Hate to say this but I have been missing in action for quite some time. The only time that I really get to be on here is when I have some life changing event and here I am with a life changing event. I had rotator cuff surgery again so this is my 2nd one on another shoulder yes we only have 2 shoulders lol and I'm sitting on my tush at home and I am bored. I am so close to being able to go back to work but here is mine concern, I have a now damaged both shoulders and this last one was due to over use at work. Yes I have MS and yes I am hardheaded and refuse to give up so what do I do? My PCP thinks that I am truly an inspiration because I refuse to give up and I won't quit without a fight and she has other patients who come in who have other issues that are not quite as serious as I appear outward but I am sure they are just as serious to themselves as they think and feel inward. So she told me that she talks about me To these other patients who complain that they wanna go on disability because they have anxiety or they have a sore toe or whatever their reason may be. She then explains to the person patient that she has another patient (me) who was diagnosed with MS and has a very progressive form yet refuses to allow anyone to tell her that she is disabled and refuses to give up. I find this all very wonderful and enlightening and I do take that to heart and I value her opinion in what I do to improve my self and my life. But am I doing something wrong? Yes I'm progressive but I am progressive relapsing so I don't know I'm stuck in a fight I don't care. Am I going to continue to damage myself to the point that I'm not going to be able to work anymore? That is my fear but my other fear is that I'm not gonna be able to help my husband support our family. We just bought a house and without my income to go along with it we may as well just toss it to the side and say forget it we don't need a house will just rent for the rest of our lives.
I am lost and confused and really just don't know what to do anymore. I honestly and my heart know that I probably should not be doing the amount of physical labor that I do but I enjoy it and I feel as though if I keep fighting the battle it won't win. I don't believe that anything can win over me so that is why I continue to work and I guess that's why I continue to hurt myself I just don't know anymore.
Worst thing about it all is no one wants to hire someone who has been in retail management for 18 years and put them at a desk job and give them fair pay. Wish me luck. If anyone has any insights or any ideas on what to do I am more than willing to take them
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ShanEWils
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I'm sure others with more recent workplace experience will chime in. I do admire your "don't quit" attitude. But sometimes we show more resilience and wisdom in protecting what we have, rather than risk losing even more by persisting in an activity that damages us. I know the new house is important to you, and that you wish to keep working, but wonder if a different, less labor-intensive job could work better for you. You would still be bringing home a paycheck, but doing less damage to your body. We don't have to accept defeat, whatever that looks like for us, but we can learn to adapt to the changes this disease has put upon us. That, to me, is a winning situation. You're a smart cookie, and I'm sure you could locate a good job, even while you're recuperating.
Let us know how you're doing and what you decide. I wish you the best with your recovery and job situation.
I am currently interviewing to be a district manager for another company and I'm really hoping to get that because it won't be as labor Intensive but I guess I'd just have to see how that goes. I am just so stressed out at this point that I want to Scream
You've got a lot of pressure on your shoulders right now, literally and figuratively. Remember how to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. We're pulling for you!
If you love your job, why leave? I believe that fighting keeps me going. I did, however, have to go on disability for many reasons. I was in charge of the accounting department for a non profit and my cognitive abilities would sometime take a hike.
However, don't keep hurting yourself. My husband was in retail management for 40 years. He thought if he had to take a desk job, he would like something in HR because of his people skills. What about being a buyer? Maybe not for your current company.
Have you asked your doctor about occupational therapy to help with your job?
I know in NYS there is a program to retrain workers due to disability. Does your state have one?
I only want to leave because there comes a time in Retail Management which I am sure your husband might agree with, that when you are doing the job they are being paid to do there comes a point when it is no longer safe for someone like us. I have looked in to HR Management positions and that is what I am wanting.
I am not sure if we have programs to assist people with disabilities here but I'm sure if I looked in to it I could find out. 🧡
Hi! You sound so much like me, and I’m a mess girl, a dang mess! I’ve had 4 major back surgeries-it takes forever for me to get thru airport security. But yes, I’ve had the MS things, and the back issues. On a ‘good’ day, especially if it’s really nice out (cool) I wrap myself in one of those wide black belts similar to what ppl have to wear at Home Depot, etc., and I would get on the ground, to work in the garden, eventually sitting in the dirt. I would work until I would literally have to crawl to a door to go inside, at my husband’s insistence, in so much pain I can hardly move. Could that be why I have had 4 surgeries? More than likely, yes. I’ve just finished a round of PT because my back has fallen apart again, just above the rods. I don’t know if I can endure another surgery like that. I Swore I’d never go thru it again, but it may be out of my hands,
But, since I didn’t have a choice way back in 1991 as far as working, it’s affected my mental perspective as far as my “contribution”. I couldn’t even cook anymore bc I couldn’t stand in one spot long enough to get it done. In the past year and a couple of months, I’ve done the laundry twice! That was a Huge thing for me! Thank God for the man my husband is,
In late June, in a weird way, I got an online job with a company that sells toxin free, GMO free personal and household products. All thru Facebook, which when asked if I had a FB page said “I hate Facebook”!! So, it’s the first job I’ve had in many a year. I drove myself Crazy trying to think of how I could make money-who would hire me-how could I get a job when I don’t know if I can work tomorrow, or see to drive, or remember how to get where I need to be?
I feel ya, I really do. I know that kind of perseverance and tenacity, but I have torn myself up! I don’t think it’s worth it, I’m a hermit. Our son and his family are less than 15minutes away and we rarely see them. He’s a cop, so it’s a constant ‘thing’ on my mind, but he’s good at what he does, but not bulletproof.
Omg-I just looked back at how much I’ve written and I apologize profusely!!
I’m leaning towards doing away with it, but my efforts would be wasted, I just keep pushing on! Even when I Know I’ve crossed the line-my line.
If there’s any way I can help you, please let me. If you need to vent, anything.
If you enjoy the physical part of your work, then find a way to continue without hurting yourself. There are people who train and coach athletes who may be able to give you advice and strategies to continue without injury. It might be helpful to schedule an appointment with people like this.
I also was a retail mrg for 28 years,hard hard hard work!You sound like me,refusing to accept your limitations and hurting yourself,I have a big streak of stubborness.finding a living wage is the challenge.I am sure there is alot of people that would love to hire you with your work experience,I would also check with dr offices and hospitals,my sister makes a living wage at dr office.good luck
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M.A.S. Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome
