New job

[amanda3of4]

Hello everyone,

So I recently got a new job. I graduated from the University of Washington, and in order to make a little money right off the bat I got a job as a housekeeper. Well this job involves A LOT of activity and even requires me to be a server for breakfast and lunch. I've done a great job at keeping up and have gotten to the point where I can do my job with no help. All the training has paid off!!!

Unfortunately, I seem to be developing a couple of injuries. The first one being Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I knew I had it, but before I started this job the carpal tunnel was so mild the doctor said not to worry about it at all. Well now I'm in so much pain that Tramadol isn't working and I couldn't even open my door this morning because I couldn't turn the doorknob. My new doctor says that if my nerve testing is positive (which he seems adamant it will be) then I'm going to need surgery in BOTH of my wrists. On top of this, I also developed Morton's neuroma from my job and could potentially also need surgery in my right foot.

At this point I've contacted my employer and let them know I can't be a server and I'm worried that either they'll let me go or I'll have to quit. I don't know what to do, and I feel like such a failure!!! I want to keep trying, but I'm physically injured. And yet I feel like I should be able to do better.

 

[LadyZane]

It's not your fault you are physically injured! It's hard not to feel like a failure when you can't do something you feel you should be able to do, but try not to be too hard on yourself. Employers can sometimes be more understanding and helpful about these things than we're expecting to be, too. I hope everything goes well.

For what it's worth, I have a long history of musculoskeletal issues (i think my body tends to attack itself as a stress response) and there have been times when I found chiropractic care and acupuncture to be WAY more effective than typical medical interventions. I live in a big city so it's been easy to find good practitioners, not sure where you are. It's gotten to the point where any type of pain in my joints, limbs, or neck, I go straight to my chiropractor before I go to a doctor. She usually addresses the root cause of the pain -- a muscle spasm, inflamed tendon, etc -- and sends me home with exercises I can do to ease the pain when it happens and strengthen the right areas to prevent the pain in the future. Doctors tend to treat the symptoms, giving me pills and weird shots and talking about surgery. I have no experience with Carpal Tunnel so take my advice with a huge grain of salt, but it may be worth looking into.

If you can find a good acupuncturist in your area I have found it's great for pain relief. I loathe needles, and getting blood drawn is my personal hell, but acupuncture needles are different and only wig me out very occasionally (of course, I never look at them!). I don't know how it works, but it has worked for me time and time again.