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TKR From Difficult Moment to Some Positive Moments

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Karen-

It sounds like you have a workable plan in place for how you feel today so I wouldn't stress, see how you feel in another couple of weeks and bail on the trip if you are still nervous. Don't stress over it, relax and see how things go, remember, you don't HAVE to do anything you don't want too. You will improve over time, next week you might feel totally different. Best of luck!
 
Thanks, Bev. I have to keep reminding myself the surgery was not even 3 months ago. Realistically I need to tell work that while I can begin working full time remote, I am not able to sustain returning to the office yet. I will wait until I feel more stable to visit my family in Florida. I just need to stay focused on the improvement I have made, not get depressed or anxious about where I am at, today.
 
Karen, it is important to accept the fact that recovery from TKR is just totally different than from other surgeries. :gaah: It takes a lot longer, and although you may look healed on the outside, its all that inside stuff that others can't see, but you can feel, that makes the difference.

I had a hysterectomy in 1979--when they kept you in the hospital for a week. Then the first week I was home, I took it fairly easy. But after that, other than no heavy lifting for 6 weeks, I was doing everything I did before the surgery. In 1999, I had by gall bladder out on a Wedneday and went back to work full time the following Monday. But after my TKRs, I could not have gone back until the end of the 4 month post-op, and I have had a very good recovery to my way of thinking.

Look back at how things were that first couple of weeks after surgery---and face it---you've come a long way baby! And there's a longer way to go, but at the end of this journey, life is going to be wonderful and doing things is going to be possible. :yes 4:

Please don't let the time frame get you down---you can and will make it to the end. :thumb: Keep us posted. We care.
 
Aw, thanks for the supportive reply. I took a test drive yesterday to my brothers, who lives right near where I work. I had dinner there and went home. I made it through the drive and dinner, BARELY. By the time we had dinner I was in so much discomfort and swelling, even though I iced there. By the time I walked in the door it was a balloon and throbbing....Vicodin is the only thing that really helps the pain and can't take that while driving......

When I went out on disability, I did not have any good information from the surgeon's office or anyone else for that matter, on how long to plan on being out. So I told work hopefully not much longer than 8 weeks. Obviously I was wrong!
And with disability saying they think I should be back, and bills piling, I was really hoping/counting on being in a better place by now. So while I know I have come a long way (so have so many others here:) I need to resume full pay, yet my employer still wants to think about that arrangement, and get back to me. And it is so nice out now, I just want to be hiking, biking, etc. Ok, deep breathe and more patience. I guess all I can do right now, is tell my boss I cannot return yet, but am willing and able to work from home for the next few weeks. Guess I just have to wait and see. They want a hard return date and after yesterday, I do not feel ready and dont know what to tell them. I am just stressed....

You all are great thanks for letting me vent....
Hugs,
Karen
 
Karen, does this remind you of someone you know? [Bonesmart.org] From Difficult Moment to Some Positive Moments

Hope this gives you a chuckle :th_heehee:
 
Judy Looks like many of us 3 weeks in! Maybe that can be a badge!

Karen: i hope your boss allows you to work from home. It's so difficult to know what to decide about work pre-op and by the time you find out, the boss wants you at work yesterday! Hope there's an easy solution for you.

Less time thinking about working, more thinking about dating!
 
Hi Karen
I think you are sensible to give yourself some time before you plan a trip to Florida. There is nothing worse than feeling stressed and anxious about a looming situation whilst you are going through this recovery. I'm sure your family will understand your situation.

Your progress sounds so very normal, so try not to get depressed about where you are. It all takes time and it will all fall into place in good time. Keep up the good work and keep your chin up as you are doing just great!
 
Karen, We in NJ are allowed 12 weeks with disability pay. Did your doc fill out your temp. disability form? Mine filled out a 12 week disability. If not I think it can be changed.
It is hard now to not want to do more. I think mentally we feel ready, but the mind is willing yet the body is weak. The family seems confused too because with TKA, except when we are walking, we don't *look sick*. And we aren't really sick but we ARE healing BIG TIME!
Friday was the first time I drove since my surg. 4 weeks ago. I went to a parent teacher conference at my daughter's school, only 8 minutes drive away. All I did was sit, talk, and eat lunch. When I got home I was exhausted!
Take care of yourself- make sure you are totally ready for the stress of work and you are really healed before you take that on!
 
Hi Karen from a fellow Njer. I am in south jersey!! I have an 8 yr old daughter, she is the main reason I had my knee done in Nov. I couldn't do anything with her due to the pain. Now @5 months post-op, I can gradually do a little more, and my lt one is starting. You will find that there is a balance between what we want to do, and what we can do. I spent 1/2 hour in the yard pulling weeds, vouldn't barely bend my knee for 2 days. It is so frustrating, but, before you know it, you will be hanging out with your 14 again!!! Are you taking your pain meds regularly ?? Take care!
 
