I have continued to work full time, luckily up until now my company has been very good about letting me come in on saturdays and stuff to make up time missed from not being physically able to be at work or being gone for doctor appointments and stuff. I'm an accountant, more specifically I audit financial statements for companies, so it's a desk job with very little to no interaction with the public. I've been trying lots of different things to help me make it through the day, since drugging myself isn't an option and most of the medications I have I can't take during the day.

Some of the things I have done to help minimize the pain so I can work a whole day are:

Take frequent breaks, going outside for about 2 or 3 minutes every hour or so to stretch my legs and do some breathing excercises to help relax.

Not sit at crowded tables for meetings, all too often I will get kicked accidently by someone shifting their feet, and it's my foot and ankle that are affected with rsd/crps, so it's not at all fun to have it kicked. I'll usually sit right behind everyone with my foot up on another chair, maybe 2 or 3 feet behind the table. Also, when the meetings are very long, I will get up every 45 minutes or so and leave for a minute to stretch my legs and relax.

I've also found that on days where I'm especially sensitive and am doing something (like physical therapy) or putting certain creams on my legs, it's better to wear certain pants, which aren't exactly business wear. Since I'm sitting at a desk and not dealing with any customers or anything it hasn't caused a problem.

I've also asked for help a few times with things that require me to stand for long periods of time.

This has never been a problem before, but the other day my boss got mad at me (for a completly unrelated matter, he tried to change an important procedure and I disagreed, he got in trouble with our VP for even suggesting the change) and decided that I need a "performance review". Took me into his office and told me all of the above things that I do I can no longer do, that I will have to make more effort to just "not be in pain", and that my "attitude" is bad because I look like I'm miserable sometimes. All of my coworkers know about my condition and have been told by me that they can interrupt me at any time with a question or need, regardless of if I look in pain or something. He gave me a written warning. Some of the items he listed were things I have prior permission from HR to do! Like the clothing and leaving meetings I had cleared ahead of time. I strongly feel that he is mad at me and is trying to use whatever he can to get me in trouble.

In response, I have turned in a written request to HR outlining my need for reasonable accomodations at work. Has anyone ever done this before? I feel like he's trying to use my rsd as an excuse to get me in trouble, as he even wrote on the bottom of the warning that "I have been very impressed with the work product that you have been producing on the “projects” i.e. the Fresco project with the attorney. Thank you very much for doing such a great job with this." and has never had a single complaint about my quality or quantity of work. His complaints are all directly related to my foot. Is this discrimination? Now that I've informed my company of the accommodations I need, if he continues what do I do? I don't want to have to get a lawyer and sue, because in general my company has been great, it's just him that is a problem. Has anyone gone through anything similar?

I'm an auditor also - I've been a CPA for many years. My gut instinct is to urge you to work it out with HR and your boss' boss if at all possible. It sounds like you have been able to work through your illness pretty well so far, which is so great - I got too sick too work last summer and miss work so much!! I can't wait to get better enough to go back. The stress of having your boss give you a hard time could be enough to put you over the edge, though. Stress makes us sicker. So try your best to work it out, as soon as possible. Try to get assigned to another manager. If you are a good worker (and your evaluation says you are), they will try hard to keep you happy and other managers should be pleased to have you on their jobs.

I don't trust lawyers (except our friend Mike here on Neurotalk). If you get one involved it's going to cost you money and it could give your company the impression that you want to fight. Who wants to fight when they are sick? Sounds like you just want to work the way you were and keep the peace - and you were you were doing a really good job.

Stay cool and good luck. XOXOX Sandy

I have missed a lot of work due to my foot, I've just been lucky so far because I'm a very fast worker and have been able to keep up with all the demands of my job despite missing time. Lately I've been averaging about 28 hours a week, but I've also been trying to ween myself out of my airboot, which increases my pain substantially. And when I discuss it with my pm doc he tells me to keep the boot on, rather then adjusting my meds. Or he will tell me to ice it, which I keep telling him is one of the big no nos. I've read enough to know that using my airboot is bad, and ice is bad, so I feel stuck . . .

