To think I need to change jobs?

[squashedalmondcroissant]

I work in a fairly fast paced job where I am on my feet all day every day. Tbh even when it's not busy I am still on my feet all day and my shifts are anywhere from 8-11hrs. I also walk to commute so this adds on at least another hour on my feet. There is definitely no way for me to adjust my job to be able to sit down/rest during a shift.

About 18months ago I started suffering a lot of back/leg pain and have been diagnosed with sciatica, seemingly from overuse (ie, there doesn't seem to be any trapped nerves or spinal compressions at play).

I like my job but especially now it's busy I'm in so much pain all day every day. It's really getting to me and making me grumpy and agitated. I take paracetamol with codine but most times it doesn't help and the painkillers the GP gave me also function as antidepressants and I don't like the side effects. I've had physio appointments but they haven't helped very much, the only thing I've been told to do is exercise and I'm so tired at the end of the day I don't have the energy.

Aibu to think the only thing I can do is change jobs to do something less active? I can't take this pain much longer 😭

Exercise might well help you build up enough strength to cope, but if that’s not an option then yep. Could you poss get the bus to work also?

As a by the by wouldn’t nurofen be better for that kind of pain?

Can't get a bus unfortunately, there isn't one that goes from near me.

I'm sure exercise would help but I'm just so tired and in pain by the end of the day I don't have the energy. It's frustrating and I know I need to push myself but realistically even if I can push through the pain in the short time it's going to take a long time to heal.

Honesty I've tried every over the counter painkiller going as well as the prescription ones. Nothing really helps, the only things that even works a little bit is a combo of hot water bottles and rest. The pain can go from my lower back all the way down my legs into my feet so trying to treat all of it at once is impossible, I end up just moving the heat source around and of course in the summer extra heat isn't particularly appealing 😂

I think you know the answer if you have to take painkillers just to get through the day...😕

I would try yoga for a bit, made a massive difference to my posture and is just like physio but you have to do it a lot to notice