not up to work by the end of the six weeks then you and your doctor and employer can come up with a kinder, gentler plan. Lets wait and see how your doing after those six weeks of therapy before you worry so much about returning to work. What's the worst that can happen? You won't be ready and will have to take more time or you might have to quit or get fired. No big deal. You are a smart lady. Things will work out. Don't let the anxiety over what has not happened yet and may never happen bother you now. Take it one day at a time.
Best of luck to you. I am pulling for you! This is going to work out ok!
Love,
Brain :hug:

Just as every brain injury is different, I think each return to work plan should also be unique.

Within a gradual return to work (each week you should monitor symptoms, if they worsen return to previous week), I found in this forum the following return to work accommodation "guidelines" for brain injury:

http://askjan.org/media/brai.htm

Again, this is in the U.S. and for the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but it provides some information.

The anxiety must be overwhelming--sending you lots of light!

This is not something that can be predicted. Ii have been trying to work for over a year....some weeks I can do more and some less. The past two weeks have been zero. Too much pain and brain being fried, etc. have not been able to sustain a full day yet, and have not been able to do the teaching part of my job :(

I want so badly to go back to work fulltime. But wanting it doesn't make it happen!
Go slow and take it day by day. A plan is only a plan.:)