NeuroTalk Support Groups - Work issues - they want me to work part time

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- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/)

- - Work issues - they want me to work part time (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/200460-issues-time.html)

I am in California, I am only 40. I spoke to my boss, my co-worker, my husband, my friend and my mom. They all thought it was a good idea, and I know I'm really bad at scaling down and asking for help when I need to.

I put it in an email, so it's in writing, that I'll go ahead and do it, temporarily. Got the email back from them acknowledged. I've been on disability before, I know I have plenty state disability that will cover me for an extended period, like I think up to a year. I've been here 6 years so I would qualifty for FMLA if that's what it should be. I'll find out today.

Sigh. I had a great trip this weekend. I'll post seperately so you can all get some warm snow fuzzies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBMDDW (Post 1047937)

I get where you are:( work can be hard with the climate and you want to do something and do it well but there are new limits to find.

I am only on drugs for it at the moment but think I need to see my doctor again as I think I might be a bit depressed or at a low point or something. you try to stay positive and do your best but you never know what other people are thinking. I know I am feed up with it so I expect everyone else it too :(

Hi, I'm so sorry you we feeling low, I think all of us go through feelings of despair and being fed up. The harder you try to be positive and happy has often disappointing results. My mother said to me once, oh I thought you were better, you've been so happy every time I see you. It blew me away, better, omg they just don't get it. I was so upset I couldn't speak.

Now I don't work and have become a house prisoner, the park over the road beckons me, but, on the upside, my family have finally got it! I take Pristiq as my anti depressant and have tried a few over the years. Been on this one now for a while and credit it with saving my sanity. It also didn't give me the side effects that I experienced with others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos (Post 1047926)

After a couple months of bad pain, the pain pump, the migraine, my boss told me that they want to reduce my hours until I get better. Um, I won't get better. But I did get the pain pump and my brain is coming back some, the pain isn't so intense I can't concetrate.

I felt like they were trying to fire me. I talked to my other co-worker, who knew about this before I did, and she said they really just want my brain back and the new-normal me. She said they did NOT want to let me go, they just want me to recover.

They, including my husband, said it would be a good opportunity to try to get better, but it's not like resting a few hours a day is going to make a difference in all of that for the long run. I feel like it's all or nothing. I told my boss to give me a week, let me talk to my doctor.

Part of this issue is that my husband does not really work. He make a little from time to time doing computer stuff, but he hasn't worked a real job in a decade as he's the stay at home parent, and two, has major social deficits and had a hard time dealing with bosses. I'm scared to death to think I may have to rely on him alone for an income. I don't even know how much I'd get on SSDI if I had to. The calculator tells me one amount but I think it's inflated and can't trust it.

I know I'm depressed, sore, migraine, but I just don't see a solution. Either I work or I don't, and if I don't it'll be at least semi-permanent. It's not an option to change positions either, I can't do anything easy because I'd be bored out of my head (like data entry I suppose). I could never make enough money doing something like that either.

Help.

If you are capable of working any job (not just the work you are currently performing) and making over the SGA level, which is currently $1070 per month, you will not qualify for SSDI.

Working part time might be workable for you physically. You won't know until you try it.

Perhaps your husband could supplement your lost income by starting a business at home or finding work from home. If he has a psych disorder, he may even be eligible to qualify as a disabled worker himself and have access to government jobs from home.

PamelaJune,

I didn't know where you were from when I noticed your comment that you wouldn't qualify for disability because of your husband's income. Erroneously assuming that you were from the USA, I thought you were confusing our SSI (household income and assets would matter) with SSDI (based on the disabled person's work history). Sorry to hear that Aussies don't have anything like our SSDI. That's a bummer.

If I were still physically healthy and won the lottery, I think I might have quit my job with glee :winky: Having it taken away by CRPS is not the same. Even with SSDI, the money is less than half of what I was making. Mostly, it's the loss of the sense of purpose and socialization that has affected me most. It's difficult to deal with, especially in the beginning.

Chaos,

I'm sorry that you are feeling this pressure from work while you are struggling to just get through each day because of CRPS. Worrying about the loss of salary or benefits is reasonable, but you've got to listen to your body and try not to take on more than you can handle.

You will want to pay special attention to some benefits, like if you will still have (or do now) STD and LTD through work. You'll also want to educate yourself about SSDI benefits, that you may eventually need to access.

Quote:

Originally Posted by finz (Post 1049380)

If I were still physically healthy and won the lottery, I think I might have quit my job with glee :winky: Having it taken away by CRPS is not the same.

I couldn't agree more finz. I worked my buns off for a decade at making my business grow, only to be dismantling it now. It's actually sad. For a while it was as painful as a divorce. I felt robbed. The loss of income has been devastating at times. Now I guess I'm in the last stage of the process (literally) and honestly, I hurt so damn bad that I can't wait for it all to be over and start some new chapter.

Chaos, I don't have any experience with SSI or SSDI... yet. But I do know what it's like to struggle to do your job with this monster though. And wrestle with making some kind of income, or lack thereof. I'm so sorry hon.