To be worried about the future re my health and work?

[JustBeingJuliet]

I'm 36. I work two part time jobs, both fairly manual work, on my feet and lifting a fair bit. I've got issues with my back; 2 herniated discs and a couple more bulging and on the brink of popping, and the beginnings of osteo-arthritis in my knees. I'm seriously struggling at work :(

The doctor has referred me for physio, which I've got an appointment for next month, and has repeatedly told me to rest, which is easier said than done, as I don't get sick pay. I've been paying for a chiropractor, which helps a little bit, but an hour back at work and I'm back to square one. I feel like I'm surviving on painkillers, and the thought of doing this for the next 30+ years is filling me with dread.

I need a new job, but I have no idea what path to follow. I'm qualified to do very little, and have always done office/desk/retail type jobs. The ones I do fit in nicely around school, which is largely why I do them, but I've got to accept the fact that I can't manage 7 hours on my feet now, let alone a few years further down the line.

So many jobs seem to be short hours contracts, requiring complete flexibility between the hours of 8am and 8pm, which I struggle with, as I'm a single parent with limited childcare options (small village with not a lot of childminders etc., only family is my dad, who lives 7 miles away and is not in great health). I'm prepared to go back to school and retrain to do something else; I've always fancied working for myself, but never really known what I want to do.

I'm in a good position of owning a house, mortgage free, so I don't need a huge income, but I do have a bit of credit card debt from doing the house up. Nothing I can't manage though, but I do need to factor that into my outgoings. I just don't know what to do. I can't go on like this, that's one thing I do know!

Any ideas?

If you are concerned about future back and joint problems then either an office based or home based job where you are mostly seated would be an idea. Admin work? Book keeping? Telephone work eg sales?

I'd love to do something home based but there's not many genuine home working jobs out there, unless I set up something on my own. I just have no idea how to go about it!

I have an ongoing back problem which only a physio had been able to help manage long term... Osteo and Chiro are quick fixes but short term. Physio exercises of done regularly / we are talking daily or a good few times a week will help.

Bear in mind a sedentary job would mean being fixed in one place for long periods of time and posdible not ideal either. I do agree you need a break from the heavy manual nature though.

Yes, my back problems reared up something chronic when I did a call centre job for 6 months, so would prefer to avoid sitting in one place for too long! It just seems impossible - can't stand too long, can't sit still too long, can't lift or bend too much, stairs kill my knees... Wow, I'm a right catch as an employee!!