I have been trying to work my part time job but it is getting more and more difficult. Today I didn’t accomplish much of anything due to the pain. I’m already taking tramadol but it doesn’t seem to really help. I go to my regular doctor on Friday and want to talk to him about it then. I can’t continue to work my desk job if I keep having days like today…it hurt to sit or stand, even if I was moving and I couldn’t concentrate on what I was doing.
I’ve had problems with the finance committee at the church I work at too. For the second month in a row. One member has complained about my hours, I dropped several because I get so exhausted I have to leave for a nap. This month there are still complaints even though I’m around 20-25 hours a week. That is going to drop again if I can’t find something to help manage the pain. When the treasurer text me about the complaints tonight, I told her they owe me 4 raises (I was promised yearly raises when I started) and my week of paid vacation per year since I started in 2010. She didn’t like that idea much, but I figure if they want to complain I can too.
The sad thing is, I’m 29 and can only work part time but am really looking into disability. I can’t continue having unproductive days at work just because I hurt.
Hello there. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I work full-time and some days are just horrific (actually today is pretty bad). The pain and exhaustion just makes me want to cry. I even have a heating pad on the back of my chair. Anyway I was FINALLY able to get in to see a pain specialist yesterday. I have been unable to tolerate Cymbalta, Effexor or Savella and was desperate for relief. He wants to do tender point injections in the spots on my lower back. He says that he has had great results with just doing the injections there instead of all over, and that for some reason just lower back injections have helped in general. Have you tried that? Obviously I haven't done it yet so I can't tell you if it helps. I hope you get relief. I know how you feel. Keep your chin up!
hi im 28 going threw the same tiredness pain etc I work from home as my partner works away and we have 3 young children if im honest you sound like you have so much going on and worrying about having to do everything maybe its time for a time out a bit of you time if people want to complain about that then maybe they should try a day in your shoes they cant judge what they don't no, I hope you feel better soon xxx
You seem like a highly responsible employee especially given your concern for productivity. Have you discussed your illness and pain with your employer or your HR department?
Here’s a link to a NYT article on your workplace protections as a chronically ill person-
I think they are trying to build a case to get rid of you. This is a hard situation to be in. If you can, find another job. If not ask for emergency medical leave. Before doing this, however, check out the safety net programs in your state. I was in a similar situation up until the end of May. I quit only to find out that my state really doesn't have any safety net programs for people in my situation.
Smalltowngirl: I wondered the same thing. They may not want to provide accomodations (See JAN Job Accomodations network) or, if you are entitled to Disability to pay that. If you work for a company with a certain amt. of employees (I think that it is 25 and up) they are required by law to provide Reasonable Accommodations (i.e., splitting up your hours, taking a short term FMLA); my doctor provided a letter (not too detailed) with diagnosis and if appropriate diagnostic codes, symptoms that you are having a hard time managing (i.e. fatigue, too much sitting or standing, etc...)--see JAN for specific accommodations under your diagnosis.
It's worth a try--In most states employees really have very few rights but your are in a protected "group", i.e., Disabled.
If you have to take a short FMLA to get your pain under control, better to do so now than to wait for things to get worse.
Good Luck...BTW...I am at 32 hrs. in a very stressful job and am trying to make positive changes to my life. It's very hard...employees see people who are disabled as dispensable, where in fact studies show that we are in fact a dedicated hard working group.
Smalltowngirl, you have my sympathy and support. That is a rough situation to find yourself in. Working is a double edged sword: most of us need to do it and it also gives us satisfaction to do a job well. But working when in constant pain is almost impossible to accomplish.
It sounds like it's time for you to apply for disability. It can take several months to be approved, sometimes even longer, so please don't wait until the pain is drving you insane!
If they try to give you grief about working part time while applying, point out that you have to keep reducing work hours in order to get SOME measure of relief. And I STRONGLY suggest getting a lawyer who handles just SSDI cases to rep you. They only charge if and when you win the case and only take one fourth of what the government pays you in back benefits. Also, most people who apply on their own get rejected the first time around because they don't know exactly what is needed to successfully present their case.
