Getting a job with chronic pain

Hi DK, I had revision hip replacement and tried to go back to work but i was in too much pain I found out I have sciatic nerve damage from surgery site. So back on disability I can no longer do my job i was standing on my feet . So now looking for office job need to go back to school in april to brush up on some skills. So yes i understand your pain I have chronic pain nerve pain is worse at night . Im also working with pain management doctor and physical therapy3x week , Its hard not working some days are better than others

Jackie

 

Hi,

I have been in chronic pain for 8 years. I am a lawyer and manage to make it work even though sometimes it's truly awful.

G

Hi

I've been in cronic pain for 3 years that surgery to remove a tumour on my pancreas has left behind.

I work as a hospice nurse and I would say my role is not as demanding as hospital nurses as our hospice is only small. For the last 2 years I've been on a mix of medication, the most recent one being Pregablin. Sadly this left me so spaced out it was impossible to function.

Currently free of meds but in a lot of pain....done the pain management clinic and cbt with no positive outcome.

I do still work but I am very much grinning and bearing it :-/

J

Hi DK. I am in a similar boat. I had a tricky appendectomy plus a few illnesses that have left me with constant pain mostly on the left hand side of my abdomen. I am working at the moment, an office based job. I'm part time at the moment but hope to go up to full time using Pregablin for the pain coupled with tramadol. My doctor helped me a lot. I've also been referred to a London hospital to go through a residential to help me cope with the pain. Hope things get better for you.

x

To DK1034 ..I am so sorry what you have been through and still to cone. Hope it goes well and result is healthy and fully functioning and abke to start to rebuild your life. Must be so worried. But thankyou for highlighting this. Sadly there are so many cases of wrongky diagnosed patients and worse, docs who refuse to take seriously suggestions made by the patient themselves and often with disasterous consequences.  Good Luck!

Dear DK1034, sorry to hear of your pain and your worries, I think many of us and felt the same at some point..I know I did,when I was medically retired from a job I loved,I wondered if I'd ever work again.Even with meds and pain coping techniques pain and exhaustion are here 24/7 in varying degrees.It was very easy to fall into a 'woe is me' place and not be able to see a way out. BUT I knew whether I did nothing or did something ,the pain would still be there. SO it was down to me to get on with it and learn to pace myself. Ok I couldnt work like i did but i could work. So i got a little job just washing up,nothing taxing. I was told to apply for PIP which I did and was granted lower rate.This meant if I worked between 16 and 24 hours a week I was entitled to working tax credit . This helped to boost my income and more importantly my morale. So I now do an average of 18 hours a week,I now do starters and desserts,Ive acquired my food certificate and changed careers ..I was a dog warden. Has my pain gone ..no. Do I still get exhausted ..yes. BUT I have gained so much more..my self respect,my confidence and an appreciation of how best to care for me. I ensure I rest when Im not working,I take my meds as prescribed,i keep myself as mobile as i can and i ask for help when i need to. Work is more than possible,it may be different to what you expected/hoped for ,but you can do it. There are people far far worse of than I and they manage it. And there is help out there. I would never have known /thought about going for pip or working tax if the lady at the job center hadnt advised it. 

Just go for it,dont let pain prevent you,you are not your pain .

Best wishes