Going back to work

gabbycakes · 02-05-2010, 07:40 AM

Good luck with your return to work. I did not go back full time I work part time my husband works so we just have had to cut back. But going back just knowing I have to get up and get dressed and see people who are also my friends has been the best theraphy(spelling) I could ask for and honestly it distracts me from the pain. Some days are hard but once I get there and start working, I am an accountant so it's not a job where I have to be on my feet but it can be very stressful especially at this time of the year.

Good luck anyway and keep positive I was scared also.

gabbycakes

Quote:

Originally Posted by catra121

So tomorrow I am going back to work. I am an Assistant Store Manager at a big box retailer. I have a lot of restrictions about what I cannot do...but I am going back. I am excited and scared.

I am excited because I really love my job and I have missed it, along with the people there. It is terrible being home alone with little to no contact with other people. I want to feel like I have a purpose and that I am contributing something. I am just not the sort of person who could sit at home and not work.

I am scared because I am still in a lot of pain. I know that with RSD the pain is just something that I have to live with. But I am just scared about how much I will or will not be able to do. I know I can't do my full job, being on my feet 9+ hours a day, doing a lot of physical things like lifting and pushing, going up and down ladders, etc. I just am not physically able to do all those things with the pain, and I am scared that it just won't be good enough.

But I am totally committed to trying, I'm just not sure how it will work and I am scared. I know it's sort of silly to be scared, but I just can't shake it. I really hope that I can work something out where I can do all the work that I used to.

I think going back is going to be a good thing for me emotionally and maybe physically. I know I need to push to try to get myself back to "normal" and hopefully being back at work will force me to push myself to my limits.

I just felt like I needed to share this. My doctor just doubled my dose of Lyrica so that I am taking I think 300 MG a day and I should be getting a TENS unit in the next week or so pending approval from work comp. I am really hoping that I will be able to control the pain and that it will help me to get back to normal as well.

keep smilin · 02-05-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabbycakes

Good luck with your return to work. I did not go back full time I work part time my husband works so we just have had to cut back. But going back just knowing I have to get up and get dressed and see people who are also my friends has been the best theraphy(spelling) I could ask for and honestly it distracts me from the pain. Some days are hard but once I get there and start working, I am an accountant so it's not a job where I have to be on my feet but it can be very stressful especially at this time of the year.

Good luck anyway and keep positive I was scared also.

gabbycakes

Hello catra121...

I too hand it to you in that you can return to your work..once diagnosised with my RSD..I worked for 2.5 years more and it was my pleasure to be there.. Now I have exausted my opportunity to work as physically it is just not possible..As Loretta said..the things I always enjoyed before seem to be my least favorite things to do and I can no longer bring myself to do them..I was a tennis instructor for years..and was a big skater and worked in the medical field... but theses things are no longer ... yes, our purpose in life changes and it can be a pretty empty feeling once we hit that time in our illness... good ole progression..so to you..I tip my hat as you need to get back out there as long as you have the desire physical ability...I know just how satisfying it is to be part of the gang!!

Hugz for luck and a less pain day...KS

dreambeliever128 · 02-05-2010, 10:06 AM

Good luck on going back to work. I have wanted to and know I couldn't. Awhile back, I had a chance to buy a small clothing shop and I wanted to so bad but my Dr. said not to due to having to work in it 6 days a week. I helped my friend with it one day a week and loved it. We like to feel useful in this world but I'm always wondering what I am here for. My Physical Therapist says God has a plan for me. I'm still waiting to hear it.

I hope the tens unit helps you. I used 2 when I first had TOS surgery. One for each side and they did help me but some people say they don't help them. Don't turn it up too high, start out low on it and work up to where it helps the most.

I do hope things work out for you with working. Maybe too, keeping busy will keep your mind off of the pain some. I hope so anyway.

Ada

catra121 · 02-05-2010, 08:09 PM

First day back and it felt really good...and really painful. I think the big thing for me will be finding that balance between managing out on the salesfloor and taking time in the office to prep for my time on the salesfloor. I feel bad because the one thing I KNOW I can't do is run the front end of the store and be up there for 4-6 hours without taking a break. That's just not possible. But I am in charge of childrens, footwear, and all of home in our store. I really believe that I can run those departments and manage my people and keep an eye on the store to keep it running. It will take time to find that balance. All I want is for my boss and my peers to understand what I am going through and to understand that I need that balance in order to do my job. Hopefully with continue physical therapy and the adjustment of the meds and the use of the TENS unit I will be able to control the pain and gain more mobility than I have at the moment. But it will be a long road.

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