Hello Fellow NJer!
Ugh, my boss said she will connect with me to discuss my proposed return to work plan. I wrote and told them beginning Monday I can work full time remote, and want to be back on payroll. Then the following two weeks I will need flexibility with hours and working remote due to PT, and strength/stamina not 100% yet.
Why does this need to be so complicated? I think it is just where I work, everything is difficult there. And I have the type of job where 75% can be done remote. This is all so frustrating!!!!!
But the knee is coming along, been taking it easy since Sunday because Saturday I overdid it. They also changed all my exercises at PT and now I am using pullys and weights, and am sore all over. Which I guess is good because maybe I will tone up a bit before pool season!
 
returning to work part time question

Hello everyone,
Hope this post finds you all doing ok, and progressing. I have a question for those who have returned back to work on a phased in schedule, especially for those living near me.

My disability through work is with Prudential. They have me paid through May 6th and said they thought I should be back at work after four weeks. Seriously?! So I got it extended. I spoke with the surgeon Friday, and wanted to get cleared to go back to work part time for two weeks and work rest from home. He said no, he does not want me driving the thirty minutes several times a week and be in the office yet. He said two more weeks. So his office sent that information to Prudential.
In the interim, I wrote my boss and gave her the update. Said here is where I am at. I can and want to work remote right now, and will work PT around my schedule so it does not interfere. She came back and said I can take vacation pay to off set disability. But essentially it is either I am in, or out.
I am curious how others have transitioned back to work, as it seems as if many of you did, and your employers were reasonable about it. This seems so small minded and stupid to me.
Thanks for your input! As if healing from this ordeal isn't bad enough, companies sure do not make it easy to get back into the swing of things.....shame.

Karen
 
Re: returning to work part time question

Karen, your boss obviously is taking the narrow viewpoint in supporting your recovery. It's unfortunate, as you probably could do some work from home. It sounds to me like she's not willing to put in the effort it probably would take to get that approved for you.

You said you wrote to her...how about giving her a call and discussing it again. Maybe a person-to-person talk would bring more positive results. If not, then you must just go with what she is dictating to you....complete time off from work until you and your doctor feel you can handle a full work schedule.
 
Re: returning to work part time question

Yes definitely want to talk to her live, I called her, she tried me back at 5:30 last night, and missed me, said she was heading out. So I wrote back hoping she would read it over the week end, and asked her to give me a call as soon as she can. My whole department is falling apart, you would think they would want me to work, albeit remote. And my boss is the head of Human Resources for the company. I could not get a straight answer either as to whether by law or policy you can work part time on disability and also work on regular payroll the remaining hours.....
​
 
Re: returning to work part time question

Karen-

Are you out on FMLA? If you are, it is 12 or 16 weeks. They don't have to pay you, but they must, by law, have an open position for you when you return. The money situation is more a choice, you can either do without the income or take the vacation time to supplement the disability. I do not think you can be forced to take vacation pay.
 
Re: returning to work part time question

Karen I would call NJ State. Here is a link for appealing private TDI broken link removed: https://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/tdi/worker/private/pp_appeal.html
It is amazing that they are only giving you 8 weeks recovery time!
It is prob. worth the hassle of the phone call to find out what rights you have. I thought that what the doctor said was the recovery period, up to 12 weeks, was what you would receive. I don't think private plans can give less than the state.
Good luck!
Plus, I got my temp. handicap parking placard yesterday- thanks to you and jerseychick for the info!
 
Re: returning to work part time question

You are welcome! My employer not forcing me to take vacation pay or return sooner. But it was told to me to let them know via my surgeon, when I can return ft, pt, or work remote. Prudential was so rude, so on that end I need to wait to see if they approve paying me longer, on disability. But I proposed to work, to start me remote and take me off disability pay, thinking this was all ok based on what they said prior. Now here I am, at that point. And it is all so painful to deal with.
It might boil down to either I get paid the disability pay or have to take the vacation pay in order to pay my bills. Either way, I do have a job when I return. I just am baffled they are giving me such a run around and I cannot get a straight answer.
 
Re: returning to work part time question

I will also look into the point you made about private plans threatening to end my pay, which is under the 12 weeks. My doctor's office did take forever to get Prudential the medical forms, but instead of telling me they do not have the right medical documentation they told me my disability pay will end. I cross my fingers it is a lack of communication and incompetent people and this all works out.
 
Re: returning to work part time question

It stinks when you're trying to do the right thing (get back to work and help support the broken team) and they want to penalize you by drawing down your disability. Common sense has been lost, in the USA it's all about laying blame, instead of assessing each case they lump it all into one big pot based on previous fails, sad but true. Good luck!!
 
no advice to offer on the disability issues, but sending you healing thoughts.
 
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