[kokopuffs]

It took me nearly 18 months without PT to fully recover from a minor motorcycle accident where I sprained both shoulders and my left knee.

 

[leeniek]

Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery!
i am married to a gamer.. he and the guys have a regular in person RPG of [email protected] that they play every week,

 

[phaedrus]

It's been a while since my last update! I have an FCE (Functional Capacity Evaluation) at a local ortho clinic on the 31st of May. There they will evaluate my repaired shoulder and see what I'm fit to do. We shall see!

 

[cheflayne]

Sending positive vibes your way. Also known as sending mad amounts of energy to assist with productivity and good fortune.

 

[phaedrus]

Thanks! I'm a bit nervous. The arm is never going to be the same, that's clear as day. We'll see if it's enough to get back in the kitchen again. I've hardly ever done anything but cook/chef, and those few times were miserable. After 15 months of not working I'm going stir crazy but nervous to get back into it.

 

[phaedrus]

Well, I did my IME and have been waiting for my attorney to get the report for most of the month. He told me it can take a while. Once he gets it there will be an evaluation of what work the doctors think I can do, and he will look at a settlement if appropriate. Maybe by the middle to end of August I'll be off comp and working again, we'll see!

 

[phaedrus]

It appears that I'm just about ready to sign papers to settle my case. I kind of have that feeling like Charlie Brown running up to the football, half-expecting Lucy to pull it away at the last moment!😂 Still, if nothing gums up the works I'll probably take a month off, travel a little and get a week-long camping trip in before I decide the next move. We'll see!

 

[cheflayne]

get a week-long camping trip in before I decide the next move.

Sometimes things don't come across on the internet like I mean them to be...I hope this isn't one of those instances because it is meant to be supportive and hopeful, at any rate...if things go well on a week long camping trip, then you should be able to handle kitchen work :~) if you are selective in choosing the environment, volume, etc.

You also might have to change your work habits a bit (particularly stubbornness of mind if you are like me); but smarter not harder, I am learning, is not such a bad concept.

Doing a chef/jedi/mind meld from this side of the keyboard!!!☯ ㊙ ㊗

 

[phaedrus]

Sometimes things don't come across on the internet like I mean them to be...I hope this isn't one of those instances because it is meant to be supportive and hopeful, at any rate...if things go well on a week long camping trip, then you should be able to handle kitchen work :~) if you are selective in choosing the environment, volume, etc.

That's comically beside the point! People don't take vacations only when they physically can't trudge on another day, or hopefully they don't wait that long. I've spent the last half a year being poked and prodded, doing PT and constantly shuffling between appointments with doctors and the insurance company's minions. Now that I have mostly full use of my arm again I'm ready to take a bit of time that's just my own. Maybe I'll return to the kitchen or maybe I'll do something else but I'll do it when I'm good and ready. Already I've given 30+ years to the industry and it's nearly killed me, not sure if I want to let if finish the job or not. At any rate the financial settlement is...substantial. Taking some time to plan my next move will not be a financial burden so long as it doesn't stretch into half a year.

 

[leeniek]

That's comically beside the point! People don't take vacations only when they physically can't trudge on another day, or hopefully they don't wait that long. I've spent the last half a year being poked and prodded, doing PT and constantly shuffling between appointments with doctors and the insurance company's minions. Now that I have mostly full use of my arm again I'm ready to take a bit of time that's just my own. Maybe I'll return to the kitchen or maybe I'll do something else but I'll do it when I'm good and ready. Already I've given 30+ years to the industry and it's nearly killed me, not sure if I want to let if finish the job or not. At any rate the financial settlement is...substantial. Taking some time to plan my next move will not be a financial burden so long as it doesn't stretch into half a year.

Not that you need me to tell you but IF you choose to return to kitchen work please take it slowly. I know that is easier said than done but please take care of you first.

