What is your experience returning to work?
Hi, I've been off work for about 1 year after a poly RA diagnosis (seropositive). My insurance company has put me on physiotherapy with a date to return to work (progressively) in about 4 months. Right now I have difficulty walking for long periods and lifting heavy items among other things. This time-frame they have imposed seems a bit scary to me. My job is physical at times. I worry what if this does not work out. What implications are there if this does not work out? If they don't have a position could they let me go? Could I lose my insurance? (I am in Quebec, Canada.) Can anyone share their story on their return to work? How it went? What to expect? Thank you.
Hi Lavande. A certain amount of fear and concern is certainly understandable in your situation. Unfortunately, I can't speak specifically about returning to work or disability employment situations/law in Canada. Hopefully others can help out with some thoughts on this or maybe your company's human resources department can provide some guidance on the return process. I can say that, hopefully, physical and occupational therapy can continue to help you improve. This article from our editorial team takes a closer look at these therapies: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/physical-therapy-and-occupational-therapy/. Pulling for your continued improvement and keep us posted on how you are doing. Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)
Thank you, Richard. I have my first physiotherapy appointment today. I will keep you all posted. As it sits I have Poly Rheumatoid Arthritis and I am on LTD through work insurance and I cannot get through walking a block around my house without foot pain. It is scary to me to think that four months from now they want me to return to work full time (which is physical at times in 11-hour shift, 4 days per week). I just don't know what will happen if I cannot do the work. Hopefully, someone can chime in with a Canadian perspective on their return to work and maybe what to expect when someone cannot return to work.
