Work related Flare ups suggestions?

I know this post is like 75% of all the others. I work everyday at a store where I am in the Customer Service Department. But a couple of days ago they put me on a register for 8 hours. For me, and for them they know this is a no-no. I am not able to do a register but about an hour at a time. Now I am in the process of having one of the worst flare ups since my husbands death. Sore to the touch, hugs hurt. Pain in all of my body of course worse in the shoulders, between the shoulders and neck. I can usually bounce back after a few hours on the register but this time its really taking a toll. I was wondering if anyone has any secrets that really help them. Part of this is the stress from being upset about them not listening about me being on a register. I have filed an ADA with my job dealing specifically with not being on the register.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Post Edited By Moderator (Michael1968) : 9/27/2014 9:35:53 PM (GMT-6)

Sorry you are hurting. I recommend the hot bath also. I put in epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide and do a long soak. Sometimes I put in essential oils. I often soak my feet with mustard powder.
If a hot bath makes you ill, try it Luke warm.

You can look into a FIR sauna. They help with detox and relaxing muscles.

I make my own salts, using epsom salt and essential oils. It usually helps. Also, the bed buddy helps relax shoulders and neck, some.

You're not whining, you are addressing a very real problem! Let's hope the HR people hop on this so it doesn't become a problem. Likely you were dealing with lower management who didn't know the score.

Hi Madison Jade!

I gave you a subject line bc I wanted others to chime in on this topic as well, because I know they have great suggestions and I see from above you have received some already.

I am truly sorry you are having to deal with this, and I am sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. Big Gentle Hugs to you.

It makes me so mad when employers KNOW bc they have been told, .....please don't do such and such because it will cause me great distress ......and then they turn around and do it anyways. I can understand that maybe sometimes yes, they get in a jam and have to call someone up to help get lines under control because of a call off or unexpected surge in business. I get that. It is when they do it repeatedly that really boils me. I am a store manager myself and I am reading your post trying to play devils advocate and figure out if it is emergency situations every once in a while, OR is it poor management and poor scheduling from not knowing the business.

Just because Madison Jade doesn't look sick Does not mean she isn't. I feel for you on this one I really really do. I have a sales rep whom was just diagnosed with cancer and she is taking the chemo pill which is making her sick as in vomiting and causing bone pain as well. I worry about her needs constantly. If she needs to call off [which she will not....stubborn} I would not have a problem with this, If she needs to take a break and sit {I make her} I get it. I just wish everyone could get it.......but in reality they will never get it.

Please let me know what you hear from the folks at the Americans with Disabilities. Try some of the suggestions here such as warm heat a nice soak in the tub maybe a gentle massage if you can afford it .
You know you will get through it, it is just so discouraging sometimes getting there.

Keep us posted on how you are doing and what goes on. Curious to find out.

Take care
Michael

Hi, Madison Jade, and welcome! I agree with everyone. I'm sure you can do many things at your job but working on the register more than an hour is not one of them. I would kindly ask them not to put you on the register for more than an hour and that you would be happy to do....and list things that you CAN do with minimal pain. They could have forgotten you request, too. Everyone makes mistakes. Michael, can I come and work for you? You sound like an amazing boss! Yep, Kind and Compassionate are your middle names.

I use trigger point therapy to help with some pain. A lot of our pain is caused by muscle knots called trigger points. They are all over the body. When I find a knot I press on it as hard as I can stand and then massage the area and repeat. I learned this from my massage therapist. I bought The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook from Amazon and it shows you where to find the trigger points causing your pain.

For example, I was having bad side pain. The book showed that the trigger points for that were along the side of my spine! Who would have thought that? Since I'm a widow and don't have anyone to massage that area for me, I got out a tennis ball and leaned into it against a wall, did the pressing and then slightly moved to simulate massage to help get rid of that trigger point. It calmed the pain down so I could get back to sleep and the next morning the pain was gone! I have also cured a frozen shoulder using this technique.

Be sure to read Fibro 101... The first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there that can help you also.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine

two more natural things I use are magnesium malate and vitamin D3. There are links about these in Fibro 101 and how they work in the body. Quite a few members have gotten help with these. I get mine at Puritan.com. They usually have a buy one, get two free sale going on so you can't beat that! I also use ibuprofen with food and Tylenol as needed. The last thing I take for fibro is a muscle relaxer called Robaxin and it has helped me significantly. It is a generic under the name methocarbomol and is quite inexpensive. I also walk daily as a gentle form of exercise and I pace myself when doing things. All of the above have helped me live successfully with fibro since my pain is under control.

You do have to try things because what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. It's more a trial and error type thing. I personally have never found that food products have helped that much with my pain. You usually have to take a lot of it to get any results. I do drink Cinnamon Stick tea by Bigelow every morning but only because it tests good. Tumeric (curry powder) can help a little. I don't eat honey because I'm diabetic. But try things. You never know what will help you!

Sherrine

Hi and welcome!

I was thinking about your situation. I wonder if you can get a doctor's note stating how long you can stay on the register and how often you need breaks. And perhaps stating other things you can or can't do. Isn't the law that they have to work with disabilities their employees have? Just a thought.

I hope you feel better soon. I am sure the stress isn't helping your pain and worrying about the next time they stick you on the register. Try to not worry but be proactive. Talk to your doctor and see if he/she can help you come up with a solution.

Best wishes,
Dawn

Dawn I have that and have already turned it in to my employers. The stress is from my asking to be moved and the fact that they KNOW I cant do this. The ADA has been filed with them for a while.

Counting thank you for the suggestions maybe a good funny movie would be great. Time to take up the torch for positivity. Its true I an dwelling on this more than I need to be. So I will work on positivity! Thank you both!