Re: Re: Post-Fusion Office Adaptations

[Guest guest]

Hi - I was so blessed with a great boss when I had my failed fusion surgery in 2007. I got to spend an entire afternoon testing out chairs. We settled on one that was adjustable in every direction imaginable. I returned to part time work only 4 weeks after surgery. I do NOT recommend it. So anyway...back to my great boss...after my hours started to increase I always made sure I had a 2 hour break between the morning & afternoon. When I was finally back to full time I was allowed to come in 30 minutes early and leave 30 minutes late...thus lieaving me a 2 hour lunch. The only way I could sit in a chair for 8 hours was to use any excuse to stand up & walk (mailbox, bathroom, etc) & have that time to lay down at lunch. If I didn't...I couldn't walk by the time I got home. The one thing I

remember about my desk was moving the phone closer to me. If you answer it alot, you don't notice at first, then you realize repeated reaching is not good. Good luck with your upcoming surgery & recovery. I really hope to return to work soon too. Sincerely................................Kathy

From: cammaltby <cammaltby@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Post-Fusion Office Adaptations Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 5:09 PM

,I didnt return to an office position, I worked as an air traffic controller, but we had an office style chair or wheels that was fine. The worry really was that it would wheel out of the way and not be there when I went to sit!I am trying to remeber when we had the conversation on the group..I recall it was back when Suzanne went back to work teaching math on-line...so it was probably her situation I am recalling. Anyway...I learned then that there is such a thing as a work station that can be used for typing on a keyboard standing up. Of course you may find that sitting at a desk is fine, but it is something to bear in if you find that position difficult.Also...having to lean down and insert a disc or filing will probably be off-limits for a good long while....its a violation of the "NO BLTs" rule. So if you can rearrange your computer so thats not necessary I would do that sooner rather than later. Also....with

files that you need to access often, possible you can re-order the drawers/contents so the ones you need the most are up high?I am with Dyann....wait for awhile to see what kind of chair will be most comfortable. In the mean time....pillows...lots of them! In your house, in your car, and at work.Lastly..re: work....can you ask for a chaise or a place where you can just lay flat for 10-15 mins during your breaks? You will find that in the first 4-8 months your muscles just really tire from sitting and since you cant stretch them, the only way to relax then is to lay down and release them. We had a sofa in our break room and it worked fine for that necessary "time-out" for my back.The next 12 days will go faster than you can believe. Will you work right up to the last day? Try to leave time for a nice pedicure and leg waxing before you go in!!Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

As always, this group has proven to be a wealth of great information!The ergonomics guy just suggested that I might want a highback chair as well, but as some of you suggested, I think I'll wait until post surgery to make decisions about what type of chair will be best.

I should definitely get a grabber for the office, as well as for home. I already have one that I use at home (even before surgery). My pain levels would shoot through the roof anytime I'd try to bend down to the ground much, so I got a grabber that I use in many circumstances at home.

Cam -- I have a coworker with chronic back pain (cause unknown) who prefers to work at a standing desk, but I've always been more comfortable sitting than standing. I guess I'll have to wait and see if that will still be the case after surgery.

I didn't even think about the lower file drawer on my desk! I guess I just assumed that since I'd be sitting, that it would be fine. But now that I test it out, I do have to lean quite a bit to access it. That will be a problem. I should get a desktop file storage container. My active files could fit inside one of those portable plastic hanging file boxes, so I could just get one of those to put on my desk, and I could stand up to access my files. Accessing my computer (to power on/off or insert a disc, etc.) will not be a problem, since I have the type of desktop computer that actually sits horizontally on top of my desk, with the monitor on top of it. My keyboard, computer, and monitor are all placed directly in front of my, so their placement couldn't be more ideal.

My phone's location is a bit of a stretch, and the current cord length (between the phone and the wall) prevents it from being moved closer. I should speak with Telecommunications about this. I am not on the phone very much at all, but I should have it more convenient for when I am on the phone.

Being able to take breaks to lay down during the work day sounds fantastic, but there currently aren't any sofas or chaises anywhere near my office, nor does it seem like there is space for one. I will likely be able to work from home some of the time, so I will obviously be able to take breaks to lay down while working from home at least.

