If you’ve been away from work due to an elective surgery or while you’re recovering from an on-the-job injury, it’s obvious that you haven’t forgotten how to perform your job duties. However, you may find that certain aspects of your job are more challenging as a result of your injuries or because you are currently working to regain strength in an area, and if you’re not careful, you can suffer a setback. We want you to be able to return to your job with full confidence that you’ll be able to handle all that’s asked of you, but how can you do this safely after an injury or surgical procedure? Below, we share some tips for safely returning to your job after you’ve been on medical leave.
Returning To Work After Medical Leave
No two return to work plans are ever the same because people have different jobs and are recovering from different injuries. For example, the return to work plan for a nurse who is returning from maternity leave will look different than the return to work plan for an assembly line worker who lost two fingers in an on-the-job accident. With that said, we’ve put together some general tips that may help ease the transition back into the workforce after an extended medical leave.
- Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions – First and foremost, lean on the advice and recommendations provided by your treating physician or your physical therapy team. They understand how certain types of stress are likely to impact whatever physical issue you are dealing with, and they can provide recommendations to avoid issues while you return to work. If they recommend light duty work or tell you not to perform certain actions, abide by these instructions.
- Ease Into Things – If possible, try to ease back into your role in a limited capacity. Depending on your restrictions and your recovery, you may only be cleared to work for a couple of hours at a time, or you’ll be asked to avoid the most strenuous aspects of your job. See if your team is willing to help you gradually ease back in your role so that you don’t overload your body with stress upon your return. We understand this isn’t possible for all jobs, but a conversation with management about reintegrating you back to work could help you avoid a setback.
- Lean On Your Resources – Know that you are not alone when it comes to getting back to work after an injury. Again, your physical therapist is an incredibly helpful resource who can tailor rehab exercises to the activities you’ll be performing most once you get back to work. Similarly, if you were injured on the job and are collecting injury benefits, talk with your lawyer about retraining benefits. In Minnesota, you may be eligible to work with a QRC, or qualified rehabilitation consultant who can help you return to your old job or make the transition to a new job following a work injury. Lean on the professional resources that are available to you.
- Listen To Your Body – Really take stock of how your body feels during activity or after a hard day’s work. If you’re in pain or something just doesn’t feel right, talk to human resources or your physical therapist. You may have some mild discomfort when taking on more physical tasks following medical leave, but if you are experiencing sharp or severe pain, that’s a sign that something is wrong. Don’t keep pushing through this pain. Instead, bring it up to your doctor or physical therapist.
If you leave things to chance when you’re returning to work after medical leave, you stand a greater chance of suffering a setback with your recovery, and that only means more time away from your primary source of income. Instead, take a few proactive steps, connect with a physical therapist and greatly reduce your risk of a setback upon your return to work.
For more information, or to connect with a physical therapist about an issue you’re dealing with, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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