1st day back at work after op ? not good!!

Went back to work yesterday after 9 days off. I manage a large hair salon so I am on my feet all day. I found the whole day a real struggle. After about 5hours id had enough. My body was exhausted and I had awful back ache and on my left side from my arm right up to my neck was burning and aching. I have quite a lot of swelling on my left breast and a lot more numbness around the side and bottom of my left breast. When I had my one week post op check the nurse said it was fluid build up but with in normal limits and advised me to use ice frequently to get the swelling to go down.
Problem is now that I’m back to work I can only get ice on it in the evenings and I am worried that all my activity at work is making it worse because it was absolutely killing me yesterday. I’m really worried it could get worse and turn into seroma and need draining or something. I’m also worried about infection as I’ve finished my anti biotics now.
This morning when I woke up I had an intense stinging and burning sensation in my left breast where the incision is.
I’m just worried that 10 days after op to be honest I still feel pretty awful and I would definitely say I’m still experiencing a lot of discomfort and pain. I just don’t know what is “normal” and what is within normal limits? I’m so worried about over doing it and doing damage.
Any help and advice would be very welcome girls xx

I would take another week off if I was you xx

Did you have unders or overs? I had partials. I had my surgery on the 19th and I feel so much pain and stinging sensations. It feels horrible. What did you have Harriet? X

More time off isn’t an option now as my paid holiday for the year has run out and I can’t afford to be off.
I had partials @sacha I hope you feel a bit better soon I can definitely sympathise with you!! Xx

Can the owners not work with you some how?

I own a salon and am taking 2 weeks, I wouldn’t expect staff to come back before the 2 week mark, especially since its a lot of heavy arm up work.

I wouldn’t risk complications that might result in having to take unpaid time off in the long run to be honest for the sake of a few days. 🙁

I can imagine how much you’re struggling I understand the job, its exhausting and sore enough on your arms and back on a good day let alone after surgery. I hope you feel better soon.

You could be entitled to some form of sick pay? Try visiting your GP and talk to them asap and see what they suggest, if you have a doctors note you’ll at least get some form of sick pay hopefully rather than zero money

I am really worry about work too. I have my op next Sunday and I have only taken a week off work :/ I am also a hairdresser.. is your pain mainly when your doing clients are the fact of just being on your feet?xx

This has panicked me too… I’m a hairdresser and was planning on going back 11 days post op…. I’m having second thoughts with what to do! The thought of stood on my feet all day with back to back blow drys and colours doesn’t sound appealing if I’m in as much pain as you Harriet. I hope you feel better soon, if I was you I think I’d try take some time off unpaid. Xxx

Oh my 9 days sounds like no time at all to heal! I’ve booked 3 weeks off, which sounds like a lot of time but I’m so terrified of doing damage to myself blowdrying etc! You should take another week off sounds like your in a lot of pain! 🙁 x

I don’t do hardly any clients anymore. My job role involves front of house, admin, stock, sales, make up application and general day to day running of the salon and management of the team. Even so it’s still a busy fast pace environment and we are split over 3 floors and on my feet all day. If I was still doing clients I definitely would have taken longer as there is no way with blow drying id be able to manage. I just feel like I’m not ready to be there. All the girls have noticed I’m struggling. They are supportive but it’s just not really an option to take it easy as I have too much to do.
Those of you who are stylist I really would say 2 weeks would be the minimum. Think of the upper arm movements and the pull across the chest wall when you have tension on the hair when blow drying and the weight of the hairdryer to hold up. Also combing up long hair when layering urhhhh no way!! Xx

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