morning ladies! well my husband finally found a job he LOVES. he is a courier. he doesn't have to deal with many people, most of his day is spent driving to and fro. he loves it. he's been there almost 2 years (longest he's held any job!) and i'm so proud of him. he's making decent money too!
of COURSE it couldn't last. he has been having back pain and it is getting worse - so bad he is actually going to the doctor, which he has NEVER done in the 11 years we've been together. after doing a little research it seems very common for people who drive a lot, and there doesn't seem to be much he can do.
i am desperate to help him find something else because we have lived with him not working/barely working/working for 6 months then being unemployed for 6 months...IT SUCKS!! i hope that he is more mature now and sees the importance of being employed, well we will see. he has grown so much since i have met him and has become a great dad and husband...but a part of me is very worried.
SO do any of you ladies have any ideas where he could look? he's not really a "people person" (although he has gotten better recently, he's not really the same hothead that would quit/get fired at the drop of a hat like he used to do). so the less contact with others, the better lol. physically he's not in great shape either, which is a huge negative. but he does like to work and accomplish things. one of his favorite jobs was framing houses, but i don't personally think he's in good enough shape to do that anymore.
any ideas??? i will have him looking online and things, the usual avenues...just wish we had an idea what he was looking for.
thanks in advance!!
thanks so far ladies! so it appears that you guys feel like it's worth it to try to fix this? because i work in an office where we do data entry - and while it doesn't affect me (i manage the office so i'm not sitting and typing for 8 hours a day) almost everyone there has some sort of hand/wrist pain on a daily basis - i don't want that for him! it seems like some jobs just don't agree with the body. to me that doesn't sound like a life i would want to live...but maybe when he goes to the dr. today he will get some hopeful news. it would be great if he could do some pt or exercises to make it better (if he WOULD do them). my personal preference would be to find him something that he enjoys, makes similar pay, and DOESN'T wreck his body...but i'm all for it if he could take control and fix it, too. i just don't have faith that those things would really work, in the long run. i mean he's only 35 for pete's sake...we have a long road ahead before retirement lol. well hopefully the dr. will have some encouraging news. thanks again ladies! fingers crossed!
**great link melanie! thank you!
Thanks all - i guess i am just from strong stock :P i really don't get working at a job that tortures you physically...i see people every day working jobs that hurt them and i don't get it. but i guess if you have no other option (and really, what job isn't physically demanding in some way?) BUT as i said, he went to the dr today. they gave him a muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory/pain killer, and are scheduling some PT for him. i totally agree that he should get in shape rather than quit! i just wonder if that is wishful thinking lol. my father was never one to work to improve himself in any way...i guess it just never occurred to me that my husband might...but for now we are working on a solution. thanks again everyone! i hope he can work through this!
If being out of shape disqualilfies him from certain jobs that he would like then it seems like he should work to get in shape. If he is out of shape at 35 then can you imagine what he will be like at 55? IT is worth it on so many levels to work towards this.
my husband has had back surgery and still commutes 4 hours a day.
it's not about 'liking' to work. it's about responsibility.
i don't get men who need this much help to work.
:/ khairete
S.
I would work on improving his health and letting him keep his job.
There are back supports one can get to help with posture in a car while driving.
there is Physical Therapy that can be done as well to help strengthen his back and core body muscles which in turn will help him in more ways than just being able to keep his job!!
Please don't give up on a job that he is good at and enjoys!! there are ways to make it better!!!
GOOD LUCK!!
Can the doctor send him to physical therapy so that he can strengthen his back.
How about if he tries using a lumbar support cushion when he is driving, that will help his posture and back while he is driving.
Sometimes the doctor can give certain types of injections that help with back pain - maby he is eligible -
He shouldn't quit his job, he should explore all options to get his back better so that he can keep his job!
If his back pain is the result of working - he may be eligible for workmens comp while he recovers.
So instead of working through this, you are advocating him to find a new job? I don't get that. He needs to see a doctor and find out what the issue is. He can do physical therapy, weight loss, exercise, all sorts of things AND keep his job.
I have had two surgeries on my back and I have a terrible commute. I do my exercises in the pool. Great strengthening without the gravity! If you have access to a pool, swimming is the best thing. PM me if you would like some pool exercises. Also, go to the bookstore and check out some books regarding back care. McKenzie (I think) is a form of exercise that my dad uses on his chronic back problems and it helps!
Of course the plan of action for him will be based on what type of back problem they determine he has. If is badly ruptured discs that need to be surgically repaired it doesnt matter what type of work he does; he will have pain until problem is resolved. My husband is an ironworker which is very physical work. He has done this for 30yrs so far. It goes without saying he has 'back issues' along with other aches/pains that come with aging (he is 50 now) and doing this type of work. He sees a Chiroporactor monthly for preventive manitenance along with going more often if he has a flare up. I have had 2 back surgeries for ruptured disks that caused extreme sciatia pain. On occasion I still have pain and also see the Chiro. Depending on what type of back issues he has my husband and I both know from expericne on many occasions a Chiro is a better way to go than a doctor. Again, it all depends but not a bad idea to see if a Chiro can help him. Stretching his lower back each morning is very good for him and a good way to get the day started. More than half of all americans have back issues. I would hate to see him have to give up a job he loves with good pay for something that can be controlled.
Not sure why he's not just seeking treatment for his pain and working toward pain prevention? If he loves the job so much, has insurance and is making decent money then he should look into therapy--both for the acute issue now and maybe chiropractic care to help/prevent anything down the road.
See how long he can stick with it and in the evenings work on an IT degree. I love the IT side of my job, always challenging, always different, never boring. Every so often your job changes enough that it is like a new job with the same people.
My husband has back issues and probably all his driving doesn't help it either. Find a chiropractor you trust who can keep adjusting him back. The other thing that helps Troy is this foam thingy that fits behind his lower back when he drives. I even have one for my desk but I can't seem to ever remember to bring it in. :p
Try yoga before switching jobs.
My husband used to complain of lower back pain from his job (chef/cook/manager) until he started biking to work. And he got new shoes meant for his job. The more active he is, the better the pain.
Get him to a doc or chiro and see what kind of regimen he can follow to keep his back healthy while he gets to keep the job he loves. I bet yoga or other stretching exercises would be all he needed to do, probably daily.
eta...
I just thought of something else. It might not be that he's sitting so much, it may be how he gets in and out of the car. I know I have to be very careful about how I get out of my van or I will mess up my bad right knee or strain my lower back. I also have to stretch the right side of my neck daily because I look left almost exclusively to pull out of my driveway, and I'll get bad neck pain if I don't "even it out".
Look at Relax the Back (www.relaxtheback.com) for ideas on support items he can use in the car.
