Wondering if anyone would like to share their journey back to work after CRPS:
I'm trying to get back to my old job (before CRPS). Has anyone gone back to the same job successfully full time?
Thank you all!
Hotfoot53 👣

Hi Hotfoot,

This is a great question. I agree with Shay though that our members who are back to full time may not be on here much. Or they didn't join up in the first place.

I think it depends on what type of work and what type of accommodations are needed. I can't stand in place for long periods. Moving around periodically and sitting keep my foot happier. Being able to elevate at times is even better. My full time job right now is Mom and household/manager. After a long, slow recovery I am pretty much back to all my myriad duties without loads of limitation. I do sometimes have rougher days, though infrequently and nothing like they used to be. I do have to watch what I do and pace myself. CRPS is still with me and does raise its ugly head if I get carried away trying to act like I have nothing wrong at all. That said, I know at this point I could comfortably do desk work with trips to other areas for meetings, etc. I could work in a hospital making visits to patients so long as I could sit down during consults. I could work in a large commercial building without worrying about the distance in the building, etc. Could I stand on my feet all day and cut hair? Or be a surgical nurse? No way. High stress/pace professional job with intense daily pressure?....maybe not so much. I was working part-time when I was injured and had a series of operations. I could physically go back now. My decision to "just" Mom to a crazy busy household is more related to what my family needs than my ability. And honestly, knowing I have a little slack is a real blessing I don't take for granted.

Healing is possible and improvements will come. Listen to what your body needs though. Push enough to test your limits but not so hard that you get setback very far. I think outlook and stress reduction make a huge difference in outcome and pain levels. Do whatever you can to reduce pressure on yourself (especially from internal expectations). I had to work very hard at not catastrophizing and just staying with the thought that I didn't know yet where I would end up. That can be very hard to do but it is much to early to judge your outcome. My improvement has been sloooww and gradual. I'm still refusing to say I'm at my endpoint because I continue to surprise myself. and I know I could have setbacks and must be careful!

Hang in there Hotfoot and take exceptional care of yourself. We're all rooting for your recovery and return to as much activity as you can get.

Littlepaw-
Thank you- I appreciate your perspective! I am taking care to push myself but not too much. It's difficult to do, so I don't always hit the mark. I've come to accept that my expectations need adjusting. What I go back to doing will absolutely depend on what I'm able to do when it's time to go back. Being mom and household manager is a huge job! You probably can juggle your work somewhat to fit how you're feeling, which is probably a pretty ideal way to be there for your family. I'll keep at it!
Thank you!
Hotfoot53 👣

This was a challenge for me. If you go back to my blog Living, Learning, and Loving with chronic illness and start reading in May 2016 that begins my struggle. I did end up back but it was tough. Now I'm doing better than ever! Be kind to yourself

Who is this body?


In the Pursuit of Balance

Goodluck!!!

Thank you! Inspiretoday, I will read your blog! I'm so happy for you that you made it back to work!
Hotfoot53