I got mad at our assistant plant manager this week. He dislocated his shoulder and instead of going to the hospital he popped it back in himself... that caught up to him as he dislocated it in his sleep and had to go the hospital to get it put back in place, Work is NEVER more important than one's health and he felt so ashamed when I was telling him off about it.
I am very quiet about my opinions most of the time and when I let him have it he knew I was speaking my mind and then some.

 

[phaedrus]

Not that you need me to tell you but IF you choose to return to kitchen work please take it slowly. I know that is easier said than done but please take care of you first.

I got mad at our assistant plant manager this week. He dislocated his shoulder and instead of going to the hospital he popped it back in himself...

I initially tried that, after all I've seen Lethal Weapon! 😂 But too much bone was broken out for that to work. It's late so I'll write a more elaborate post later but my plan is to take some time off and relax, and contemplate what I want to do. Likely I'll try to find something interesting part time, a kitchen job I can work 15-20 hours and see how that goes.

 

[chefwriter]

Your situation reminds me of the Appalachian Trail. Basically, you need to have your rent and bills covered for the six months or so to complete the hike, six to seven thousand dollars for the expenses (approx. 1K per month) and preferably someone to go with you. Now I hate hiking and won't be doing it but it got me thinking it seems to fit your situation pretty closely. Opportunities like this don't come around often. If you have one, dust off the bucket list.

 

[leeniek]

I initially tried that, after all I've seen Lethal Weapon! 😂 But too much bone was broken out for that to work. It's late so I'll write a more elaborate post later but my plan is to take some time off and relax, and contemplate what I want to do. Likely I'll try to find something interesting part time, a kitchen job I can work 15-20 hours and see how that goes.

Good that you are thinking about options and how to live life with this injury.

Today the assistant plant manager went to the specialist and the only way to fix his shoulder is surgery. I had a good chat with him today and he is going to do it. I reminded him that he has a wife and young child and he wants to be there for all of the firsts with the family and he himself will be better off as well. I said to him that you don't want to ruin the once in a lifetime trip to Disneyworld with the family because you slept wrong and your shoulder popped out and he agreed with me

Do whatever is best for you.. and always keep your well being top of mind..

 

[phaedrus]

I accepted a part time job, maybe 3 days per week, doing prep and assisting making pizza at a boutique neighborhood pizza place. We'll see how I hold up and how I feel after a week or two.

 

[leeniek]

I accepted a part time job, maybe 3 days per week, doing prep and assisting making pizza at a boutique neighborhood pizza place. We'll see how I hold up and how I feel after a week or two.

How is the job going for you?

 

[phaedrus]

I ended up not taking it. Think I'll wait a bit longer to return to work, partly for tax purposes, partly due to not quite being strong enough yet.

 

[cheflayne]

“Life is like a path…and we all have to walk the path… As we walk… we’ll find experiences like little scraps of paper in front of us along the way. We must pick up those pieces of scrap paper and put them in our pocket… Then, one day, we will have enough scraps of papers to put together and see what they say… Read the information and take it to heart.” ~Uncle Frank Davis (quoting his mother), PAWNEE

Just keep walking… everything comes when the timing is right.

 

[leeniek]

I ended up not taking it. Think I'll wait a bit longer to return to work, partly for tax purposes, partly due to not quite being strong enough yet.

You need to do what is best for you and if you feel like you need more time, the best thing you can do is wait until you are ready

 

[phaedrus]

Well, I went back to work a few weeks ago. I was trying to do three days but they talked me into four. So far so good! My shoulder is holding up fine but my feet & back are still getting used to working again. I'm not sure if will be a great fit long term but so far I'm liking it.

 

[loomchick]

Well, I went back to work a few weeks ago. I was trying to do three days but they talked me into four. So far so good! My shoulder is holding up fine but my feet & back are still getting used to working again. I'm not sure if will be a great fit long term but so far I'm liking it.

That's encouraging . . . the say the least. I think you definitely have a great attitude about the whole thing . . . now let's see if your body can cooperate.