Rehabilitation story – work ability coach to support change and retraining

“From the very first sick leave, even before the carpal tunnel surgery, the doctor told me that I should start thinking about what else I would like to do besides working as a salesperson.”

Oulu-based Elina Ahola’s more than 10-year career as a salesperson at Tokmanni saw a turnaround when both her wrists and fingers began to show functional limitations. Pain in the hands challenged the salesperson’s ability to cope with her duties, and it became time to consider new professional options. Switching to a new profession or even considering a new one felt really difficult as she had really enjoyed her job. Read Elina’s story about arranging lighter work and retraining with the employer, occupational health care and occupational pension company Varma.

Emotions run high during a change

"After the first surgery, it was only a few months before the second wrist surgery. I had been doing lighter work after the first operation and told the doctor that the operated hand still did not work, the thumb was still very sore and could not endure work. The doctor found that the pain in the thumb was probably not caused by the wrist canal. The thumb was imaged and showed signs of wear. I had really not understood the situation of my hands. I thought that the situation was really not that bad. After all, people get used to living with pain," Elina says.

"And the shock when I realised I would be living with pain and limitations for the rest of my life. It was not only that I could not do the work, but the pains and limitations would continue to affect my normal everyday life. My hands don't work like they used to, and I have difficulty with things like turning on the shower, opening jars, bottles, etc. You get used to living with pain, but it is exhausting," Elina continues.

Pain is not always visible on the outside

Elina said she felt ashamed of not being able to work the same way as before. As the pain in the hands is hardly visible on the outside, she felt, especially in the early stages, that her lighter, part-time work would be seen as laziness in the work community rather than a challenge to her work ability. Accepting her own work ability limitations and changes made at work was a psychologically demanding process for Elina. Even though the work was made lighter, the salesperson’s work was ultimately too stressful for the hands. It became necessary to consider a new professional future.

"I cried many times when thinking about the future, which, sometimes, felt quite scary. I also wondered whether I could still be a student, for example, after all the time that had passed since my previous studies," Elina says.

Even in a challenging and difficult life situation, Elina has considered joy of life and fun to be the driving force. Family, grandchildren and spending time in nature are resources in life for Elina.

The path to a new profession starts with a work trial and a retraining plan

Elina was directed from Mehiläinen occupational health care to discuss physically easier career opportunities with Sari Väisänen, a work ability coach based in Oulu. Discussing the preliminary possibilities together with an expert gradually made Elina believe that it would be possible to find a new, meaningful career path that would be more suitable for her health. Elina’s decision on vocational rehabilitation was applied for from Varma. Varma enabled Elina and Sari Väisänen, the work capacity coach, to continue their well-established cooperation to create and implement the vocational plan. The aim was to enable the transition to tasks that are more suitable for Elina's health.

Professional planning was started by surveying Elina’s skills, strengths and interests in more detail. Elina’s artistic skills, diverse craftsmanship skills, previous experience of supervising children and good social and interpersonal skills provided a good basis for working in a guiding role. The aim of the work trial was to ensure the suitability of work tasks in the education and guidance sector for Elina’s health. Elina also needed retraining in order to find employment in the sector.

A work trial place was found in the Pönkkä clubhouse for young people in Oulu. New working environments and ways of working require initial adaptation and learning. As the work trial progressed, Elina gained more confidence in her own work and the guidance work gradually began to feel interesting and meaningful to her. After the successful work trial, Varma gave the green light for a retraining plan. Supported by the work ability coach, Elina applied for a basic degree in education and guidance for training as a youth and community counsellor and was offered a place. She has started her studies with enthusiasm and appropriate excitement.

Personal support is needed when at the edge of something new

Elina would like to express her personal thanks to work ability coach Sari for their joint vocational rehabilitation journey. From the very first time, cooperation and trust were present. Appointments were scheduled and matters related to training and Varma were handled smoothly. In addition to Sari, the multidisciplinary team of Mehiläinen occupational health care receives praise. Occupational health physician Toni Ojala and physiotherapists Anna-Maija Haikara and Katja Tague were genuinely present and listened. In the midst of major changes, they were able to create a sense of security and confidence for Elina about a new kind of future. The role of the employer in providing opportunities and of Varma is also relevant. The smooth dealings and communication made a difficult personal matter easier.

Would you like to hear more about the services offered by Mehiläinen’s work ability coaches and, for example, the cooperation in vocational rehabilitation with occupational pension company Varma? For more information, please contact your account manager or designated occupational health nurse. You can also contact Riitta Erämaa, Head of Work Coaching Services Unit, directly at riitta.eramaa@mehilainen.fi