This was originally posted June 13th, 2008.
Maybe the dislocated shoulder is a blessing in disguise. I don't know yet. The verdict's still out on it.
In a perfect world I would have called in sick right after the accident happened, and I would rest my injured shoulder. In the real world I didn't call in sick, and I tried to compensate for the fact that I couldn't use my left arm/hand. Incredibly stupid, I know. I did so, despite the warnings of friends and family. I felt responsible and wanted to make sure work went as smooth as possible. My physiotherapist warned me to not work through the pain like I usually do, but stop. This kind of physical pain is meant as a warning that there actually is something wrong. As opposed to the "I-stubbed-my-toe-and-now-it-frikkin-hurts" kind of pain. And I realized that my right shoulder was hurting. I tried to take it easier, but it was too late already. Sleeping became something I wasn't looking forward to (I really like sleeping) since all I could do was lie flat on my back. The entire night. And we all know that it's virtually impossible.
A pillow under my left shoulder supports my injured shoulder, and prevents me from accidentally turning onto my left side whilst sleeping. There's no extra pillow to support my right shoulder, and after waking up multiple times a night because of the pain and a burning sensation in my right shoulder I knew it was bad news. Sunday night I decided to call in sick the next day to give my newly injured some rest, and to try and catch up on some sleep. On Tuesday my superior called me to ask me if I could come in and give some instructions on how to go about the stuff on my desk. I'd get help. So I went in for just a few hours. (I thought it'd be better than to hang around at home.) The help I got came in the shape of an intern, who really is as dumb as a box of hammers; I have to spell out every. Single. Thing. Combine it with fatigue due to lack of sleep, it didn't take long to get seriously irritated.
I felt compelled to do the work myself. But that would be wrong. I shouldn't be at work in the first place.
I went in for just the morning on Thursday. (I know, I am stupid like that, but I feel responsible.) It was pretty much the same story. By the end of the morning I just about had it with the intern, and I went straight to bed when I got home. I managed to get about an hour's worth of sleep before the pain in my shoulders woke me up again. Later that evening I talk to my friend WP who basically says the same things the physiotherapist's already told me, and she suggests I go see the doctor and ask for sleeping pills; they may not numb the pain, but it would give me a good night's sleep. That alone would make me feel better. I knew she was right.
Friday rolled around and I go see the doctor (after managing to squeeze in an appointment). I explained everything and asked him for sleeping pills. The doctor checked my right shoulder, concludes it's bursitis and told me he'd be giving me a cortisone shot. In the shoulder. He also emphasized to give the right shoulder plenty of rest. I call my superior at work; I had the feeling they were expecting me at work. And they were! I told him about the cortisone shot and that the doctor basically ordered rest. I also informed him that I'd be seeing the physiotherapist later, and that I'd be asking for his opinion, too.
Rob, my physiotherapist was not happy to learn about the cortisone shot. And again stressed the importance of rest. He wasn't happy to hear I plan to go back to work (part time) next week. I think I'm starting to breaking a habit - not entirely, but I feel I have taken the first step. I intend to have a talk with my manager and to tell it like it is. If he feels I'm slacking then I tell him to go ahead and subtract the time off my personal leave; this time I'm going to put health first, instead of work.
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