Has anyone worked while on crutches?

[Multifidus]

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I may need surgery on my hip in the near future. I'm young and healthy, just injured the labrum in my my hip. I may have to be on crutches for up to 6 weeks, but possibly as little as 2. I'm in an MD-only practice. I'm hopeful that I can get by with taking 2 weeks off. But I'm sure my hip won't be able to handle any patient lifting, stretcher pushing/steering, or long periods of walking. My thought is to try to have nurses, ordlerlies, and anesthesia techs do most of the physical labor for me. Also, I will try to be scheduled in low turnover rooms.

Has anyone experienced returning to work after surgery and/or injury?

 

[Noyac]

Yes.
Returning to work is difficult after an injury. It depends on your group needs and ability to cover you while out vs assist you at work.
It's tricky.

 

[cowbydoc]

I did as a resident for six weeks. I don't think I could have done it as a stand alone attending. You need lots of help for everything and central lines are almost impossible. If you have long stable cases it is possible but be prepared to be exhausted by the end of the day.

 

[dhb]

I did: came back a week after achilles tendon repair but it's a different beast: i would put my knee on a stool to go around. Can't really rest your hip though

 

[aneftp]

My 58 year old former colleague now in California. Md only practice. Had not one but two hips. Both anterior approaches. 6cm incisions. 3 months apart.

Was back at work within 2 weeks both times. Although he a lot more pain with 2nd hip while working.

 

[urge]

My 58 year old former colleague now in California. Md only practice. Had not one but two hips. Both anterior approaches. 6cm incisions. 3 months apart.

Was back at work within 2 weeks both times. Although he a lot more pain with 2nd hip while working.

Isn't it sad going to work 2 weeks after such surgery?

 

[aneftp]

Isn't it sad going to work 2 weeks after such surgery?

He felt fine when he came back. He actually wasn't even on crutches. Used a cane for a few days back but felt fine and ditched the cane.

The issue is say if someone had same surgery and felt good after 2-4 weeks and ABLE to come back. But say that person worked for VA hospital or some other hospital with generous "sick leave". Do you really think a person working for a federal or state agency would come back in 2 weeks?

Hell no. They would milk it for 6-8 weeks or however long they could despite feeling fine after 2-4 weeks.

That's the difference between private and federal work.

 

[pgg]

At my federal workplace one of our MDs recently had knee surgery. He came back to work in a couple weeks but wasn't real mobile, and he didn't want to be back in an OR yet, so he did a week or two in the preop clinic and covering the PACU. It worked out fine. We're big enough that we have a MD in both places all day every day.

Could he have gutted out a dozen peds ENT cases? Probably. The periop RN knows how to put the gurney on steer and push. I'm not sure why anybody would choose to do that though.

Isn't it sad going to work 2 weeks after such surgery?

I think it is. A 58 year old anesthesiologist, i.e. late career after living through the golden-age of anesthesiology income ... and he can't take more than two weeks off after hip surgery? Either he loooooves to work, or there's a bad life decision ($) or two leading up to that point, forcing him to work.

Not part of the "when pgg is 58" plan.

 

[aneftp]

At my federal workplace one of our MDs recently had knee surgery. He came back to work in a couple weeks but wasn't real mobile, and he didn't want to be back in an OR yet, so he did a week or two in the preop clinic and covering the PACU. It worked out fine. We're big enough that we have a MD in both places all day every day.

Could he have gutted out a dozen peds ENT cases? Probably. The periop RN knows how to put the gurney on steer and push. I'm not sure why anybody would choose to do that though.





I think it is. A 58 year old anesthesiologist, i.e. late career after living through the golden-age of anesthesiology income ... and he can't take more than two weeks off after hip surgery? Either he loooooves to work, or there's a bad life decision ($) or two leading up to that point, forcing him to work.

Not part of the "when pgg is 58" plan.

My former collegue just loves to make money. He's pulling 500-550k plus out in California plus 10-11 weeks off.

Yes. He half mid life divorce. Set him back a bit.

But in his practice are former Kaiser anesthesiologists double dipping and collecting a nice Kaiser retirement funds after 20 years at kaiser and now going to private practice making money as well.

You figure you have x among of time to make max income. Do it while u can.