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Went back to work yesterday, 45 minute journey along icy roads in freezing fog. At least everyone was pleased to see me, in typical NHS fashion, my appointment with occupational health won’t be until next week. Got straight down to ICU and started work, reviewing a man who has a chest infection and has been quadriplegic for ten years helped to put my AT into perspective a bit, at least I will recover eventually. I felt like doing a flyer with all the details of my injury to hand out. I lost count of how many times I needed to explain what had happened to me.
I coped OK for a while but by lunchtime, my ankle was sore and beginning to swell, my heel hurt and I was desperate to sit down and elevate my foot. Just about managed to finish most of the patient assessments, and hobbled back to the office about 3. I was seriously limping by this stage. I didn’t realise just how much walking I do in the course of my job. I was exhausted and still had to drive home, which I found really difficult.
By the time I got home I was fit for nothing except falling into bed.
This morning the physio confirmed that my ankle was stiff and a bit swollen (I’ve had very little problem with swelling up until now). I had some ultrasound and massage and went for a swim which helped.
I feel a complete wimp, it seems that most people on this site manage to return to
work with no problems, has anyone else experienced this? I didn’t even make it through a full day!
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Hi Teresa1
I am an ICU nurse as well and I am longing to get back to work. We do 12hr shift so I don’t know if I am going to be in any fit state to do 12 hrs. I have a feeling that I will be stuck in the office doing audits and admin work which is a fate worse than death.
I will be looking forward to any future post from you because it will give me an idea what problems to look for. Hope your progress continues to improve.
Comment by unluckysquashaddict 12.07.10 @ 2:56 pmI think you are amazing to have lasted a whole day on your feet. I was shattered by 3pm most days and I have a mostly sedentary job (interspersed with the odd wander to the printer or toilet!!)
Comment by bronny1 12.07.10 @ 3:27 pmBeing a newborn ICU doc, I’m sure I don’t have to be on my feet at work as much as you, but I did find compression socks and wraps very useful when I went back to work ten days postop. I also used a miniature pillow to keep the swelling out of those little hollows between the tendon and the ankle bones. That arrangement kept the swelling down all day, and kept my leg a lot more comfortable.
Good luck,
Doug
Comment by doug53 12.07.10 @ 10:38 pmGood to hear from you Teresa, I’ve been wairing to see how you got on, as that will be me in Jan. I can well believe how your ankle swelled, I went to a concert last night and it swelled just from a couple of hours on my feet!! I thought the swelling stage had passed. I bought an ice wrap for my return to work. At least I’ll be able to take opportunities to sit down I can’t imagine you have much time for that. Well done for getting through your first day. I’m sure it’ll get easier. Keep up the good healing, and let us know how you progress - I find your blog a great help.
Comment by liverpoollass 12.08.10 @ 4:40 am…and if you need to take a day off, or doing desk work, then do, because pushing through does not work!!! Even in a relatively sedentary job I was struggling by Wed or Thurs for quite awhile.
Comment by bronny1 12.08.10 @ 5:55 amIf you can take short breaks in between work. get to a chair, couch if you can - raise and ice for 10-15 minutes as often as you can. The swelling can make things really unbearable. Short periods of ice, raise and rest can do wonders.
Comment by elsurfer 12.08.10 @ 7:39 pmThanks for all your comments and support, today I was seen by occupational health and given a programme of a phased return to work. The next three weeks I shall be working 4×4 hour days and increase up to a full day after Christmas.
Comment by teresa1 12.10.10 @ 12:23 pmSwelling is still a problem, overcrowding in the office means that there is no room to sit with my foot elevated. I’m not a ICU nurse but a dietitian, which is less physically demanding, but my base is at the other end of the hospital which does mean more walking. My journey to and from work is right at my endurance limits for driving which doesn’t help.
But I do feel more positive having actually made it through the week. I think it’s just a case of taking a long view of things and concentrating on recovering than rushing into something I’m not ready for.
dont be so hard on yourself ,
Comment by PHIL 12.11.10 @ 11:20 amyour doing great and if it takes a bit longer than you hoped , so be it .
your goign it the right direction, thats for sure .
Good to see you’ve brought in the OH nurse and they’re helping you out.