I worked for over 30 yrs with my PN pain. But as I aged and passed 60 yrs old, I found that other factors, were the most decisive in my retiring.

When I found myself crying on the way to work, or on the way home, that is when I called it quits. Frustrations in my job were enormous, and I reached a point where my own sacrifices and dealing with my own pain, was enormous and more than the job itself.

So I decided to retire early. I didn't claim SS until I was 66. I was fortunate to have a husband still working, and that was a factor too. Our son was out of college finally and we examined our tax situation, and the pain/ etc did help me decide to retire.

Everyone has their own pain tolerance etc. I did not have medications to rely upon... so when my pain became too much for me and I was close to retirement anyway...I did it.