Re: Post-Fusion Office Adaptations

February 17, 2011

,

Only a couple of weeks till surgery. Being nervous is normal. To answer your

work question. I too, sit at a desk all day. I found that I needed a highback

office chair with arms. The chair that hits in the middle of the back was the

most uncomfortable. They bought me a new one. Both feet planted on the floor and

computer dead set ahead of me worked the best. C

>

> 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!

>

February 17, 2011

Hold off on the chair. You'll find most chairs uncomfortable after surgery. You'll want to test different types months later. I use a back pillow now. I love my grabber in my home office. You don't realize how much you drop until you can't bend over to pick it up. -Best Wishes,-DyannFrom: Curran <melissacurran530@...>Subject: [ ] Post-Fusion Office Adaptations Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 3:52 PM

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!

February 17, 2011

,

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

February 17, 2011

Hi...

If you're on the phone a lot, I highly recommend a wireless headset. it will

allow you to get up and walk around while on the phone, a great way to get some

time away from your desk.

Regards,

>

> From: cammaltby <cammaltby@...>

> Subject: [ ] Re: Post-Fusion Office Adaptations

>

> Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 5:09 PM

>

> Â

>

> ,

>

> 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

>

February 18, 2011

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

February 19, 2011

,My one suggestion is to not try to get back to work too early. After my first surgery (the biggest one) I was released to go back to work at 3 months. It only took two or three days for all of us to recognize that I wasn't ready. The overwhelming feeling I remember is EXHAUSTION. Also, since I did show up at work, that effectively cancelled any further disability pay for me. Fortunately, my employers were understanding and allowed me to work from home for a few weeks, then part-time work, part-time home. Even when I went back to work full time, I remember coming home after an 8-hour day and crawling into bed for the rest of the day, I was so tired. And I didn't have a physically demanding job. If you will be qualifying for disability pay, be sure you understand the

complex requirements. Felicia Felicia Kramerhttp://anotherbrightidea.etsy.comwww.feliciakramer.blogspot.com

February 19, 2011

,

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!