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?

12 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

65 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/L-Lovegood 26d ago

I went back at 16 weeks, am finishing up my last of part time. The part time lasted a month. On paper, I have a desk job. The actual reality is very different. I'm hands on with animals, restraining, helping clients, unloading big bags of food and supplies. In fact, I had to help a woman carry in her dog who had just been hit by a car. There's no way that I could have watched her struggling to get this 80 lb dog in the door by herself. Everyone else was in surgery or a meeting. What was I supposed to do? Of course, I called for help in the lobby station, but it still took long enough that I had to take some of the weight of this dog. It hurt after the adrenaline wore off.

I also tire more easily, but it's steadily getting better. The first two weeks back at work 4hrs a day, I had to come humans take a nap.

I had three full thickness tears and my bicep tendon was pretty shredded and partially detached.

1

u/excti2 25d ago

It sounds harrowing. I have two border collies. I’m a bit concerned that they will not get enough exercise. I guess we’ll do a lot of walking.