Need a new career; So i have RSD in my left hand up my arm just past my elbow. I was a dog groomer but cannot do that anymore. I have a cervical scs that covers anywhere from 50-75% of my pain! I am having ALOT of troublevfinding a job. The div Voc Rehab was going to send me for a Medical Billing or medical office Admin program but the college program dir. feel i won't be able to do it. I can type 20 wpm with 1 hand, I have an Assoc degree (liberal arts). I like helping people. unemployment is going to end by Dec and if I don't have an income by then we are going to lose everything. My husband makes just barely too much to qualify for help and I am short work credits so can't get Soc security (I was home to raise my kids then went back to wk-3yrs later I get hurt). What can I do for the rest of my life?

I am a little bit in the same situation, I have been off from my current job since the end of January, because I need to use a rollabout to get around now. My employer said that I could not come back on a rollabout, even though I was already doing modified work, because I hurt myself there and now have RSD. Today I found out I have been terminated. I am fortunante right at the moment because I am currently getting Workers compensation. (which they have filled to terminate)

Could you do receptionist work?
Anita

Sure I could do reception work if anyone would hire me.

I am thinking the same thing. I have been a stay-at-home mom for 17 yrs now! My youngest is in preschool (I have 6 kids..ages 17, 14, 12, 9, 7, 4). Now that I have this monster in my feet, I cannot keep up on my daily chores. I cannot get ssdi because I have been a SAHM for too long and don't have the hours. My dh makes too much $$ for anything else. The medical bills are killing us and I have been looking into something part-time, but who would hire me? What can I do? My degree (BA in Social Sciences) is from 14 yrs ago. I do have a close friend who is nice enough to let me help with paperwork now and then....but that can't last forever. I cannot do retail, on my feet too much. Receptionist might work but I am unsure who would hire me? Esp. with dr. appts, etc.

Sorry to take your thread. I think this is something we all have to think about.

I also got the foot thing I use a rollabout which is nice. No pain just ice cold foot. Can't sit long with foot down and can't stand long. Not sure who will hire me either. ESP with winter coming. I am thinking on the lines of working from home. There are doctors and others who look for typist( insurance companies any one that uses dictation.
As far as being out of work I would think some employers would over look that if you say you were home taking care of your kids.

Anita - I hear you on the ice cold feet! I get that a lot and I live in Arizona! I do get pain with the cold though. It is not fun! My right foot is a little worse than my left foot. I have a rollabout from when they thought it was only plantar fasciitis in my right foot and I was non-weight bears and in a boot. I don't use the rollabout because both feet are bad. Which one do I put on the rollabout? I have been considering buying a cane. We'll see. I have been considering the billing route and maybe getting training in it. A lot of good that bachelor's is to me right now. LOL.

J

I'm 16 and have been looking for a part time job but unfortunately there's not many jobs I can do at my age especially with having RSD (most employers here in the UK ask that you are 18).

I'm starting college on Monday and am studying Health and Social Care. I'm nervous about starting as I know that the long days are probably going to be a struggle but my tutors know about my RSD and have said they will be understanding and allow me extra time to finish assignments etc should I be ill ... heres just hoping they do!

I always wanted to be either a vet or a nurse, however now I have RSD in both arms it would be impossible for me to ever succeed in those carers, especially since I have dystonia also (my fists lock at times and can be like that for months.)

I've now decided that I want to be a Psychologist. Ever since being ill i've always wanted to help people and hopefully it would be a job i'd be able to manage as doesn't have too much physical work. It looks interesting and my tutor has said that with the grades i've got i'd be good at it. I'd just need to go to college for 3 years then onto university

I agree with what the others have said about receptionist work if you could do that ... that's something I want to do if for some reason I can't be a Psychologist. I find sitting a struggle but if I take plenty of rests i'm usually OK.

I hope you find something soon. I hate how RSD robs us of stuff we want to do and that's one of my big fears ... that when i'm older I wont be able to do the job I want to because of it ... hopefully that wont be the case but it does cross my mind at times.

Best of luck,
Alison

Hi Stressedout and All,
I agree with you it is a difficult thing to find something we can do...I am still looking as I have full body rsd and spend most of the day in bed lying down. I have done some writing for a local church (when my laptop was not broken and now can't afford a new one). That helped my mind to stay busy and my laptop allowed me to sit in bed and type but then rest when I needed too. Of course it was for free but I need exposure. The one thing I am trying to do is write a book about living with chronic pain esp rsd. That is my goal.

I have heard from friends that one lady she knows reads books into the computer to record for the blind to hear. She can record when she wants to and works great for her. Another person told me doing paralegal work at home for lawyers is a good home job too and decent money. Then you can make your own hours.

Allison-I used to work for a computer school and they had students working for the school in different departments and some were disabled too. You might want to check with your school to see if they offer such a program to help you attain a job. This way you can go to school and then stay there and work afterwards for a few hours. You are such an amazing young lady! Keep up the great work.

We all have to be creative in finding what we can do with the rest of our lives. THe main thing is to keep your mind focused or else I find I get sooo depressed at what my life has become with rsd. There is not alot I can do now (heck I can barely take care of myself lol) but I hope and pray in the future I can do something to make some money as what I am making now on soc security is not much and I am having (as always) a real hard time making ends meet (like everyone else). It is such a hard life we have. BEst of luck to all and keep on looking for something. If all else fails you could always volunteer in something you like to do just to see how well you could do it before you start to really look for a job. Also, you never know who might notice you and your hard work and then want to hire you. The internet has opened alot of doors for disabled people that cannot leave their house.
kathy d

I think I am going to try the medical billing training anyway and do the best I can. I want to try and my dominant hand is my right. I still use my left every so often and have a voice program. I like the reading into the computer to make books for the blind and the notary ideas! My theory for now is if I am going to hurt anyway I might as well be productive or have a sense of purpose, maybe fun too.

Hello all.....

I have found painting to be a great hobby...It is very relaxing and I paint pictures, even by number kits, for friends...It makes my heart feel good to give such a gift ... plus...it's a nice past time for my RSD! I certainly feel that lost with the career world feeling... It's a sad situation, no doubt!!

Hugz, Kathy