No, I will not be working right up until the day before my surgery. My boss has already hired the temp who will be filling in for me while I'm on leave, and she will be starting on Tuesday. As soon as she's settled in, and I've transferred everything over to her successfully, that's it. My last day could be as early as Tuesday, and at the latest will be next Friday.

Thanks everyone,

[Guest guest]

,

 

I only have one suggestion, not just for the office, but invest in more than one grabber, and many times if you have durable medical equipment clause on your insurance they will pick up at least one. We made a velcro sling for mine, so I wouldn't drop it( doesn't help if you can get to it). Can't tell you how many times I had to get one grabber to pick up another grabber, crazy hunh, but what happens. During my recovery I had one in each major room, and glad I did. Standing them up in a corner of a room, works great for me.

 

Colorado Springs

On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 8:45 AM, Curran <melissacurran530@...> wrote:

 

As always, this group has proven to be a wealth of great information!The ergonomics guy just suggested that I might want a highback chair as well, but as some of you suggested, I think I'll wait until post surgery to make decisions about what type of chair will be best.

I should definitely get a grabber for the office, as well as for home. I already have one that I use at home (even before surgery). My pain levels would shoot through the roof anytime I'd try to bend down to the ground much, so I got a grabber that I use in many circumstances at home.

Cam -- I have a coworker with chronic back pain (cause unknown) who prefers to work at a standing desk, but I've always been more comfortable sitting than standing. I guess I'll have to wait and see if that will still be the case after surgery.

I didn't even think about the lower file drawer on my desk! I guess I just assumed that since I'd be sitting, that it would be fine. But now that I test it out, I do have to lean quite a bit to access it. That will be a problem. I should get a desktop file storage container. My active files could fit inside one of those portable plastic hanging file boxes, so I could just get one of those to put on my desk, and I could stand up to access my files. Accessing my computer (to power on/off or insert a disc, etc.) will not be a problem, since I have the type of desktop computer that actually sits horizontally on top of my desk, with the monitor on top of it. My keyboard, computer, and monitor are all placed directly in front of my, so their placement couldn't be more ideal.

My phone's location is a bit of a stretch, and the current cord length (between the phone and the wall) prevents it from being moved closer. I should speak with Telecommunications about this. I am not on the phone very much at all, but I should have it more convenient for when I am on the phone.

Being able to take breaks to lay down during the work day sounds fantastic, but there currently aren't any sofas or chaises anywhere near my office, nor does it seem like there is space for one. I will likely be able to work from home some of the time, so I will obviously be able to take breaks to lay down while working from home at least.

No, I will not be working right up until the day before my surgery. My boss has already hired the temp who will be filling in for me while I'm on leave, and she will be starting on Tuesday. As soon as she's settled in, and I've transferred everything over to her successfully, that's it. My last day could be as early as Tuesday, and at the latest will be next Friday.

Thanks everyone,

[Guest guest]

Cam,Overloading the file boxes isn't a concern, because I wasn't talking about moving them around. My desk is actually a cubicle where the main portion of my desk is in front of me, there's more desk space to the right of me, and the desk space behind me is used up by printers and such things. I would likely put the 1-2 file boxes on the desk space to the right of where I sit, and would just stand up over there where I need to access a file. I never need to move around large numbers of files at a given time.

I really do hate all the uncertainty that comes along with doing a surgery like this. I like to be able to plan ahead, and it's very hard to do in this situation, which I'm finding extremely frustrating.

On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 1:47 PM, cammaltby <cammaltby@...> wrote:

 

Hi ,

Glad those thoughts help. Remember too that you will very likely have a restriction on how much weight you can lift, say from countertop height, for awhile. For visualization purposed...its about the gallon of milk weight usually for anywhere from to much longer depending on your doctor and situation. So my point is, dont overload your plastic file boxes. Maybe split the lot in two for the early days.

