I received both SCS's in June 2011 and only took a week and a half off from work. Had a revision and battery moved in November 2011, this time I took two and a half weeks off. The SCS's helped me work until the end of 2012. With having RSD in both hands, shoulders, feet, left leg, left arm and face (& now internal), I just could not do it any longer. My co-workers and bosses didn't get it at all, no one does unless you suffer with it. I pushed thru the pain for them and it made me worse, they didn't care about me at all only cared about the work I got done. My employers short-term and long-term disability insurance carrier denied my claim, so there was a huge impact on our finances. I filed and appeal last month so I should find out the final decision within the next week. I was a finance and human resource manager, there was no way I could keep up with that job...kinda need your hands for it I was advised by many to go ahead and apply for Social Security Disability because of the huge backlog. I applied in mid April, thankfully I was approved the first go around and should begin receiving benefits next month (5 month waiting period).

I am 46 and this is not where I thought I would be at this point in my life, that's for sure!! My husband is, luckily, very supportive. He sold his new truck and we used my 401k money to put towards refinancing our house. He is going thru gov't furloughs right now (1 day a week without pay), was supposed to be for 11 weeks but they just changed it to 6 weeks -yay!

Anyway, you need to do what you need to do to take care of yourself. I hated leaving work, because that was who I was. But I had to finally think of myself for a change. It was a high-stress job and with that stress being gone, it helped me so much!

I wish you all the best!
Nanc