MonikaHF 0 Posted March 31, 2011 I am scheduled for surgery the beginning of May. I am hoping to get some ideas from you out there on how much time I should plan on taking off. I am a massage therapist and my work is pretty physical. I have heard anything from 3 days to 3 weeks. Any suggestions or advice from experience would be appreciated!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jess55 97 Posted March 31, 2011 I have a physical job too, I'm an LVT. I just avoided as much as I could dealing with large dogs. I took a week off and I had no problem when I went back, I even dug my car out from under a foot of snow to get there. Though everyone is different, I had a pretty quick recovery, but I see many other people post who take longer to recover. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swan56 6 Posted March 31, 2011 I took off a week - my jobs not terribly physically demanding but I didn't have a good experience the day of surgery. I ended up taking a few extra days and was so glad I did (1.5 weeks total). Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasNurseMom 5 Posted March 31, 2011 I only took off a week. I am an RN and should have taken off more time but didn't. I didn't have pain but I got tired really easily and was very burpy still and that was kind of embarrassing around patients. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeatherinCA 10 Posted March 31, 2011 I felt physically better after about 4 or 5 days.. but remember you are not eating anything or are on Clear Liquids, so your energy isn't 100%. You might still also have pain moving and stretching which I assume you'd need to as a massage therapist. I'd say a week and a half to two weeks is probably good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
123crod 170 Posted April 1, 2011 I also would suggest a week or 5 business days. I would plan it in Thurdsay and Friday then you get 2 weekends and and 4 business days Cheri Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pammy S Lewis 2 Posted April 1, 2011 for me, it's been a little over 2 weeks and i would not be ready to return to work if i had a very physical job. can you tell them 2 weeks and to play it safe and then go back after 1 if you're feeling great? it's such an individual thing. but given that your job is physically tiring, i would say to take on the longer end than for someone who has a desk job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djb 1 Posted April 1, 2011 i had my surgery on a Thursday and was back to work the following Monday..although my job is not physically strenuos...I walked 2 miles on treadmill the day after surgery-helped get rid of gas...Good Luck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
honk 780 Posted April 1, 2011 I had surgery Thursday afternoon went home Friday noon. So I had the weekend, 5 work days, and second weekend; so 9 days. I have a sedentary job and I was working from home. I did go back to the gym on day 4 started with 30 minutes on treadmill and worked my way up. I did come home after and take a nap. I was a little suprised about the fatigue factor that I had'nt expected. I was VERY lucky in regards to pain but boy was I tired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MonikaHF 0 Posted April 1, 2011 Thank you thank you thank you. So glad I asked. Never thought about the fatigue factor! I am usually a quick healer and even after all three of my C-sections I was up and doing stuff within days. Sounds like the week and a half to two weeks is a good start. Thank you!! I had surgery Thursday afternoon went home Friday noon. So I had the weekend, 5 work days, and second weekend; so 9 days. I have a sedentary job and I was working from home. I did go back to the gym on day 4 started with 30 minutes on treadmill and worked my way up. I did come home after and take a nap. I was a little suprised about the fatigue factor that I had'nt expected. I was VERY lucky in regards to pain but boy was I tired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites