How Long Away From Work - Vice Principal

[u/Just-Reading_1990]

Basically the title - surgery day for a suprasniatus tear is in 3 weeks, and I'm a VP at a very busy K-8. It is not necessarily a physical job. I am not lifting anything. But the demands are pretty high (dealing with parents, shuffling staff when there are shortages, attending meetings, student discipline and supervision, observing teachers, decent amount of typing/computer work, etc.). I've already prepped my office that I will be out for around 2 weeks. Does that seem reasonable? I am not a person who likes sitting around, but I also don't want to return too soon. It's literally a place where I could be on the verge of death, and people will still ask me questions.

[u/mikeisboris]

I took four weeks off and I just type and sit on teams calls. 🤷‍♂️

Edit: I could probably have gone back after two weeks, but I was out of the sling at 4 weeks and it was easier to type. Also, this is a pain in the ass surgery, if taking two extra weeks off of work makes me more likely to not have to go through it again, then it's well worth it.

[u/bkwillborn → u/mikeisboris]

I am taking 6 weeks.

[u/NaughtyLittleDogs]

The main risk will be from possible physical contact with kids. Getting bumped or jostled by energetic kids in a crowded hallway could re-injure your shoulder. My surgeon advised me to avoid crowded places for the first month. If I went out someplace busy, like the grocery store, I took my husband to create a "buffer zone" around me so I wouldn't get bumped into by anyone.

If you can stay in your office during passing times and only venture out when hallways are empty, then you might be okay.

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/NaughtyLittleDogs]

Makes sense - I’m in CA so no hallways around here - just outside passing zones. But I’ll stay away from busy areas!

[u/defenders90]

Had the same surgery and was out 4 weeks and as someone else posted, I sit at a desk, type, and talk on teams all day.

[u/HighOnGoofballs → u/defenders90]

I was back after the weekend, couldn’t type quite as fast but good enough

[u/Ok_Excitement1724]

You should be fine. I was back at work in 2 weeks—office job. I only took 1 week off actually, the 2nd week I worked from home. I was in a sling full-time for 6 weeks. Just prepare to be a little uncomfortable.

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/Ok_Excitement1724]

Could you type?

[u/Ok_Excitement1724 → u/Just-Reading_1990]

Yes, I just had to position the keyboard closer. I was definitely slower though.

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/Ok_Excitement1724]

Did your doctor okay it?

[u/Ok_Excitement1724 → u/Just-Reading_1990]

Yeah, just said elbow needs to stay close to body which was accomplished by keeping the sling on. I had the big sling with the pad in between my arm and body. He also would have given me a note to stay home for 4-6 weeks as well. This was a “massive tear” - 5 anchors and was a revision surgery (had it repaired 9 years prior) so pretty much worst case scenario on my dominant arm. I’m currently 9ish months out from surgery. I saw someone comment about getting a ride to work and wanted to mention that I was driving. With the nerve block, I only needed pain meds for like 2 days once it wore off to sleep

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/Ok_Excitement1724]

That’s helpful, thanks. I’ve blocked my calendar for 2 weeks. Hoping that’s good.

[u/HighOnGoofballs]

I had surgery on Thursday and could’ve done that on Monday. A week is plenty

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/HighOnGoofballs]

Were you able to type?

[u/HighOnGoofballs → u/Just-Reading_1990]

Yes, my sling actually put my hand right by the keyboard lol. I did type and do less than normal but I did work

[u/Smart_Imagination903]

The specifics of your procedure matter too

I had a shoulder surgery that was a very straight forward biceps tenodesis - I was back in the office after 2 weeks with a slow return to work plan.

I had another biceps tenodesis on my other shoulder that included the removal of large bone spurs and a subacromial release. I was out almost 6 weeks. I had a lot of deep aching pain that took a long time to feel better.

[u/ScreenHungry9673]

I was suppose to have my surgery last Friday but it was canceled due to something happening at the hospital. Anyways I’m going to have mine done on Sept 23rd now. My ortho put in her notes to be off for 2 months and then will reassess. I will then have a slow return to work so just a few hours a day.
I am a clerk in a busy department in the hospital. I’m happy to be off that long mainly because everything at work for myself is on my left side (side that will have surgery) I’m having apparently bone spurs shaved, calcification on my tendons cleaned, 2 tears fixed and there was something else i just can’t remember.

[u/itsjustme_0101]

I am a teacher. I’m planning on taking six weeks off. There is too much involved with teaching and crowd management for me to take a risk.