I hope this is helpful to you! I'm really sorry that the fibro monster has attacked you too.
If tenderpoint injections don't help, look into whether or not you are a candidate for radiotherapy. In that procedure, the pain doctor sedates you then burns a nerve to reduce the pain. It works fairly well, until the nerve regenerates. I have to warn, tho, I was in agony for two weeks the first time I had it done. But it has helped, to an extent and I've had it done many more times since then.
ShortStack said:
Hello there. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I work full-time and some days are just horrific (actually today is pretty bad). The pain and exhaustion just makes me want to cry. I even have a heating pad on the back of my chair. Anyway I was FINALLY able to get in to see a pain specialist yesterday. I have been unable to tolerate Cymbalta, Effexor or Savella and was desperate for relief. He wants to do tender point injections in the spots on my lower back. He says that he has had great results with just doing the injections there instead of all over, and that for some reason just lower back injections have helped in general. Have you tried that? Obviously I haven't done it yet so I can't tell you if it helps. I hope you get relief. I know how you feel. Keep your chin up!
I am so sorry to hear about how much pain you are in, and I completely relate. It sounds like you are doing the best that you can, please remember that you're health always has to come first and don't be too hard on yourself - pain is our bodies warning sign that it needs a break. I have definitely found over the years and with different jobs, full time, part time, making my owns hours etc, that no company will ever take care of you. That is definitely something you have to prioritize. I don't want to push anything on you, but have you looked into any kind of disability or disability benefits? Your doctor might be able to recommend something to you as well. Please keep us posted, and I hope that you get some much needed relief soon!
Re: applying for disability--It's not as easy as it once was. There is generally a long wait time between initial application and approval--I see this a lot in my line of work.
We do need to try and care or ourselves the best that we can, even in this tough economy and difficult work environments.
I am working with a voc counselor who will try to help me find a job that is less hard on my body and emotions.
There are some private vocational counselors out there and also some state agencies that can help with this.
In the mean time I hope that we ALL find some relief in small ways for the pain and exhaustion of this illness
Yes disability is a long and crazy road if you are asking just based on FM. I have a list of several other medical issues on top of the FM. My attorney said it was my bone marrow disorder that trumpet my case along with severe depression. I had to get therapy mentally and physical therapy at a hefty cost before I was finally approved. It drained my little nest egg after almost two years but glad I did keep focused and did everything my team of doctors had me do. I had a little pension I started to collect when I was 60 which kept me afloat(barely) until everything was approved. It’s not a ton of money but is more than I thought. What they put you through to get it now is very degrading. I understand they are getting tougher.
Thank you so much for the advice. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Petunia Girl said:
If tenderpoint injections don't help, look into whether or not you are a candidate for radiotherapy. In that procedure, the pain doctor sedates you then burns a nerve to reduce the pain. It works fairly well, until the nerve regenerates. I have to warn, tho, I was in agony for two weeks the first time I had it done. But it has helped, to an extent and I've had it done many more times since then.
ShortStack said:
Hello there. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I work full-time and some days are just horrific (actually today is pretty bad). The pain and exhaustion just makes me want to cry. I even have a heating pad on the back of my chair. Anyway I was FINALLY able to get in to see a pain specialist yesterday. I have been unable to tolerate Cymbalta, Effexor or Savella and was desperate for relief. He wants to do tender point injections in the spots on my lower back. He says that he has had great results with just doing the injections there instead of all over, and that for some reason just lower back injections have helped in general. Have you tried that? Obviously I haven't done it yet so I can't tell you if it helps. I hope you get relief. I know how you feel. Keep your chin up!
That is a hard situation to be in when you are not feeling support from your work. I hope that your doctor can help you some and please do not beat yourself up about the fact that you are thinking about disability. Unfortunately, sometimes that is the only thing that works for us. A complete vacation from the work force, I am a teacher and I feel the difference between the winter months and the summer months. And being that I live in Iceland we are not talking about the heat helping me during the summer months ;)