Triggering (SI/OD) - Going back to work (rantish) *trig for Sui too*
Sorry about length and kinda rantishness
I've been having a few problems with RSI type pains in my wrists, the doctor signed me off for 2 weeks for tendinitis and sent me to a physio who said it was nerve damage.
I'm kinda worried about going back to work next week (on wednesday) as writing this is going to be the most time I've spent on a computer since leaving work last tuesday, and I'm not sure if my wrists have healed enough yet, and if they haven't how much longer will I need, or will I ever be able to use a computer for work again?
This leaves me with 3 possibilities,
1 they get better, I can get on with my work and start playing games at home again
2 they don't get better and I choose to ignore the fact I'm in pain all day and try to get on with things
3 I'm forced to cut computers out of my life to avoid another flair up
I've used a computer since I was about 7 for entertainment, and from not long after for stress relief (killing virtual baddies was a fun way of dealing with things), and then from liking using a computer to wanting to work with and program them, so at 29 the majority of my life's been focussed around a computer for entertainment, education and now work as a programmer, leaving me kinda short on skills and few interests outside of the computer world.
With work, my boss wants me to decide if I want to still work with them, because all he sees is my performance, as my performance, has taken quite a few dips over the last couple of years.
I was just starting to feel I was on top of things, I was getting jobs done, and was pretty content with my life and my boss would probably have been happy with my performance, then my wrists decided to get bad so I cut down on playing games and after work computer use, they got worse, so I cut it out all together, and still they got no better.
Waking up with pains in your wrists that get worse as I got dressed, then drove to wrok then steadily got worse while I was there, is there any surprise I was lacking motivation and my performance was down? As my wrists got worse I took more pain killers and more often to mask the pain so I could work. Eventually that wasn't enough and I was still in pain. At this point I start considering an overdose just to get rid of the pain, When I'm struggling to sleep because I'm still in pain 8 hours after finishing work, I'm laid in bed thinking of cutting or ending it to put myself out of this misery.
When I try thinking what if I have to stop with the computer all together, what then? That just gets me down, without the computer there's nothing I'm good at or interested in enough to retrain to, which then leads to SI thoughts.
Don't really know what there is I can do apart from hope they get better, as anything else is just too scary to think about.
well I've ran out of words, and as its taken an hour to write without too much of a problem with my wrists, that's a goodish sign I guess.
Again Sorry about the length I guess I had quite a bit to get off my chest
Have you looked into assistive technology to try and aid with your wrist problems?
I'd imagine a condition like this comes under the disability discrimination act so your work should make reasonable adjustments for you. These might be things such as wrist supports that connect on to keyboardssplit keyboards (they have like one for each hand so less wrist movement), or if that isn't sufficient might things such as voice recognition software or using a stylus on a note-pad to write as opposed to type be an option?
I know it's tempting to see the worst case scenario which is to think that you wont be able to continue doing what you love, but I do think you should consider what options there may be to allow you to continue.
Thanks, I'll try and focus on the more positive fixes
I think we'll have a look at split ergonomic keyboards and maybe a trackerball in the office. I use a stylus at home and played around with handwriting recognition (surprisingly smart considering my handwriting) and speech recognition which still needs some training but will be good for emails and documents
Well hopefully by wednesday I'll have healed enough to not get worse and we can make the right changes so I don't get bad again
Pictsie - i know how you feel with RSI type injuries as i am suffereing with one myself in my shoulder, with the going back to work thing speak to your doctor and if you have them occupational health advisor at work and health and saftey to arrange phasing your self back to work, like maybe goingin for a few hours a day or having half days and doing work at home.
work have to help you at work by means of what heidi has said by doing things like assited support ect.....
but i would speak to and occupational health advisor they are they're to help at the end of the day
Nothing lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
Gonna see how things go tomorrow, discuss what light jobs I can do and any assistive tech, or if I can do less hours, and the occupational health thing, see how that goes, n if need be call the doctor for more time, if today was anything to go by I think I need it
Wish me luck
and I hope your shoulder gets better soon too Rainbow
it actually went pretty well, took my stylus in for easier mouse work, after a chat with the boss, they gave me a couple of light jobs, n said to get confirmation from my doctor that it'll be ok to work properly, just for an all clear as I lacked confidence
Went all day, with a little pain but a lot less than it was before the time off, and actually achieved something, which is good as its been a while since I felt useful and like I was getting anything done
Here's hoping for more improvement so I can actually say its getting better again n maybe this time stay better
Been a month, the workloads increased, light duties to me means low priority tasks that I can plow through, to everyone in the office it means all the rubbish quick jobs, but at least its varied, and I am coping mostly.
Had a bad week the other week after a visit to the physio, almost couldn't move from pain in my back, but that's mostly better since
all in all I've had an ok couple of weeks, still not completely right but improving and I feel I can do more, and because less trouble physically I'm doing lots better mentally too
That's great to hear! I hope it continues to improve.
Would have been a rather scary few weeks, not knowing if the pain would ease.
Are you enjoying the varied tasks? Sometimes, that can be so much more enjoyable...not getting stuck doing the same thing, day after day.
I find it also can make the day go faster.
So happy for you!
xx
yeah the varied stuffs much better than the big jobs, at least doing small jobs I get to finish them and feel like I'm doing something useful
Another week of work n another physio on tuesday hopefully can have another couple of good weeks
