Coping with horrible days and nights ...

miss_l

I'm habing a really tough time at the moment and just need some advice !

I have OA and am on a waiting list for a hip replacement and am currently taking tramadol, paracetamol and diclofenac like clockwork but things are still difficult!

Im working as a teacher and have been in everyday regardless but i havent had a nights sleep for the past week now and am so exhausted and my hip is giving way constantly so am covered in bruises and cuts !

Does anyone have suggestions for getting through the next few weeks? Would it be unreasonable to ask for a few days off work to get some rest?

collettem

Hi


I am currently in week 2 of recovering from a hip replacement and I took leave before my operation as like you I was not getting any sleep and tramadol was making me sick. I dont know if it helps but I just took codeine and when sleeping put a pillow between my knees and it really did make a big difference, as I had many broken nights sleep before hand. I would def ask for some time of work as the rest really does help and it cant be easy as a teacher standing on your feet all day.

Hope you get sorted soon

Collette

sarahchall

collettem wrote:

Hi


I am currently in week 2 of recovering from a hip replacement and I took leave before my operation as like you I was not getting any sleep and tramadol was making me sick. I dont know if it helps but I just took codeine and when sleeping put a pillow between my knees and it really did make a big difference, as I had many broken nights sleep before hand. I would def ask for some time of work as the rest really does help and it cant be easy as a teacher standing on your feet all day. Yes I've just joined this site asking for advice - well begging for advice - about my OA pain which isn't being helped with tramodol or dihydocodeine or anything really. Someone on here replied to me and swears by Diconal - she tried everything else too. So I'm going to ask about this drug - can't do any harm - it MIGHT be the answer....

Hope you get sorted soon

Collette

alicea

miss_l wrote:

I'm habing a really tough time at the moment and just need some advice !

I have OA and am on a waiting list for a hip replacement and am currently taking tramadol, paracetamol and diclofenac like clockwork but things are still difficult!

Im working as a teacher and have been in everyday regardless but i havent had a nights sleep for the past week now and am so exhausted and my hip is giving way constantly so am covered in bruises and cuts !

Does anyone have suggestions for getting through the next few weeks? Would it be unreasonable to ask for a few days off work to get some rest?

suzster

try sleeping with a pillow between your knees which i know has been said but it is the best advice i can give!
i had a hip resurfacing op a few tears ago due to OA in my hip and so i understand the pain you are having, i actually bought a special knee pillow before i was offered the op as i was told by sereval specialists i was to young for a thr, so thought i'd have the pain for afes, but luckily i was refered to Guys hospital and the resurgacing op was done there and since having it things were much better, well until i got the RA, but thats a different story!!
i hope you try the pillow though! another option is a body pillow, they are longer than normal pillows and i find it very helpful now when my knees or hips ache.
sue

livinglegend

miss_l wrote:

Im working as a teacher and have been in everyday regardless but i havent had a nights sleep for the past week now and am so exhausted and my hip is giving way constantly so am covered in bruises and cuts !

Does anyone have suggestions for getting through the next few weeks? Would it be unreasonable to ask for a few days off work to get some rest?

In my opinion, phone up or go see your Head and tell them you can't cope and you need time off. Then take a week off work to recover. You can't help being ill and the school will not close down without you.

Stating the obvious, you are running on a mix of drugs to get through the day. Not a good idea anyway if you drive to work! People can only push their body so far, then it rebels and out you go. It's too late coming round in the back of an ambulance thinking that you should have rested for a few days.

My comments may seem hard nosed, but.......

Joseph 8)

frogmorton

Hi Miss-l
I'm with Joseph on this one. You have to put you first. This sounds like you are in quite a dangerouse postion.
The other thing is maybe you need to ask about walking supports while you are so immobile as you could fall and really hurt yourself when you are alone.
Take care
Toni x

sharmaine

Hi
I'm so sorry to hear that you're having a rough time. I also have OA but in both knees, shoulder and fingers. I used to work in a school but because of the nature of my job and the drive I handed in my notice and haven't worked since. I too wasn't sleeping at all during the night. The doctor prescribed Amytriptaline, which relaxes your muscles and helps with the discomfort of weak joints ....(spelling is wrong!) for me at night which means I more or less sleep right through until 8.00 am the next morning. I take them about 6.00 pm. The first time I took them I didn't wake up until noon (my husband thought I had died). I think it was because I was so tired. I also take diclofenac.

It must be very demanding and exhausting for you. In the end I just couldn't cope with work. I miss it but realise that I just couldn't do my job effectively because of my health problems.

Can you get ask for any special equipment to make it easier at work. Or, could your doctor not sign you off until you are better?
Take care.
Sharmaine

miss_l wrote:

I'm habing a really tough time at the moment and just need some advice !

I have OA and am on a waiting list for a hip replacement and am currently taking tramadol, paracetamol and diclofenac like clockwork but things are still difficult!

Im working as a teacher and have been in everyday regardless but i havent had a nights sleep for the past week now and am so exhausted and my hip is giving way constantly so am covered in bruises and cuts !

Does anyone have suggestions for getting through the next few weeks? Would it be unreasonable to ask for a few days off work to get some rest?

joanlawson

Hi Miss-i

You are a typical hard-working teacher who puts the job before her own health. I am a retired teacher with over 30 years experience. When I look back, there were many times when I dragged myself in to work when I was really quite ill, because we always feel so guilty for disrupting the children's education,and causing problems with supply cover etc. Teaching isn't like other jobs where you can just switch off if you are ill.

However, if I were still teaching now, I wouldn't half- kill myself to work if I was ill. Quite honestly, no-one thinks any more of you, and the children are better off being taught by someonewho is well. People will sympathise with you if they know you are waiting for surgery, so I think you should definitely take the time off until you are well again. Also you will probably be providing a supply teacher with work :!: Teaching is one of the most stressful jobs you can do, as well as being physically demanding.It will soon be the Easter holiday,but don't wait until then. STOP NOW !!

My daughter is a teacher, and she is exactly the same as she has to be at death's door before she will take any time off.
Look after yourself and I hope all will go well for you in the future.
Joan