I've been dealing with a prolapse now in my lumber for the best part of five years. apart from surgery I have had near enough every possible treatment/ medication available. Thankfully I am in the position now where is is manageable with the odd major flare up. I have also managed to reduce my medication (with consequence to increase of discomfort) as I had become dependant/ addicted on this cocktail of chemicals.
currently as per doctors advice i am unable to re-increase my dosages with my medication. I remain on Gabapentin on the smallest dose just so I can keep myself from collapse.
I never realised how much the pain and discomfort has affected me until recently. Due to the said discomfort I struggle sitting and standing for long periods of time (30 mins or so). while at home this is not an issue, It proves to be some what of a challenge to maintain a balance between the two within a work place.
has anyone else experienced this on here, and if so what do you do, use, recommend to help prevent me upsetting another employer because of this inconvenience I seem to be.
Thank you in advance.
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Kaspien89
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I used to do a lot of manual labour work. But due to the prolapses I've had to very quickly learn administrative roles.
Sadly with the employer I was with where I had the accident (without sufficient manual handling training too)
They seemed to try and "accomoddate" it but it was more a ploy as they where constantly sending me off to occupational health appointments.
Whilst it was nice at first, it quickly became clear they was just trying to find a reason to get rid of me. This was because the amendments they'd of had to have made to the building, it would've cost them to much so it was easier and cheaper to just get rid of me. This included regualar "random" drug and alcohol tests. They thought they'd be able to catch me out with the level of tramadol I was on at the time. (Almost the maximum dosage prescribable)
I am currently just over a year in the litigation process at the moment. But it seems as though as usual a multimillion pound company will win. There several different claims to it. Most relevant to mention is the unfair dismissal and personal injury.
I have currently just been pushed out of another company due to not being able to sit and stand long. Insanely enough this was with a unnamed occupational health company.
Thank you for your reply it's greatly appreciated.
Hi Kaspien89, I have degenerative disc disease at L3 L4 and L5/S1 so sitting still for too long is very disabling for me. I have a sit down office job and I have now been provided with a sit/stand desk, I note it says to sit for an hour then stand for 20mins. I always forget to use it as suggested though so I must try harder. When I had to help in our reception as our phones weren't working, I had to keep walking round the offices to speak to people, up and downstairs, after an hour I couldn't continue and had to go and rest. I hope you find an answer, some relief, advise your employer as they have a duty of care. Best wishes, Kay
Whilst it's not nice that you have to live with that, there is bitter sweet comfort knowing others such as yourself also have simular battle.
That sounds incredible simular to what I have to do too. The main thing I struggle with is when I have unforgiving colleagues say I'm just using it as an excuse to not work. Even though i am doing.
When I finally get employed again I shall make them aware of this again and last week I lost my job as a result of this.
I had a prolapse L5 S1 area. Completely burnt my sciatic nerves at that arwa resulting in extreme pain down my right hip, thigh andliwer leg. I also have my 3 small toes curling up, I think due to the nerve damage but a choropodist said it could be something to do with my balance as well.
Now as to gabapentin. I started out on 1800mg per day. Them it was increased to 2400mgs dye to me still being in pain and now it's been upped to 2700mgs.
Im still in pain but not as much. I also top this up with naproxin when I need to say go shopping with my wife.
The gabapentin certainly helps. However as you mentioned, I can only keep sitting, standing, lying down, for about 30 min max. I can only walk about 200 yards before the pain gets too much, I then have to stop for a minute for it to subside. In this I consider the gabapentin to be a bit useless, but I wouldn't give it up unless a more affective pk was supplied such as a cannabis product of some kind but I fear this is years away in the U K.
You must be in quite a lot of pain, its not good for you long term. I also use alcohol, strong 40% proof such as whisky, to help me sleep. I know its not good for my liver but what else can you do. I've tried a few sleeping pills but they left me really groggy the next day. A couple of drams and I sleep for 3 - 4 hrs which is really good to what I used to do.
The body consists of various engineering systems. These engineering systems interact in unknown ways. These interactions together with your health disability can push your stress over the stress breakdown point. Above the stress breakdown point things fall apart. Below the stress breakdown point you function with a better quality of life.
An Alexander technique teacher could help getting your stress below the stress breakdown point. This in turn may reduce your pain considerably.
One can only test the truth of this by investigating.
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