I hope the main thing that you have learned about the early post-op to one year anniversary is that it really is very much a work in progress that your body is going through....and what you need during the first few months will likely change as time goes on. So try to realize that any adaptations you make at work, (and at home!) are likely to be somewhat temporary. For example you will likely use a toilet seat riser and a grabber constantly in the first 4-6 months, and then will find you can manage sometimes without them. Your needs at work will likely change too. In the early days I am guessing you will find sitting less comfortable than standing....but your stamina will not allow you to stand indefinitely...so you will compromise, and change your position a lot. And so it will go.

Expect a lot of change and it wont throw you quite so much.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

That sounds really great that your company did that for you. It sounds like great table.ericaFrom: S. <jessicasny1234@...> Sent: Sat, February 19, 2011 7:47:21 PMSubject: [ ] Re: Post-Fusion Office Adaptations

,

I'm 1 year post-op. Since surgery, I much prefer to be standing (plus it is better to help fusion, etc..).

My job is mostly sitting working on the computer. So, when I went back to work, my employer approved of a "Sit-Stand" table.

My computer is on top of this table. So when I feel like standing, I press a button and the table rises (to whatever height is right for me). Then I continue working standing. When I feel like sitting, I push that button and the table goes back down and I continue to work in a sitting position. It works great for me!

>

> I've been speaking with my boss, HR, an ergonomics specialist, and the

> Work/Life Office at my job regarding what to expect when I return after

> surgery. They have all been extremely kind and helpful, and are willing to

> do anything that's reasonable to set things up in whatever way would work

> best for me upon my return.

>

> For any of you that continue to work in an office after going through fusion

> surgery, could you please give me some tips? What did you find most helpful

> when you returned? What did you wish you had available when you returned? Is

> there a particular type of chair that's ideal?

>

> I work as an administrative assistant, so most of my time is spent working

> at my computer. I get up to do other tasks, including (very) occasional

> meetings, photocopying, filing, hunting people down to chat about stuff, or

> picking up stuff from another office. My boss has known for years that I

> can't do any heavy lifting. I no longer had a specific doctor's note (mostly

> because I didn't bother), but it's very obvious what happens when I try to

> life anything remotely heavy. Filing has been a struggle over the past few

> months, and I'm guessing it will actually be a bit harder post-fusion,

> especially when it comes to filing in the lowest drawers. I'm sure I could

> find someone else to handle that task, since it is such a tiny fraction of

> my job responsibilities.

>

> I purchased a couple of the things that you can clip paper to so that I can

> have a document sitting right next to work when working at the computer,

> instead of having to strain/twist to read it if it were laid out on my desk.

>

> What else am I forgetting? I used to be what everyone considered to be an

> "ideal employee", but I'm just the opposite now. I want to figure out what I

> can do upon returning in order to give me the best chance of succeeding.

>

> Thanks much,

>

>

>

> P.S. - Only 12 days remaining until my surgery. Yikes!

>

[Guest guest]

Very interesting! Our research lab was just moved to a new location, and the new one was redesigned to our specifications before we moved in. Since there are two of us working for this one specific professor that have back problems, they did install fume hoods and biosafety cabinets which are height adjustable (by using a simple toggle switch). The range of heights it can reach accommodate sitting in a chair or standing.

I know I just mentioned office work office work in my original post, but I have in the past done some laboratory work as well. Sometimes it was to help out when they needed an extra pair of hands, and other times it was in an attempt to learn more hands on skills in preparation for my master's thesis (in biology -- though it is on hold right now). I haven't worked in the lab for quite a while since my back just can't take it though.

Perhaps a sit/stand desk will be a good idea for me as well, but i guess it's far to early to tell.Thanks,

On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 7:47 PM, S. <jessicasny1234@...> wrote:

 

,

I'm 1 year post-op. Since surgery, I much prefer to be standing (plus it is better to help fusion, etc..).

My job is mostly sitting working on the computer. So, when I went back to work, my employer approved of a " Sit-Stand " table.

My computer is on top of this table. So when I feel like standing, I press a button and the table rises (to whatever height is right for me). Then I continue working standing. When I feel like sitting, I push that button and the table goes back down and I continue to work in a sitting position. It works great for me!