Work Conditioning with FCE ?

[zest4life]

Im in Ms. Ive been set up by my Dr and WC to get a work conditioning eval next week...with the conditioning lasting 4-6 weeks followed by a FCE...Can anyone give me some light on this. What can I expect, how will I be treated,and whats next. Any tips for getting through this? All Ive only really been told it is so they can see what I can and not do. And that it could be 4-5 days a week and its an hour away...just that in itself wears me out. I am post laminectomy/disectomy with nerve decompression Oct 23 and still having lots of back, buttock and leg pain. Its diff then before but hard still do do even ADLs. My Dr did do a post op mri last week and everything looked good just some average amt of scar tissue. Thanks

[AQA]

work conditioning = seeing what you can do and building up your stamina. I suggest you do what you can and if it hurts you, you let it be known,

FCE = functional capacity exam = determines what you can and can not do. In some states the FCE report carries wieght in reference to your phsyical condition.

[ksgirl]

I also had a laminectomy/discectomy. I went through pt for a while then work conditioning and an FCE. My work conditioning started at an hour a day and wa gradually worked up to four hours a day. They are trying to get you ready to go back to work and will try to simulate your job. I gave it my all and if I needed a break to get my pain under control, I just asked my therapist to give me a few minutes. I had a very good, understanding therapist. Be honest about how you are feeling, don't downplay or exaggerate your pain.

My FCE lasted about three and a half hours. They will test your strength and mobility. They want to test your strength and range of motion. Again, don't exaggerate or downplay your abilities. At my FCE I wore a heart rate monitor that the therapist checked during and after each activity. She also asked for pain levels during each activity.

I went to one place for work conditioning and another for the FCE. Both facilities were an hour from my house. During the work conditioning I had to start taking pain pills and muscle relaxers again and after the FCE I hurt for two days. I was treated very nicely at both places. I think they knew that I was giving it my all.

After the FCE your dr will probably put you at MMI and give you your permanent restrictions if any are needed.

I hope that helps some. If you have any other questions, just let me know and I will try to give you the information. Good luck!

[Lilly]

Hi,
My work hardening actually consisted of a 'job' that I went to 5 x a week, four hrs daily, for six weeks. I had to keep a daily pain level log, and punch a time clock. I was allowed to take extra breaks as i needed, but i had to stay within my MD restrictions.
Good luck...Lilly