Time Out of Work

You may ask, “How Long Will My Employee Be Out of Work?” It depends on the job how you can accommodate them until they’re back to full strength. Patients will need some time off from work to recover, but often not for long.

Review these guidelines with your employee, and discuss what’s needed for the first few weeks after surgery. If no light duty is available, they will stay out of work until ready to return safely.

Please review your company’s disability policies with your employee and help them complete their section on any disability forms before giving them to us, and allow 10 business days for my staff to complete and submit them.

Light Duty Examples:

  • Seated work with limited use of injured part
  • No repetitive use or No overhead work
  • Limited lifting/carrying_______pounds
  • Limited standing/walking, No climbing/squatting
  • Allow preferred parking
  • Limit hours: ____________ or No overtime
  • Allow use of elevator

My staff and I want our patients to feel better and heal completely, but respect their need to back on the job. Generally, after an injury or surgery on the…

Hand or Wrist:

  • 3-5 days: return to an office job with minimal use of the arm/hand; take breaks. Lift up to 1 pound.
  • 2-4 weeks: gradually increase, light typing, lift up to 5 pounds, no strong grip, limit repetitive work
  • 6 weeks: increase activity as tolerated, lift up to 20 pounds, do repetitive work.
  • 2-3 months: no particular restrictions; use common sense.

Elbow or Shoulder:

  • 1-2 weeks: return to an office job with minimal use of the arm/hand; take breaks. Can lift 1 pound near the body and do some light typing.
  • 6 weeks: gradually increase, lift up to 5-10 pounds near the body; no overhead work, tabletop OK. Limit repetitive work, no strong grip.
  • 3 months: lift over 20 pounds, and perform some overhead or repetitive work.
  • 6 months: no particular restrictions; use common sense.

Knee, Ankle or Foot:

  • Some cases: 6 weeks on crutches/no weight-bearing. Seated work only, elevate leg as needed.
  • 3-5 days: return to an office job, keep leg elevated, take breaks, use crutches/cane
  • 2-4 weeks: seated work with minimal walking and stairs. You may still need a cane/crutch. Gradually increase time on your feet…use your symptoms as a guide. No climbing, squatting or lifting >10 pounds
  • 6 weeks: if walking without a cane or limp, can spend up to a few hours per day on your feet; start climbing, squatting or lifting a little at a time.
  • 3 months: no particular restrictions; use common sense.

Driving:

  • OK when confident about controlling the car. DON’T drive until you can’t safely manage the steering and pedals.