To think that within the next decade I will be disabled if I don't leave my job.

[PiperIsOrangePumpkins]

I am 28 and I have arthritis in both knees. 3 months ago I had surgery to thin down the pilica muscle and have my knee realigned.

I'm back in work but I am really struggling and the pain is getting worse.

I have a physio appointment but I am scared that this will not work.

I am sorry to hear this. What is your job?

Domestic

I would advise you find an alternative career. Cleaning is not a good job for people with problems in their knees or hips.

It's where I am stuffed as I have no qualifications and debts up to my eyeballs.

I made up rails in a factory aged 20 for 3 months and the doc said if I carried on I'd lose the use of my right arm. I gave up.

It's 25 years later and it is still stiff, loses feeling and tingles all the time.

There is no compensating for health and I really regret my time as a student - I will literally pay for it for the rest of my life.

All for £2.00 an hour that I really needed

Give up and do anything else.

Could you do a computer course & try to get into admin?

28 is still very young so plenty of time to get qualifications & train for something else

Have you thought of childcare / nursery nursing / nanny jobs?

I would love to get into IT, fixing servers and doing coding. However I am academically challenged.

I would encourage you to retrain too. There is support for adult learners (including those who have learning difficulties). Ask your local college or CAB.

Are you sure you're 'academically challenged'? Life and work isn't like school you know. Don't write yourself off.

Change your job.

You are only 28. I was around that age when I gave up nursing due to my shockingly bad back (caused by lifting 20 stone + patients before the days of hoists). I did a medical secretarial diploma and have worked as a PA to a Consultant ever since.

Mind you, I'm in pain from sitting at a computer all day now

HSJ

You don't necessarily have to do any academic qualifications to get into IT. Do you know enough to be able to prove yourself in a professional test, if someone sat you down in front of a server and asked you to do basic front-line administrative tasks, could you do it?

If so, get in touch with some agencies. Lots of places look for firstline staff without necessarily requiring any qualifications, providing you can prove yourself.

Sorry, that was meant for piper

I didn't even start working until I was 27. I mean a full time job, I'd cleaned, bar work etc. Surely any entry level office job is still going to pay more than cleaning?

I would look into alternative jobs. If you carry on and make yourself ill you will be unable to work and in a worse financial position. My job left me unable to work, in constant pain and on strong medication for 10 years. Don't do it to yourself.

I wouldn't have the first clue but I like computers and I have built my own PCs which has 3 monitors working from 1 graphic card.

There's a good place to start. Could you do some courses to gain IT qualifications?