what to do

YORKYSUE

hi this is my first time and i just need a good moan,i have arthritis in my spine and a lot of nerve damage in my legs i also have M E an fibramyalgia i am in a lot of pain at the moment i take pregabelin dihydrocodeine and paracetamol as my doctor says this is a good combination .Iam finding it quite hard at work i have fallen asleep twice i just feel so drained don't know if its the M E the tablets or both. My cousin suggested i get a walking stick to help with my walking (i'm like a women of 90) even though i'm 46 ,also i haven't told H R at work and don't know if i should so i can't go into work with a stick . My poor son who is 18 has to help with so many things i can't carry anything at times can't even get my boots off .When i go to the doctors i always say i'm fine cos i bet she is fed up of hearing about my pain .My moan is over Thank You

chris7

Oh my!

You moan away love, that is some load you have there. :roll: Should you even be working at the moment? Please do be honest with your doc. about how difficult you are finding things. I would try and find the courage to let work know too, they may be able to help in ways you hadn't thought of. It can be hard asking for help, but you have made a start here so well done you.
I am sure others will have more practical advise but I leave some gentle hugs and sincere sympathy. (((( ))))
keep posting, they are a supportive bunch here.
Chris

dreamdaisy

Firstly, deep respect to a woman who is still trying her best to work despite a whole raft of health complications - I think many would have subsided by now and given in, I know I would.

Secondly, I think some form of support to help you walk is a very good idea (of course I do, I am on crutches and cannot get far without them!)


Thirdly, I think you should tell your employers what is going on - I don't know what you do but the chances are that there are things they could (and should) do to help you but if they do not know what problems you are facing then what can they do? I realise I may be living in some sort of fools' paradise ( I am self-employed and have a fantastic boss, obviously - ) but others may be able to give you better advice on that - have a look on the working matters forum.


Fourthly, many women of 90 are a damn sight better off than us considerably younger ones - strewth they get on my nerves when they casually stroll past me in the street, not a stick in view and carrying shopping. How very dare they.

Fifthly, I think your doctor is right: you are on the standard set of meds (as it were) and they do help to a certain extent but remember you are dealing with health issues that cannot be cured, they can only have their worst symptoms relieved by the medication and I reckon yours is doing just that, despite your tiredness etc. You are not the only person on here with your set of health difficulties and I hope some of the others who share them pop up soon to cheer you on. I reckon you are doing well, yorkysue, but sometimes we lose track of ourselves in all this struggle and cannot see it, feel it or believe it. I wish you well. DD

hileena111

Hi, Like Chris says ...you moan when you need to.
What kind of work do you do and should you be working?
I think if you keep on working you should def. tell them....its surprising what they can come up with to make life easier.
I use a stick,..,....OA in lower spine, hips, hanke and neck LOL and Kyphoscoliosis....I try not to use it but needs must sometimes and it does help my back.
Love
Hileena

traluvie

Hi Yorky Sue,

Welcome to the forum..
You have come to the right place to share how you are feeling..

I think you are doing a great job trying to work and suffering the way you are, but i do think you should sit down and talk with work and explain the difficulties you are facing they may be able to offer you some help and support.. will take the burden and worry off you..

Regarding your doc .. i really think you should be honest and tell him how you are feeling, he will not be able to offer you the right help and support if he is unaware of what is really going on.. i know you worry you sound like a hypocondriac but it's best to be honest...

Wish you well

woodbon

Hello, glad you found us - I hope we can help if only by support. I have OA in my spine, wrist, hands and a few other places, but enough about me.
You are very brave to continue to work under the circumstaces, a lot of people would have given it by now, like I have. One of the things that I did before calling it a day was to reduce my hours, would that be possible for you? It does help to have more time to rest and get things done in. That means, of course telling your employer. Have you asked your GP what he thinks about your job? He might be good to discuss it with, or a rhuemmy nurse or occy threrapist.
This could be a bad patch, so take time to work out what you want to do.
Their is a very good helpline on this site and you can ring up and talk to them, they may be able to tell you what benefits you can claim and are very sympathetic. I was a Care Assisstant and thats why I had to give up as it was too demanding for me. Some jobs can be adapted to make things easier for you, ie special chair for office work. I hope you can sort things out and soon feel less drained and tired. Love Suexx

julie47

Hi Yorkysue
Welcome to the forum I hope you find it useful and informative.