I have talked to my hr, and she agreed that my requests for accommodation were very reasonable. I'm pretty sure my company will side with me, but I know it will upset my boss, so it's going to be a stressful work environment for a while . . . Great

I was having a hard time with accomadations at work.. Some people do treat people with disabilities or limitations as i like to call it differently.. i was threatened repeatedly about losing my job when they hired me this way.. My lawyer had to get involved.. they wanted to know where i got hurt and what my diagnoses was. and all sorts of things that didnt pertain to them. wanted my medical records sent to them and i work at walmart for goodness sake.. Now i just have problems with some people treating me like crap and i just ignore it.I dont care really.. I know i have limitations, its not my fault and it just makes them look stupid cuz they cant deal with it themselves. They gave me good evaluations and i still work there., its part time.. i do the job and do it well. well as well as i can 1 handed.lol

dont let it get you down. there is always someone out there that cant handle people who are different.. it just makes them look dumb.keep your faith up and ur pain down..

You need a new doc. ASAP. Try to find one that is board certified in PM and/or Anesthesiology. Neurologists can be good too. The bigger teaching hospitals with pain management centers are often the best places to start looking.

A doc that recommends ice and a boot doesn't know what he's doing when it comes to RSD.

Good luck - XOXOX Sandy

The doc I am seeing is the only one that is certified in my area that accepts my insurance. Thing is, I don't get to see the actual doc, he only does procedures, I see his nurse practitioner, who does all my meds. The doc is an anethisiologist. I've tried to explain to the np, but he seems to be under the impression that whatever reduces pain is good, and that doing things that excaberate things and then medicating more to tolerate it is bad. I'm not particulary happy with this place anyways, because I've called before when the pain was bad and was told "that after surgery this can happen, and that I should take some tylenol, which will reduce the sewelling and then the pain" . . . . Sadly, I have had no surgery I also have noticed that the np doesn't even look at his notes from the last visits. In jan he stopped me on the morphine because I couldn't stand it, this last appointment I told him I was eating better, and he asked me why I thought that was . . . I told him because I wasn't taking the morphine, he's all "hmm, you think the morphine made you sick?" His office even gave me anti nausea meds for it! I also bring with me to every appt a "progress" sheet I found on an rsd website, have done this at every appt, the last appt I handed it to him and he asked what it was like he'd never seen one before . . . . Ughh . . . . . I hate insurance restrictions.

Holly - my husband drives me to Boston because there is no one local that I can trust to treat my RSD. Does your insurance list have anyone certified that might be further away but is any good? You might have to do some research, and you might have to travel, in order to get the best care, unless you can get these guys to just give you what you want and manage on your own....don't let "insurance restrictions" get in the way of you getting better. Good luck. Sandy

It's really my insurance that's the problem. There are several really good docs local that have lots of experience with rsd. But they don't accept my insurance.

Even my current pm, when I first saw him he asked me what insurance I have, when I told him he fell back in his chair and made stabbing motions on his chest. He then told me that my insurance is one of the worst he works with and it will limit what I can do. They wouldn't even cover nerve blocks, which seems pretty standard as a diagnostic and treatment tool. I'm not gonna worry about finding another doc yet, because if/when I do get married I can choose what I want. My fiancee has a choice of about 8 different carriers and different levels of coverage within each carrier, so I am going to figure out what docs I want to see and then choose which insurance goes best.

