Pain Management @ Work

[Harpyiai]

What do you do?

[Christin_a]

Hello

It depends on what your work is. I have a desk job so I have my painkillers but I also have a plug in electrical heat wrap (amazon, says its for your black but has a strap so it stays where every you put it).

If you have a more active or standing job you can get stick on heat patches and some hot water bottle I think it's yuyu are long and have a tie so you don't have to hold it in place.

Also if you've not had one yet an occupational health appointment (if you've been formally diagnosed) can be useful as it's a way for your work to understand what your condition is and how it effects you and what they might be able to do to help

[Harpyiai in reply to Christin_a]

I work at a desk job also, but in a male dominated environment so its awkward. Heat wraps sounds good, I will investigate. And I have a call with them tomorrow, see what they say Thank you for replying.

[Christin_a in reply to Harpyiai]

Yes I do too. But you sometimes can be surprised as I have a male director whose wife has endo to and one of my colleagues again his wife has it so they have a good understanding which helps as I can talk to them if it's really bad and I know they don't think I'm just pulling a sicky as they've seen there wife's in this pain.

I'd recommend occupational health as you have the conversation in detail with just the Dr/nurse. And they then only put in pertinent information in the report, so they don't get all the nitty gritty details but it tells them in simple terms how it effects you and work which can help with those awkward conversations.

[Harpyiai in reply to Christin_a]

What heat wrap do you have? And yeah people are understanding but I feel awkward still as I am only 21 and my colleagues are 40+.

[Christin_a in reply to Harpyiai]

This is the heat wrap I have. Its also good as my colleagues know when I'm wearing it I'm having a flare so don't need to tell them.

amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Dreams-L...

[Pinkyandthebrain in reply to Christin_a]

I can understand the feelings of awkwardness at work as I feel that way too. But it may be worth speaking to your manager privately and asking if there is any option for flexible working. Once I opened up to my manager about my health problems I was able to work from home on days that I have a lot of pain and it made such a difference to my overall well being.

Of course not all employers can accommodate this but I was so afraid to ask for so long and now I feel so much more at ease in the office too! X

[CE_88_14]

I have a hot water bottle in my locker and use it when required and just keep a healthy stash of painkillers close to hand x

[Sprinkles86]

Before I had surgery to excise my surgery, when the pain was at it’s worst, I used to take codeine, paracetamol and naproxen, then I would have a lower back tens machine on under my clothes too, this worked well for me x

[Leenie0811]

I work in construction but a mixture of being on and off the site; if I'm having a bad day I will do more work in the office where I have pain relief in my desk drawers and a hot water bottle in my locker. Most people ask if I am really that cold but I tell them I have a condition and heat helps release the pain. All the blokes understand, some of the older ones have offered to make me a brew to try and help out!

I know it seems embarrassing and sometimes daunting telling someone but 99% of people will only want to help. My endo affects my sciatic nerve so sometimes I walk funny, people just generally get concerned when they see something out of the ordinary.

Keep smiling, Leenie x