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Posted 9/29/2008 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
To those of you who work, how do you handle needing time off when it comes to Chronic Pain issues?

I am in the process of debating if taking some time off would help or make it worse. I am sure that physically it would help me but I think the emotional ramifications might be worse in the end.I am lucky enough to have a boss that is very understanding so that is not much of a worry right now but eventually my missing work will become an issue.

I am just very lost and confused right now. My pain levels are getting out of control and while the doc did rx me stronger pain meds, I am afraid to take them. (silly huh?) so I suffer and try to deal with it the best I can.

Thanks,

Sarrah

Posted 9/30/2008 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
I think that is a question only you yourself can answer since each person may handle it differently. For me....I couldn't do it. Like you said, it would be an emotional thing for me....admitting defeat. Although my body may feel better for a short while, my mind would eat me up.

Just take the stronger medicine for one full day on your day off...see how you react....then decide from there.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion and may not even be worth $0.02!
Posted 9/30/2008 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
I don't get the time off - or I use a personal day.

I agree with Mochiah - try the meds on a day off just to see and then take it from there.

I completely understand the being afraid to take them. Just remember they are prescribed and you are not abusing them - its OKAY :)

Remember to do what your whole body is telling you. Its okay to take a some time to catch up on your pain - it might clear your head!

Be safe.

JR
Posted 10/1/2008 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
There are days that I know that there is no way I can go to work and be wholly successful that day and hide my pain. So I take what I call a "mental health day" where I just sit at home and relax, read, watch tv, sleep, something that will allow me to be able to just cry, scream, rage, etc. if the pain is too much for me.

I'm a teacher, so I get plenty of time off, but because I have chronic nerve pain, I STILL use up all my days and get pay docked every year. But to me, those lost days are worth it because I would be in more pain if I just sat around the house and dwelled on it and didn't have something to distract me. Unfortunately, I have to hide my pain at work. I go on like nothing is wrong. Only a few close friends whom I've been teaching with for years know that I have TN, but even so, they don't realize the severity of it.

Quitting my job is not the answer to my problems. It would actually make matters worse because we have a mortgage, car payments, ballet lessons for my daughter, etc. etc. I would sacrifice a lot to quit, but on the same note, I sacrifice a lot just getting up in the morning and going to work. It's definately a catch-22.

Do you not take your meds at all or just not at work?
I think taking your meds as prescribed and taking days off when needed the most, would be a good compromise for a tough situation that probably most of us are in which is trying to balance this crazy life like others do, but we have to do that with the added mental, physical, and emotional weight of chronic pain suffering.
Posted 10/1/2008 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
I won't take strong pain meds at work because I have to be accurate 100% of the time and that does not happen when I have the fog those drugs cause.

I ended up taking this week as part time and am working from home. So far it seems to be helping, I am still working but I can lay down when I need to and that saves me a lot of anguish. I am hoping the large amounts of rest will make it easier to cope for a while and that my nerve block on Tuesday of next week is a sucess!

Thanks to everyone for reading and answering me. I cannot even describe how much it helps just knowing their are people out there that have been there and are willing to share their experience and wisdom with me.
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