My doc right now seems reluctant to give me much as far as meds most of the time, unless I cry, and then he seems to give me too many. It's a shame that when I come prepared with notes, calendars showing my days, etc, that I'm not taken as seriously as when I can't stop crying. And the only reason I was crying was because I was so sick from the morphine he was giving me that I was so worn down and ready to give up. I think because I try to keep things together when I see him so I don't forget something important he thinks I'm fine or something . . . . I don't know. Whatever it is I don't want to be switching doctors now, only to switch again in less then a year from now. I do also see a physiatrist, who monitors my physical therapy, and he also is the director of a pain clinic, but his philosophy is that rsd shouldn't be treated with ANY meds at all. I've talked to him about him taking over my meds before, and he ended up writing a letter to my current pm doc saying I was thinking of switching. This was all during the morphine mess too I could switch to him, but his first thing would be to wean me off all my meds.

Oh my goodness! I read your posts and this is what is happening with me! I am actually working on my ADA paperwork right now. I'm not even sure what to write. All I know is that I'm working to the best of my ability (32 hours per week) even though I am not sleeping at night. I realize stress makes CRPS/RSD worse and I know this is only adding to my health issues.

Sandy - what Boston doctor/hospital to you go to for your condition?

This is the letter I wrote to my company, if it helps:

My Name
My address
My City, State, Zip


Reasonable accommodation request


Compnay Name
Department of Human Resources
Address
City, State, Zip


Re: Request for reasonable accommodation

Dear Company Name

I am a person with a physical disability which substantially impairs my ability to walk, sit or stand for long periods of time, and concentrate due to pain. I am employed as an Your Job Title at the Portland office. My disability makes it difficult for me to sit for long periods of time, sit around crowded tables, and focus on my work due to severe pain. My condition is considered chronic, and does qualify as a disability under The Americans with Disability Act.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job, or to the work environment, that will allow a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

I am requesting, as a reasonable accommodation for my disability, that you allow me to be removed from the work area as needed, usually about once an hour, to allow me to relax, which helps reduce the pain and will allow me to more often work a full 8 hour day. I have found that going outside helps with the relaxation, as I am removed from the work area, not interrupting other employees, and have a stress free environment for a couple minutes. This also helps increase my mobility, as sitting for long periods of time without moving around increases my pain. My disability causes intense pain, and one of the keys to managing the pain is doing things in moderation and taking breaks to relax. A 3 minute break each hour would provide me the opportunity to work my full schedule on a more regular basis. I am also requesting to wear jeans on days that I have certain medical procedure done, within reason, so I do not ruin my work clothes. Certain medicated creams used can stain and destroy pants. I also request that any job duty that requires me to stand for more then 5 minutes I have some assistance with. Said assistance can be determined by the Company. During meetings I request that I be allowed to not sit at a crowded table, as my foot often gets kicked accidently underneath the table, and my condition causes severe allodynia, which causes severe sensitivity to the affected area. I also request that during meetings I be allowed to leave the area and take a break to relax and move my foot, without interruption or embarrassment to the meeting when it’s needed.

If necessary, I can provide a letter from doctor confirming my disability and the affect it has on my ability to walk, sit or stand for long periods of time, and concentrate due to pain. I am currently seeing a number of physicians, in varying specialties, and can document my diagnosis and condition if requested.

I also request that I not be discriminated against because my disability can make me “look” a certain way (i.e. a look on my face of pain should not be mistaken for an “attitude” problem). The pain caused by my disability can be very debilitating, and while I will make every possible effort to mask the pain, it is inevitable that it will show on my face occasionally. I have notified in writing my team and employees I work closely with of my condition, so that they are aware that despite what shows on my face that I am there to perform the functions of my job and that they should feel free to ask me any questions or approach me about work related matters without concern.

I do not believe that any of these accommodations would produce any undue hardship upon the company, nor would they interrupt the other employees in the function of their job duties. The accommodations above would give me a chance to achieve the same level of performance as an average person in the same position without a disability. The accommodations also do not interfere with any of the essential functions of my job.

I look forward to talking with you about my reasonable accommodation request and ways that my disability can be effectively accommodated so that I can continue to perform the essential functions of my job. Please respond to me in writing within 10 business days.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to receiving your reply.


Sincerely,


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