Thanks for the input.
One of my main concerns is how long I will be out of commission, work-wise. I'm an independent web-developer, so I don't get paid when I don't work. Any input in terms of how long a person is unable to work as far as after the surgery of one hip vs. two at the same time? (I only need to be able to work from my laptop)
My thinking is that having two separate surgeries makes my work downtime twice as long. Am I right in this line of thinking?
I also work in computers, have been a consultant quite a few times, etc.
I went back to work after five weeks, but that was partly due to being a full time employee, fully paid long term disability, etc. I was back posting pretty quickly, but work is a different matter entirely.
I would think you could be back working fairly quickly, two, maybe three weeks, but a couple of suggestions:
- The first two weeks you really need to be healing, exercising, etc. - no cheating.
- When you begin working, make sure you keep up with icing, walking, exercise and sleep. Your main job is healing, if you don't want the recuperation to drag out.
- You will be exhausted; plan on it, maybe work in an hour nap within the working time
- The position you get using a laptop on your lap forces you to sit still and immobile - maybe get a table or something to fully rest the laptop on so you can shift, move, etc.
- At two weeks, hopefully you are on one stick, so you can move the laptop without much problem.
- Maybe on your workstation setup, put a docking station on it so you don't have to bend for wires, power cables, etc.
- Make time for icing and walking. I know engineers, we are too focused, hours can pass by without moving much - this will cause you problems if unchecked. I set up an alarm every 20 minutes to force me to move.
- The time of limitations is not long. I probably could have gone back to work at three or four weeks if I had to, so by the time five weeks come along, should be no problem.
I was driving by two, three weeks. If you have to visit clients, make it clear that you're coming for small visits, not hours, until you can do more. At first I could only do 10, 20 minute runs; or just do Skype if you need to. Again, this increases quickly.
Having been in your shoes, I know how anxious I got when I had any down time (worst patient EVER), but in this, you need to give primacy to healing. Once the healing gets started, you'll be psyched at how quickly it improves.
And you are right - two separate surgeries will take longer out of your work, but no that much longer, since the healing for a simultaneous bilat takes a little bit longer, and you may not be fit to work fully for a little bit longer also.