Advice re illness, working, future plans

A question about : Advice re illness, working, future plans

Hi, I'm 34 and have had a "bad back" since 1988. I have been on medication and in pain everyday (not all the time) since Feb 1999. I've always worked, until now, when after an epidural and nerve block wore off, my usual buprenorphine gave me migraines. It was the only painkiller which worked, gave me 80% humanness. Without it I fell apart and have been off work for three weeks, with three more signed off by the doctor. My work is brilliant, but I really do not think I can continue for financial reasons as well as physical problems. Right now, I can't work until I get more pain relief. I don't know what is causing the pain, and have been referred to an ortho surgeon. When/if I'm fit for work again, how do I find help finding a suitable job considering physical limitations? At best, I can't sit or stand for more than an hour at a time. I feel frozen in time and very anxious about the future.

Best answers:

• Jeryth,
  I hope you find suitable pain relief soon. If you are not on Disability Living Allowance I would suggest you could apply by the sound of your limitations. It is not income related so it doesn't matter whether you're in or out of work.
  This is the tel. no. of the helpline for disabled people and their carers (Benefits Enquiry Line) - 0800 882200
  You might find the following websites useful regarding working with disablity:-
  Yourable
  Jobcentreplus - Workstep
  Disability.gov.uk
  Remploy
  Please ask us again if you want further info.
• Thanks, I will
• Hiya, just to inform and maybe help someone else in similar position..........
  I ended being off sick for two months, at which time I felt it fair to hand my notice in at work. They hadn't really kept in touch with me anyway, so leaving was slightly less of a wrench than I thought.
  A specialist appointment through the Physio Triage Clinic ended with a lovely Physio giving me a diagnosis; Neuropathic/neurogenic pain from a damaged sciatic nerve, causing me to think I had a hip problem, and postural problems leading to a tipped pelvis, and no muscle tone resulting in easily fatigued muscles, i.e.pain. I'm well happy with this as I understand it.
  I have received fantastic support from my Incapacity Benefit advisor, and through her, registered with the Shaw Trust, who act as job brokers and support people with health problems into work. Shaw Trust in turn put me on a course called Ability First run by the Oaklea Trust, and I have started that this week. It is brilliant, and will help me apply for jobs with confidence. I heartily recommend it, but I think it's only available in the North East.
  Anyway, there you go.
• Hi Jeryth,
  Thanks for the update and the useful info. I hope you enjoy the course.
  If you still have mobility problems have you applied for DLA? It might be worth looking into if you haven't already. DLA isn't income related so you can receive it whether or not you are in work.
  Best wishes
• Thanks Fran, I know I won't be eligible for DLA, as my mobility isn't so badly affected, and still improving, I think. But my fiance just got awarded DLA for his mental health problems, so even Stevens!