After I had my surgeries 9 and 10 years ago I returned to work soon after. The docs said that as long as I could maintain a low stress level it would be safe. I felt that it was important to get on with a normal life and at that time working full time was a big part of normal. Soon after I returned to work my bosses piled work on with impossible deadlines and my stress was astronomical. I have a suspicion that I was being forced out, due to the medical leaves and how it affected my productivity, so I left the job. I applied for and finally received Social Security disability and my full-time work career was over. Occasionally I had thoughts that I was being "one of those people", able-bodied but not applying myself to the workforce. At the same time my brother, who also has MMD and had surgeries around the same time as me, went back to work full-time. He was a network admin working at the DHS in Connecticut and San Antonio. His job was stressful, like any job in the government can be, and required him to travel to different offices and set up computer networks etc. In October of 2007 he had a massive ischemic stroke, rendering him unable to speak, swallow or walk. The left hemisphere of his brain was toast. After two years in this state he passed away on 20 October 2009, of a massive infection, acquired from being completely immobile in the rest home.
I write this as a cautionary tale, to be absolutely sure that is what you truly want. My late brother needed to work, and he lived life as he wanted. I, on the other hand, am effectively retired, and I'm ok with that. I don't have the satisfaction of seeing my work in print any longer, I was a photographer, or seeing my work on the Internet, as I was also a web developer, but I am maximizing my chances to see my granddaughter grow up. The choice is yours alone.

I went back 4 week after my surgery to my full time production job. I was told to take it easy and if I needed help preforming a task I should ask. I had almost daily headachs but my migraine medication took care of it so I could continue to work. 6 months later I started going back to school for my BS in electrical engineering part time. I still work 40 hours a week and take one class a semester including the summer. The migrains started to slowly decreased. Untill I may have one once a month but the meds take care of it. Last year I was premoted to an engineering aid job and out of production, I started to have more angziety. with all the new responcibilitys and tougher demands on my thinking ablilty. But My husband and I went on a weekend vacation to just relax and I have not had an angziety eposide since. we still do this when he thinks I need a break. Some times we don't leave the house and don't answer the phone.

Everyone heals diffrently. I guess I was lucky. Take your time getting back into the swing of things. Do push yourself to failure, but push hard enough to make little inprovements.

I hope this helps,
Becky

I had my surgery on May 13th and was back to work May 28th i am a 911 police dispatcher so my job does get really stressful!!!!  I think it just depends on the person and how quickly you heal!!  I also just had it done on one side!! by Dr Steinberg good luck and dont push it to hard take care