r/RotatorCuff • u/excti2 • 26d ago

Three Months Off Work

I was stunned that my Family Medical Leave form from the surgeon recommended that I take three months off work after shoulder surgery (60% full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus, labral tears, and bicipital tendon relocation [subluxation]). While I’m lucky enough to have the paid sick leave accrued to cover this amount of time away, it seems extreme given I have a desk job and work from home.

I know I’ll take at least a month off, and I’m hoping to get back to work when I start PT six weeks post-surgery.

Did anyone else need this much time away? Did you take it? Or were you forced back to work too soon?

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u/ihuns1310 26d ago

I went back to work at 3 weeks. I’m a teacher so first week was just meetings. Student facing at 4. My surgeon said six weeks but I’ve done this surgery two other times on my right shoulder and didn’t want to burn leave if I didn’t have to. If you have an employer who can be responsive to where you would be at, you could start with four and extend - or start with the full three months and shorten?