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Choosing Job and Chronic Pain

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 9/3/2014 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on a rollercoaster of unemployment and trying to find a job that I can manage with chronic pain. I left a nonprofit in December because it was very disorganized, a high conflict environment and the job was 3-4 jobs rolled into one. I just had an interview for an administrative position in a company going through a bit of change. The job itsself doesn't sound bad, but there will be travel abroad 2-3 times a year and I worry about flareups when I travel. My husband and I did a marathon of travel this summer and I was in pain for about three weeks.

I'm going to call a state office and see if I qualify for a work program for people with disabilities. I also scored well on a State test and am hopeful that I'll get canvassed for a job, though I don't know when that will happen. I have been temping in the meantime. I could also print business cards and network to try to get some grant writing work (I do foundation grants). Anyway, knowing which direction to take and fear or making the wrong choice can hold me back.

I don't want to isolate myself like I did last winter. I was ashamed of leaving a job and didn't want to explain to everyone why I left. So, I isolated myself and eventually felt depressed. Starting a job creates anxiety but not working has it's own downside (loneliness, lack of a second income and the anxiety that goes with it).

How do you deal with having to work full time. We're not in financial trouble; however, not having a second income has kept us from owning a home and having other things we want.
Posted 9/3/2014 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
I was on a spiral downward a few years ago because I hated my employer. I liked the work but just hated to go to the office and deal with this guy. I had it really good in that it was flexible with my monthly doctor appointments.

I made a decision that I would go after my dream job last October. The position would pay higher than where I was, no travel, full benefits (no cost to me) and the kicker was the penthouse office was 2.2 miles from my house. My wife and I do the same thing, she applied for this position a year earlier but did no get it.

Long story short, after 2 interviews I was chosen out of the 12 applicants. I've been here a year now and I enjoy my work again. As for the pain, I've been managing ok. I've been thinking of having my second fusion neck surgery possibly next year. I want to kick all these pain meds and get out of this managing pill game.

My advice is life is too short, go big or stay home. Go after the things you want because you'll regret it later. I could be sitting in an office right now at a job I hated but I did something about it. I got off my butt and decided to go for it and I'm glad I did.

Also, my wife followed my lead and went after her dream job too.  She hated her office and watched me leave my job for a better one.  Well she nailed it too, she gets paid big bucks now (more than me) and loves where she works. 

Posted 9/3/2014 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you have done well jpjr50. You're skills and experience may be more desirable. I have had a really tough time finding a job that meets my monetary and physical needs in Upstate New York. It may mean that I have to be patient or it may mean that I just need to circulate business cards to do grant writing.

I have tweaked my resume to include temping. Otherwise, being long-term unemployed is not desirable. I AM getting more and more into photography when I'm not temping. It does help my spirits. Joining Toastmasters has also been helpful for my confidence.
Posted 9/3/2014 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
I wish you well. This is definitely a subject that touches so many of us.

I've worked in various fields in the past, always sort of lingering around aspects of the health field in some capacity or another. But nothing hit even close to home until I discovered my true calling, my passion, and even with the relatively low pay, I found my love: Personal Trainer.

Perhaps you can imagine how I saw my "self" and my life and my career, even my identity, crumble around me when the CP eventually became unmanageable. The body and job I worked extremely hard for felt stripped away.

It provided an environment that not allowed but was very accepting of people who need to be constantly moving, and fidgeting, and changing positions on a routine basis. This, I believe, worked to my advantage.



I definitely think that Toastmasters is an incredible, outstanding, and superlative suggestion! It works!!

Being retrained in other fields, if you can, is often crucial. (That's sort of indirectly how I landed my personal training career because the nature of the beast of CP was interfering with my being forced to restricted and governed movements).

Be open to look into other fields and you may just be amazed at what you'll find. I do hope, that similar to what I experienced,....that the shift that CP will require of you may actually turn you on to an even brighter and unexpected surprise that makes you happy!! It can happen, and I'm proof of that. :)










M.
Posted 9/3/2014 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'm thinking about other fields and I may qualify for a State program for people with disabilities. They do consider Fibro and chronic pain as disabilities and they work with you to provide accommodation (sit/stand desk, ability to take small breaks to stretch).

Personal trainer sounds interesting. What other fields have you or anyone else found out there. I will have to think and read. I can do grant writing from home (even with heat packs and tens units.
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