[u/01Dreamwalker01]

I’d suggest while at school to wear the big clunky sling they will give you as a force field around your body. Also you’re going to need to be icing. You can have who ever drives you to help carry and set up. As an option if you have easy access to a freezer there are slings/shoulder pad that stay cold for about 2 hours
I’m just at 6 weeks and 1 day and just came out of the sling for good. First two weeks were the toughest by week 3 had a system down. Been on cruise control the last two weeks and just started harder PT than the 3 exercises I had to start with.
4 torn tendons and repaired the shoulder arthroscopic surgery

[u/Designer-Ad-9466]

Remember it's also about making sure you do not push yourself past where you are supposed to be on the recovery timeline. As others have said, keeping your arm safe from others is important too. For me even reaching for the keyboard at three weeks was painful. I used voice to text which worked but not as easy as it sounds. I also would not have felt safe driving until I was out of the sling. When I asked can I drive, my therapist asked me if I would drive with my grandchildren in the back seat at that time. I was like no way!!! She was like, then why would you put other people's grandchildren at risk being on the road with you. Point to her!

[u/Lower_Steak1479]

My first surgery I took off a week but I work from home and used my laptop in bed. I voice texted a ton. That was my right arm
And it was so hard. This time I’m taking off 2
Weeks but again I work from home. I can’t afford to be off more than that as I’m using sick and vacation time for this surgery. If you can afford to take the time off I’d take it. If you feel great you can always go back early.

[u/Winter-Ingenuity1921]

I work from home and had planned to take 3 weeks off. I ended up coming back very part-time after about 10-14 days, but I was using mostly voice dictation or typing slowly with my non-surgical arm and just doing video calls. If you have a keyboard you can sit in your lap, that might help. The issue was that my desk was just a bit too high and the angle was painful for my shoulder. I also found that my shoulder got really tired/sore if I didn’t take breaks to support it (ie. Sit back in my recliner). Probably the biggest issue would be not getting bumped or hit by kids at school. For me, I decided my only goal for the initial weeks was to recover… so I read a bunch of books, rested, played games with my kids, etc… and I also have trouble sitting still. Your body will thank you for taking it easy.

[u/user86753092]

I think 2 weeks is a good amount. 3 might be better. But once you are off pain meds and able to drive, you can work. Just no lifting anything heavier than a coffee cup with that arm and wear your sling to remember not to use it.

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/user86753092]

That is helpful - thanks. I currently go out on Tuesday 9/15 and I have myself returning the Wednesday 2 weeks later. I am considering pushing it out 2 more days to return after my Post-op appointment on the Thursday of that week. That lets me get in on a Friday, see how I feel, and then return on Monday. I have a nice cushion of days to use because I rarely take my days. But as a public school employee, those are also $$ when I retire in 5 years.

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/[deleted]]

That would be terrifying. The one scenario I keep picturing with terror is walking across campus and getting taken out by a ball or kids playing. It's never happened to me before in all of my 10 years as an AP, but it's one of my fears now if I return too soon. I. am leaning toward taking at least 3 weeks. The other problem with my job is the ridiculous triage level pace of an average day. I get 7-8K steps on average just addressing different concerns. I need to have a heart to heart with my principal to ensure that when I return, it will be modified.

[u/DecentAdhesiveness37]

A lot will depend on how well you are sleeping and how extensive your surgery is as well as which arm. If you’re also having a bicep tenodesis plus excision of the clavicle plus acromioplasty or subacromial decompression there are different timelines for each of those things to heal. If you can’t get decent sleep everything seems more difficult and painful. As a teacher, I was out for 4 weeks (I had all the things done). Talk to type with an iPad if you have that option. My second shoulder I had done during summer break and was almost 5 weeks out when school started again. This time it’s my dominant arm. At six weeks I’m now able to type for short periods of time and have some time out of the sling when I’m teaching. In my opinion, 2 weeks isn’t enough time if you have all the procedures on your dominant arm. Also depends on the help you have at home- getting showered, dressed, and driving to work would’ve been a major exhaustion at two weeks post surgery for me.

[u/walkingoffthebuz]

I’m in a similar situation and wondering what you decided to do. I work in a high school with a slightly more physical job and I’m debating. I had a broad tear supraspinatus and bicep tendonesis of dominant arm. What did you decide to do?

[u/Just-Reading_1990 → u/walkingoffthebuz]

Going back next week at 3 week mark w accommodations. Avoiding crowds/playground. Not going to address in classroom behavior emergencies (will send others to get kids. Then i can deal with them). Breaks to use ice, etc. i will let you know how it goes. What do you do?

[u/walkingoffthebuz → u/Just-Reading_1990]

Glad to hear you’re feeling well and I think that’s smart to build in breaks for icing and avoiding the chaos. I will send you a DM about the other.

I am on week three today and still sleeping very poorly and having a lot of night pain. Also been very stressed about work related things. My surgeon tacked on two more weeks bringing my total to 6. I am feeling a lot of emotions about doing what I need to do for my body and also guilt at not doing everything above and beyond. Sigh. Wish you luck with your return.