Trying to keep working

[JeffMett]

Hi, I'm Jeff I sill work, 16 hours a week on checkouts I have Osteoarthritis in the neck and Arthritis in my hands both of these were due to working to hard. I've also got Arthritis in the Knees and Diabetes type 2 these probably my fault, at the moment I'm trying  to get a job that doesn't hurt me. 

[lowlife]

Hi, good for you managing to work with chronic pain. Thats one of the hardest things to do and can only work if you have an understanding employer. Pain meds can give you brain fog and if you sit or stand for two long the pain and stiffness causes a flare up so you can't win. All you can do is ask your employer to find a variety of jobs for you to do depending on how your feeling at the time. Some office based jobs allow you to have a ten minute break every hour so that you can have a  walk or a stretch. Ask to speak to occupational health or re train to do something you think you could manage. 

[Sazntef]

I know how tough it can be working with chronic pain.  DDD for 15 years and osteoarthritis for the past 6 years.  I still work full time,  which is really hard battling the pain and pain meds to do it.  I just can't face having to give up work.  Think I'm a little too stubborn to let that happen and too scared of the depression if I don't have work to distract me. 

Good employer and flexible work conditions are the way forward 

[JeffMett in reply to Sazntef]

My employer is I'm sorry to say is not a good employer anymore ( I can't say the name because they've threatened to sack us if we make any comment about them on social media) and I've tried to keep in work with them by getting a job within the company that does not make my Osteoarthritis worse. Yesterday pain management increased my morphene   by 50% how much higher it can go I don't know. The personal Manager and Store Manager almost laughed at me when I mentioned a Office based job. I find this insulting as this Superstore admitted that they was at fault with the accident that caused the Osteoarthritis in my neck in the first case. With a bit of luck a meeting with the Work Company, myself and the Personal Manager might get us some where, but my main hope is that with the support of the Work Company I can get a office job somewhere else and go back on full time. One of my main problems is I'm 60 and age discrimination does still exist.     

[NFDK in reply to JeffMett]

So sorry and angry to hear about the disgusting way that your company is treating you. However - you are disabled and your company is NOT above the law! Yes, age discrimination exists - I'm 51 and I feel it already. Can't you get a friend (preferably a journalist?) to expose the firm? However, of course, without harming you further in any way.