by rasmith3530 » 29 Feb 2012, 20:59
Hi there, and welcome to the forum. I'm on my second go around with the AF monster, and I just could nowhere near imagine living with the level of pain that I have experienced this time around, for months on end. This one began towards the end of November, and it has been maddening. I could simply not imagine myself going into work every day with the level of pain that I've suffered. You are either an Amazon or have the patience and pain tolerance of sainthood!
I kind of answered your question in my own thread, but felt I should come here and add my two cents, just in case you didn't see it.
I am currently in a part time hospitalization program, so I have the benefit of being in something where I can move at my pace rather than someone else's.
I could not imagine going back to work so quickly. My CRS prescribed Loritab for the pain, and it is a narcotic level drug, on the order of Vicodin. Although I have decided to forgo taking that Med at present, I would think that working under that drug could present issues.
If I were in your shoes, I would plan to take two weeks, and if you feel well enough to go back after one, great. I say this for a couple reasons. First, the body takes time to heal. If you are running around, doing all your normal activities, that could present a problem and slow or even reverse your healing. Also, there is the issue of stress. Whether we want to admit it or not, generally stress probably had at least a partial effect on making our fissures worse. Going back to work too soon will put you back into that level of stress, plus add some extra because we naturally want to make up for our diminished capacity.
I would treat it as a "staycation" with pain killers as a bonus. Good luck whichever way you choose to do this.
Rog