Well my company made me go on short term disability in September it's now January and at the end of this month I will have to go on long term. I couldn't do some of my job because it hurts my knees, I have a torn cartilage in my left that needs surgery but no surgeon at the university of Michigan will touch me because of my rsd. I has a total knee replacement in the right and I have gotten rsd in it so because of that they say it will go into my left so no surgery. Anyone that has had this happen to them please let me know thanks.

Debra, I'm so sorry that is happening to you. I know that one of my big fears is that I might get to the point that I'm not able to work anymore. None of us asked for this and it so unfair.

Just try to stay focussed on taking care of yourself. Hang in there.

Kim

I was hurt at work and ended up with my right knee replaced an woke up after that surgery with RSD. took them 3 yrs to DX it. I have a few problems with left knee but not enough to need surgery.
I started on Suboxone 2 months ago and my pain level has gone from 7-9 to 1-3.
I'm also from Michigan.

I had to give up work in October 2012, I had no choice.

Having been absent from the workplace for 4 weeks, 2 of which were annual leave already booked months before and 2 weeks of being in and out of hospital, the CFO rang me while on was in annual leave 5 days before I was due back at work and said I needed to do the right thing by the company and resign or else. 2 days later and 3 days before being due back I learned I had 4 vertebrae and 2 rib fractures.

Scared of losing my job I turned up to work on the Monday and was in agony, the CFO breezed by my office and enquired how I was and I replied not the best, within 30 minutes I saw him and the MD behind closed doors. The MD came into my office about 3pm and said "what are we going to do", I told him I had a broken back and I would finish up that day if he paid me 4 weeks notice. He agreed. I could have gone for more as the CFO made it untenable for me to continue in the workplace meaning I could have gone for constructive dismissal with his poor workplace ethic but I had just reached a place where I was at the end of my tether.

I woke up the next morning and despite the pain I was in, the relief of not having to go back to that place of worry was enormous, it was a hellhole that every day for 12 months I went in and came home feeling disillusioned, tormented and in despair of how a company could operate in the way they did in breach of so many legislations. I've never been unemployed before and it still angers me, but, I never want to go back to working in an environment that is not supportive of its greatest asset, the employees who make the place tick over.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. A friend of mine once said we work to live, not live to work. To get yourself into a better place of health you need to have the time and freedom to seek treatment and recovery, if your workplace doesn't support you it will be their loss. Get yourself a notebook and Document everything, phone calls and the times, noting who called and what was said and by whom. Better to be on the safe side and have everything you need for evidence if down the track you decide to do something legal about it.

Hi Debra,
sorry for the way it's going for you.
I believe it should be your call.
The way I see you need to find a doc that would do the surgery.
Let me share my story.
I have a rod in my arm from the shoulder to elbow that when I fell last time is now sticking through my arm bone just below my shoulder. I can feel it under my skin.
I have an ortho doc who will do the surgery and he also told me about the risks with RSD, but since I took too long deciding, the bone sealed around the rod.
Since it's my arm it's my call. He'll have me sign a release of responsability before the surgery but he's waiting for my decision.
It's a hard decision understandably. Nobody wants their RSD to spread!
I hope you find relief. I hope we all do!
Take care...