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How do you all cope with work? Are you all off on a disability or sick leave or do you tough it out.
I know this pain is sometimes, all I think about and working ... man, I can't even imagine. I work from home so my day is easier than someone "going" to a workplace. I can rest all morning and do hours of work in the afternoon. I must admit, I do have a problem with talking and I'm in marketing (for a Wellness company of all things!!LOL) so I find that can be a challenge. My dh would laugh at the irony because I love to talk but he knows this one isn't funny.
Just wondering what you all do and how you are coping?
I'm still working full time and have to travel internationally for my job... So my TMJ takes a serious toll. We had a similar thread on this a while back and I think it's great to bring it back up !!
I too talk alot at work (atleast in 12 hours a day of meetings) and travel about... The only way I've been able to survive is with the orthotic I've got, warm moist heat and most importantly exercise.... I try to do some level of working out, hiking, stretching 4 times a week.. I find when I don't have this as part of my equation then my work at the office suffers and I feel horrible.
One thing I'm very fortunate of is that I can work from home if I want to. So when I do have a rough patch and I'm not on the 'road', I work from home and take a muscle relaxant at the evenings to help calm my muscles down.
It took me a great long time to get to a 'good place' where my work wouldn't suffer.. But with the exercise, family support and most important management support, I've been able to break thru and be far more productive at work.
Working from home is a big help. I try to do so once a week or so, usually on days I have to see a doctor or on days where I couldn't get a late physical therapy appointment. That cuts an hour and a half of commuting time, and my home office is more comfortable than my work office.
I've used vacation time when the pain gets too bad, although I'm all out right now. Beyond that, it's not fun. No work means no insurance, so I do my best to make it through each day.
I always managed work with my injury unitl last year when it took me down. I was out 2 months, hospitalized after collapsing on a telemetry unit and readmitted for dehydration. Now they are unraveling the mystery of the spinal/TMJ connection. I had been back 3 10 hour days and paid for the other 10 hours when they cancelled disability last month. I am forced to increase to 4 days a week and decide whether to appeal the decision, argue employment laws were broken or let it go and move on. The disability lawyer wanted 6000.00 to appeal so it's a gamble.
I have pushed through working the past couple of years, but finally broke down this past week and took some of my short-term disability. I am waiting for a NM orthotic like Tami has, and I'm hoping for good results. If I don't start feeling better, I'm going to seriously think about getting a new, less demanding job (I'm a reporter and it can get crazy). My bosses appear to be OK with me taking the time off, but there's a little passive-aggressive tone to our conversations at times which makes it difficult. I'm going back half days this week, so I hope the headaches and dizziness don't knock me on my rear.
Posts: 32 | Location: Des Moines, Iowa | Registered: 02-25-2007
alorcoy....I am glad you are taking advantage of your short-term disability. I wish you the best of luck with the NM orthotic you are waiting for.........hoping for good results for you!!!!
Yeah...bosses are usually OK with taking time off....mine usually throws in a sacarcastic tone. I have learned to ignore her. LOL Good luck with the half days of work, take time to relax and please do not fall on you bum.
Please keep us posted with updates about your NM orthitic........SUE
I have been on disability for several years now. I started by trying to do some volunteering, then I started a back-to-work program with unemployment last march. I was doing about 17 hours a week, in an adapted environment, which was do-able.
I am now going to school, full-time. I am really lucky that disability has accepted to finance me through all this, otherwise I could not do it. I opted for a course which would be less demanding than a BA or technical course, and it just so happens that I love what I'm doing!
I have found that for me, consistency helps a lot. Having to get up at the same time every morning, having lunch at the same time, getting home at the same time, etc. allows my body to adjust to that rhythm. It is easier than having a different schedule every day.
I am managing at school, but it's very hard. How do I do it? I just do. I get up, go, do the stuff... I figure I have the choice, and if I make the decision of wanting to do something with my life, I will. When I start focusing on the limitations, then I'm unable to accomplish anything, so instead, I try to focus on the things I can do. Besides, if I don't do anything, I'll go bonkers.
At work, someone observed that I seemed much happier when I was busy than on breaks. I tried to pay attention to that and it's true. While I'm working, I'm concentrated on the task and sometimes I forget about the pain, or at least, don't think about it as much. The minute I stop, it just comes surging back! It has to be a manual task though, because if I try to listen to someone, or read, or something like that, you've lost me, I can't focus.
Okay, I tend to write novels everytime I post something, so I'll stop now... Deb, good luck with getting your disability back! Alex, I hope your half-days work out well for you!
Good luck, Jenn
"Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It's all in how you carry it. That's what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting society destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel your pain.” -Jim Morrison
Hi everyone- I'm still trying to get comfortable with the new site. I was pretty anxious this weekend about increasing the work while feeling so lousy but everything is a day at a time with heat thrown in between. I get overwhelmed thinking about the paperwork I need to do, decisions to make, and packing up to leave a job I still love after 8 years because I can't work it full time anymore. The pain and autonomic problems just took me down. I keep telling myself it isn't black or white- out of work or in- do what I can (30 hours for benefits) and dealwith it from there- Deb
You make some great points !!! I too find consistency in what I do and try and stay busy... It's a great way to try and deflect the focus on the pain... Great explanation !!!!
