I've had a chronic back problem since I was 18 years old. Im now 40. I have to live my life very carefully as one wrong move and my back will spasm /a disk will slip and will put me out of action for up to 10 weeks. This usually happens about 2-4 times a year so I spent a huge amount of time in severe pain or recovering from it.
I can't bend forward or pick anything up at any time, I can't stand for long periods of time, I can't twist my body otherwise it will happen again. This is very difficult when I was raising 2 young kids, trying to keep a home etc.
On top of this, my sciatic nerve in my right leg became so compressed that I developed foot drop and almost complete numbness of the whole leg that is permanent. They told me nothing can he done. I was falling over so much and had to get used to walking again.
Now it's happening on the left side along with severe hip pain.
I really cannot mentally cope with this anymore , and I don't know what my future looks like? I can't do what I want with my family as I am so limited all the time.
I currently work in a school. I hadn't worked for 8 years as my husband earnt enough I was able to say home to cope with the pain, (lie down all day if i needed to whilst the kids were at school) but a couple of years ago he developed some serious health problems and now cannot work. I had to go and find full time work which I didn't happily as its been great to get out of the house, be around people, it gives me a purpose, I really enjoy my job.
I haven't had any time off due to my pain problems as I'm the sole breadwinner and everything falls on me and I don't get full pay if off sick. But i could and should of been off about 10 times in that time due to being in severe pain. Instead I'm having to go in and try my best every day whilst being in agony that painkillers don't touch.
My colleagues are sympathetic to a point but I can't expect them to help me out all the time.
With no exaggeration whatsoever i feel like I may need to start using a mobility scooter if we go on holiday or to somewhere that involves a lot of walking around as I just can't do it. I feel like my life is closing in on me and I have no choice but to work when I am in constant agony.
I just don't know what to do going forward? I can't carry on like this