I’ve had a few sessions at the laptop this week to try to catch up on email etc, and even after a couple of hours, including taking breaks to get up and walk around, I’ve been struggling with the pain and tiredness. The intention was to start getting back in to a routine ready to go back to work (part-time) on Monday. However, by yesterday morning that seemed unlikely, particularly with the amount of tramadol I’m still taking – it doesn’t exactly leave me with the clearest of minds to be able to do my job! I spoke to the GP again this morning and she has suggested I remain on the current level of tramadol for now so that I can keep doing my physio exercises, but also to take ibuprofen 2-3 times a day to help with the swelling that will inevitably exist around the laminectomy site. The idea is that, after 3-4 days of taking both I will hopefully be able to start cutting down on the tramadol. I have been signed off work for another 2 weeks.