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Last April I was forced to take sick leave after trying ...

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Guest
Guest

Last April I was forced to take sick leave after trying to soldier on with severe neck and arm pain. At first I was diagnosed with mechanical neck pain, then arthritis, then it was cervical spondylosis then a works medical said it was chronic pain syndrome.

I was off work till the November and was forced to go back to work for financial reasons. A works medical suggested a move nearer home and a full work station assessment as well as saying my sick leave would be increased. Work moved me a further 20 minutes drive from my home - I already drive 35 minutes one way - and my work station assemment consisted of moving my PC back three inches! As for my sick leave despite a doctors letter I was given a written warning and, now that this has expired I've been told if I'm off over 8 days in one year I could be dismissed.

I've gone into work when I realy shouldn't. The pain is now so bad that most mornings it takes me at least an hour to get my arm and neck moving and I am now developing sever back pain on a morning. Physio helped a bit with the movement but not the pain. I am taking 4-6 Ibrofen every day and on really bad days 2-4 paracetemols. I know the doctor will put me on the sick and I can't do this as I need my job for income.

At the moment my whole social life has stopped because after driving to work and back I am in agony and have to rest on a night.

[i:8d7bef592e]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:8d7bef592e]

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Lopes
    Lopes

    Posted

    I am so sorry to hear that your employer is being unsympathetic about what is after all a disability. A disability is defined as a mental or physical condition that affects your daily living. If you could get your GP to give you this fact in writing you might find that your employer has to take a very different attitude. You can even write to your employer yourself in the first place pointing out that you have along term chronic physical condition and asking for this fact to be placed in your personnel file.

    Please try contacting the Disability Rights Commission - they are fantastic!

    Your rights under the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act are quite extensive and you should look at the DRC website for more info.

    I hope that this helps and I understand having being sacked from my job because I have Cervical spondylosis when with reasonable adjustments I could have carried on working.

    I hope this helps

  • juniper
    juniper

    Posted

    I am sorry to hear this.

    I continued to work after being diagnosed with CS. I worked as a contractor. I made sure I had a decent chair, and my computer was always set at the right height.I too took Ibruprofen like smarties. I used heat pads, and whatever else I could think off, and still I had to give up on a daily basis, and go home. Commuting was agony.

    I was diagnosed over 5.5. years ago. I gave up my contract due to relocation, (by my husband), and I have not worked since.I also cannot drive, garden, swim. The condition has affected my upper body strength. I have to do things in little bits - peeling vegetables, lifting, etc. I drop things involuntarily.

    The most difficult thing to to do is to accept that you cannot do all the things that you used to be able to do, and adjust accordingly. This can be very painful and can take a long time.

    I wish you well.

  • Lin
    Lin

    Posted

    Hi Juniper,

    You are so right (i noticed your message on the exercise thread too). Its a case of try to accept what you can and can't do, don't over stretch yourself (literally) and try as many options as you can - some things will work for you, others won't.

    Things may change one day medically speaking - we find new solutions to things all the time, and one day hopefully there may be a solution to CS other than medication (and wanting to cut your own arm off with a blunt spoon on the odd occasion when it gets too much lol).

    Its desparately frustrating at 45 to suddenly find out that I can't push a door open without wincing in pain, or reach up and lift a couple of books off a shelf without making a noise like a drowning waterbuffalo but Im trying so hard not to let it get me down. Its hard sometimes, but I try not to get too upset, if not for me, for my lovely husband who finds it more hard because he can't help me, and hates to see me in pain so much.

    Bless him, he is now on a mission to find me new things to try in an effort to make life a bit easy - we are waiting for a bottle of ayuervedic massage oil from india at the moment, evidently it is specially mixed for CS - it keeps life interesting if nothing else smile

  • murr
    murr

    Posted

    I have been a silent sufferer for 10 years nobody seems to understand, although I left my old job on computers I have been okay for a year until three weeks ago I had a flair up the hospital diagnosed that it could have been a mini stroke, they do not want to listen to my history. I would like to hear from anyone who finds they run to wee all the time, I do not know if this is a symptom.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    hi , was really interested to read youre thread. i ve been off 7 weeks and awaiting mri scan to see what nerve is trapped or what disc is bulging...thats what my consultant has said..I ve had cervical spond/osteoarthritis diagnosed and have not had a pain free day in 8 weeks, i m on gabapentin, voltarol, cocodamol and diazepam and tramadol...little helps. my physio wasnt happy to touch me as in such acute pain, although am due to see her again on thurs. My GP has known me for 25 yrs and has certificated my sickness and is sympathetic. Now I have been told i could lose my job if i dont go back,,, I am an nhs specialist nurse and have worked for the nhs for 24 yrs with little sickness, i am besides myself with worry and although i can hardly drive my car am thinking i have to go back before they find me unfit for work as has been suggested by a colleague.....i have no idea of my rights and i am a single parent and am so concerned and depressed at thought of losing my job. my specialisy thinks may be a trapped nerve due to osteophytes in 7 discs in my spine, 3 of which are cervical spine and 4 lumbar spine.he has said i shudny return to me district nurse job until had mri

    take care all

    x

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