After a C1 shave/styloidectomy, what is a reasonable amount of time before you got back to work if you are working?
One surgeon said 4 weeks which seems really sooner for recovery, but maybe people are really back to work that soon?
What was your experience?
Recovery from surgery is very individual but vascular decompression w/ a styloidectomy is very major surgery. We’ve had some members go back to work fairly quickly after surgery but others have taken a month or more off work & were able to start back when they felt they were ready. If you work for a company that gives you the flexibility to decide when you feel well enough to go back to work, then you can choose what’s best based on how your body is feeling. We’ve recommended for those who have to start back fairly quickly after surgery that they go in only part time to start i.e. a couple days a week & arrange to work from home if necessary on the other days.
I wasn’t working at the time I had my styloidectomies so didn’t have to make that sort of decision, so I hope others who’ve had to go back to work will share their experiences with you.
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It does sound quite soon for a C1 shave as well, I didn’t have that though…hope you get some answers!
After my first surgery, which was a styloidectomy with C1 shave, I went back to work in two weeks. Funny story… I had a complication after surgery, I couldn’t swallow, not even my own saliva. Ended up in the hospital for a week, with a feeding tube, until I could start to swallow again. Just soft foods like applesauce, yogurt, jello, and mac and cheese, one noodle at a time. During that time, I interviewed for a promotion at work (I could barely talk). Got the job, surprisingly, so when I went back to work, it was to the new job, which was very physical. During the week at home after my release from the hospital, I took longer and longer walks around the neighborhood, to build up my stamina. It took a couple months before I could eat normally again.
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Thank you for sharing your experience & an update, @Susie! It’s great to hear you’re doing so well!
This is my big fear because I struggle to swallow currently. I’m hoping surgery heals this and doesn’t make it worse. 
Glad you’re doing better!
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From what I remember, the doctor said it was really tight in there (I guess worse than the imaging showed) and they had to tug on a bundle of nerves, which caused the temporary problem.
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