First day of work.

[northman22]

Well my first day of work went better than I expected. I drove about 75 miles to the home office, filled propane bottles for an hour or so, and basically caught up on the last 3 months (paperwork, safety stuff etc.) It was the first time I have driven a standard transmission since the surgery. My service truck was a little difficult to get in and out of, but I survived. The shifting was OK. I did get a new service truck (to me) today also. I spent some time moving parts from the old one and found the new one easier to get in and out of. I will be delivering propane in the big truck on Thurs. so we'll see how that goes. The boss is working with me and letting me spread out the deliveries over a few days if needed. They had to send down a driver to my area Saturday for an out of fuel delivery and it was 4 hours and 150 miles round trip for 75 gallons of propane. It would have been less than an hour and 10 miles for me, so he has good reason to look after me. I'm the only employee within 75 miles.

My left knee is somewhat swollen and has some moderate pain. Right one is good....NO GREAT!!! I'm torn between getting some pain meds or just gutting it out. I'm sure my knee will make that decision for me, but I'm past the dependency/withdrawl point and I don't really want to go back. Maybe something milder than Vicodin like Darvocet.

All in all I have to admit I'm happy I went back.

Steve

 

[char]

congrats on return to work - sounds like it went well. don't push too hard though!

 

[beachcomber]

Steve,
Try to take it easy! Once you go back they assume you are "all better" and it is really hard to back down once you push yourself too hard.... know what I mean? It is better to ease yourself back in and make sure they know that your recovery is not linear and getting back into your work routine is likely to set you back for a while in terms of pain and swelling.
Good luck!

 

[Skeet]

Great news, Steve. I'm so glad your day went well. Know that you will still have ups and downs and having some pain meds around, as Doug says, for a rainy day, is a good idea. Pace yourself and make sure you take it easy, take some breaks, ice, etc. I used ice a lot at work just to remind folks I had knee surgery and was recovering. It was a great visual for folks. I also propped my leg up a lot or got up to move in meetings, etc. Just subtle reminders for folks as I healed.

God bless you and may the rest of your week goes as well or better!
Skeet

 

[Jamie]

Steve, so happy to hear your debut back at work went so well. Take it easy whenever you can. Beach is right that people will soon forget that you are not completely recovered now that you are back. So watch out for yourself! Let us know how things are going, okay?

 

[JenniferG]

Glad day 1 went well. Good point on how we are seen by others when we go out. Are you using a cane at all for anything? Sometimes that is good as a visual reminder to others that you are still healing. Remember to REST ALOT when you get home. but most of all enjoy getting back to normal. (And let us know what normal is like, cause some of us are wondering.)

 

[Josephine]