Two Weeks Off Work
I got signed off work two weeks ago with tennis elbow. I'd been back to work for a week after using a week's holiday and then I get signed off for two weeks!! One week off work is okay as it's usually half rest and a half catching up with tasks around the house; doing those things I don't get a chance to do in a normal working week due to lack of time and energy. Like deep cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, and last year I was doing my de-cluttering as well.
This time off though is to rest my elbow. That means; no clearing and no de-cluttering as they involve using both hands to an extent. So, what was I meant to do with two weeks off if I'm to rest my elbow?! I wasn't compositely looking forward to it as I know my mood can drop with even one week off with not many people to talk to as I would usually when it's a workweek.
I journaled ideas of things to do, especially in the first week to keep me busy. This was the week that we got snow so aided me in not wanting to do a great deal!
Monday was a rest day as I'd worked the weekend. Tuesday I collected my sick note from the doctors in the morning and went to the cinema in the afternoon to see Mary Poppins Returns. I had the screen all to myself!! Wednesday was a snow day so I took LOTS of snow photos and I changed my bedding then washed the set I'd taken off. I also wrote a couple of blog posts (mainly one-handed tying - not easy!) and scheduled them to go up last week on Wednesday and Sunday. By Thursday I needed to get out of the house and speak to someone else other than my housemate, so I walked into town to run some errands. I did mean to take my sick note into work on this day but I forgot it ... Friday I took my sick note into work in the morning and did some more one-handed typing of blog posts in the afternoon. Saturday I put another load of washing on and caught up on a couple of TV shows from Friday night; Chicago Fire and NCIS. Sunday was a lazy day. I also read a lot this week and also took a few naps, well, why the heck not, lol.
Week two has been a bit different, there weren't any films on at the cinema that I wanted to see this week, so I didn't have anything specific to do out of the house for a few hours.
On Monday I managed a short drive to do a food shop as I was getting desperate for some food. On Tuesday I went into town to exchange a second Polaroid Zip printer in two years for an HP Sprocket instead. So far the HP Sprocket seems to be okay but I've only used it once so we shall see. The Zip printers each had the same issue, they indicated they needed charging so I charged them and then when they were showing fully charged I unplugged them and went to switch them on, but they said they had no charge?! When the second one did it, I thought it was time to try a different brand of mobile printer. Thursday was a washing load and journaling day, along with yet more reading. Friday, I walked into town for some fresh air and a change of scene and in the afternoon, I managed to do a bit of cleaning - I did the kitchen cooker top and sink, swept the living room floor and cleaned the bathroom sink, shelf and mirror. I may have overdone it a bit though as my elbow is a bit sore today (Saturday). I've got so bored and fed up with not being able to do what I want to do and the lack of being able to clean up was starting to get to me. Today involves putting laundry away, typing a couple of one-handed blog posts out to go up this Sunday and Wednesday, watching Chicago Fire and NCIS from last night, and resting my elbow as much as I can and some more reading and as just like every day the past two weeks - drinking copious amounts of tea and water. And quite possibly take a nap. Tomorrow (Sunday) I need to do another food shop as well as needing to prep my lunch, snacks, drinks and clothes for going back to work on Monday.
I know I'm definitely not back at full strength with my elbow, it can take between six months to a year or up to two years to fully heal, depending on the damage etc. I've got exercises to do twice a day, I've to put an ice pack on it every day and was given two weeks worth of Naproxen for it which I've had the last two weeks while I've been off (it's a stronger anti-inflammatory than Ibuprofen. It's going to be a challenge for my elbow to be more or less right by six months, which will be around May if I'm counting from November which is when it started. If it's from when I was signed off work, it'll be around July.
I'm just so fed up with not being able to do what I'm used to doing as I'm not sick it's just really frustrating. I want to be doing as it’s what I'm used to, but instead, I have to take it slow and gentle. At work, it's teaching me to delegate and guide my colleagues on visual merchandising. One of my goals for this year is to continue with my de-cluttering, which I'm not able to do right now! I guess this is just another lesson in taking time out for myself.
