I'm extremely frustrated right now... I have been trying to get answers from my doctors/nurses as to when I am permitted to return to work (because I am on short-term disability) and I haven't heard a peep. I mean really? They can't tell me "no, you're not ready to go back to work yet" or "you should be able to return to work now with the following conditions:..." or "you can return to work as normal effective immediately" or something of the sort? REALLY? what the hell? and despite all of my bitching and my surgeon's nurse's promise to set me up with Physical Therapy, I still have zero information on that either. Am I being unrealistic here??? I can't just go back to work whenever I feel like it so why are they not giving me answers?? Grrr!

If I were in your situation, I would call their office at least once a day until I had the answers to my questions. If the nurse was to get you set up with PT then nag them until it happens. I know they can get busy and forget but if you are continually calling they will do what you need so you stop bugging them. The squeaky wheel is what is sometimes necessary to get action.

Good luck!!!

Do you do office work, or is more physically active?
Maria

I work in an office - mainly on the phone and computer but I also teach some of my colleagues how to use my company's systems and processes. I sometimes teach classes of 35 of my colleagues.

Well - I must have copied the right people in my latest email because I finally got an answer!!! 5/28 I am clear to go back to work... and they are mailing me a prescription for PT for my shoulder and neck, which is totally fine because otherwise who knows how long I'd have to wait.

I can't wait to get back to work. You guys were all right, though... Only by constantly nagging was I able to force an answer out of them... Sheesh!

Good for you for being persistent! (sometimes known as "nagging"). And unlike a phone call, email is something tangible that people can touch and see which is a reminder until it gets taken care of. My doctor's office is so busy that no humans answer the phone and since my own personal policy is never to talk to machines, I resorted to sending a FAX one evening and got a call back w/answers from a human the next morning!

Good for you, Pepper. Be really careful with your ergometrics when you return to work so that you don't overstress your shoulders and make your neck stiffer. Set an alarm on your computer reminding you to stand up and stretch a bit every hour. In the coming week, you might want to increase your computer time a bit more each day, and work on your stamina. Best wishes!

My eye doctor has a theory that if you put monitor distance lenses on the bottom half it will compel you to hold your head up while looking at the computer and help your neck and shoulders especially after treatment but beneficial to anyone on the computer all the time. Eblife has a Posture Shirt that does the same thing by holding your spine neutral. They are a bit expensive but my whole family uses them now whether working out, standing for extended periods, sitting at a computer for hours and even during sleep as it reprograms neuropathways and corrects the spine to more of a neutral position. If interested you can use promo code EB25 and get a 25% discount. Just be diligent on working that neck and keeping it supple. Like Maria says, you need to stretch at least every hour. I didn't have surgery but went back to work in a few weeks and drove 400 miles each way since I had too much stuff to take on the plane. It was tough and I almost wish I would have waited but my time there was needed.

Good luck!

Day 2 back to work... I almost feel like my life is back to normal... With the exception of the neck scar and mild swelling I still have around the incision site, which I am constantly aware of. I suppose this is something I will have to learn to live with but in the meantime, I'm glad to have something other than the 'C' word to focus on..... :-)

Great news! Nice that you had a short work week to ease back into rhythm of things.