I am sorry that you are having to struggle and try to keep it a secret. Are your employers nice people? could you not go and have a private meeting with them and explain your situation?
Also, if a stick would help,please use one. There are some funky ones around.

Hope things get easier soon
Take care
Juliepf x

summer23

Hi Yorkysue,

Sorry you are having a rough time, you have to be honest with your GP and your place of work, if you do not speak up how can you get the help that you need.

If you tell your doctor how much pain you are in, then they can give you a better pain relief, also they can refer you to a specialist which will help you even more.


You can ask your Ocup Therapist to lend you a Tense machine, i have had one for years and find it helps, also inquire about having a steroid injection, this will help you with the pain.

If you feel that a stick or a crutch will help then go for it.
You can buy a fold away walking stick from Argos, that way you can always fold it away and put it into your bag.

Please do not suffer in silence.

((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))

seamonkey

Hi welcome, im 32 with some form of arthritis of spine and have very painful legs recently my doc persuaded me to try a crutch and i have to say its been one of the best decisions ive made for some time! I find that it eases my pain while using it and then im not so tired all day and also at night im not in as much pain. Helps no end with my walking gives me extra support and makes me far more stable meaning im feeling better about walking etc. Give it a go hopefully be as good for you as is for me,
Wishing you well
seamonkey

mp1952

Hi Yorkysue

Sorry to hear that you are having such a rough time at the moment..

Hey - don't worry about needing to use a walking stick... I have a couple of very brightly coloured sticks (although I don't really need to use them at the moment).. one is purple with silver and white spots, and one is a kind of metallic red.. and when I am out and about everyone comments on how lovely they are.. and once you start using a walking stick you DO notice lots of other people are using them too.

Marion

need me bed

YORKYSUE wrote:

both. My cousin suggested i get a walking stick to help with my walking (i'm like a women of 90) even though i'm 46 ,also i haven't told H R at work and don't know if i should so i can't go into work with a stick .

Hi Sue,
Just wondering why you haven't told HR an they Nazi's or summat?? :evil You have rights as a person with a disability, and as far as I am aware (i'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong) they have to make reasonable adjust ments for you at work too. And if they did know could they be more helpful?

It's nothing to be ashamed of, you're ill you can't help it anymore than the rest of us can hunni. And why can you not use a stick when at work? I am 40 and i have been using a stick for about 2 years (once i got over the 'old fart' thoughts :roll: ). if it helps hun it helps, and to hell with what anyone else thinks. I've even gone as far as getting a Tri-walker as this is more stable when it's wet n windy rather than the stick... (I get called trolley dolly at work although i'm not even close to being a dolly.... ) I quite happily trundle around work with me trolley and don't give 2 hoots what anyone says.

You do what's best for you and if a stick is the way forward then so be it.... you can get some real fancy ones these days too instead of boring old black or grey...

Gentle hugs xxxx


Marion, Where did you get the funky purple metallic one?.... i think I NEED one of those!!! if only to cheer myself up.

xx

skezier

Hi Sue,

Welcome to the forum, its a good place and this lot are very good at helping you to get your head round stuff.

I guess your worried about telling your employer in case they no longer want you? i understand the need to work too well flower and wish people didn't have that one to face as well as the bone junk.

If its a small business it may not have any provision for disability and well its all difficult to say but I think honesty is normally the best thing but it does depend on what your employers are like. I am self employed cus no body in their right mind would employ me to be honest. Cus of the oa and the damage its done I am not a good bet

If a stick is helpful its a good idea. I know it feels like a big step to take but it might be something that keeps you mobile and well worth a go. You could try and get a referral to either the physio or the OT? There may be a lot they could do to help you.

I am not much help really but there is a lot of good advice here and hopefully you will find the stick makes a huge difference to you and work will surprise you. Nice to meet you. Cris x

Forgot to say about the drugs.....

Sue i am lucky the pregabalin wake me up like I have been wired into the national grid to a degree but it can do the opposite i believe. Some of the other drugs are also well capable of causing drowsiness but flower so are the conditions able to cause real fatigue.

maybe you would benefit from a drugs review? I really hope it will soon pass as fatigue is evil. x

YORKYSUE

Thanks to everyone ,made me feel so much better ,maybe i will pluck up courage to face the H R dragon