is everyone able to work ok with RA. i was a police officer for eight years and went on disability for a herniated disc. now i could possibly have RA.
do any of you guys work or do you have to have social security or other disability insurance. what can i expect.
thanks jason 32
It all depends on the severity of your illness. MANY people here work. I know of teachers and librarians with RA and they work full time, and quite successfully.
Kathleen Turner, the actress has RA and obviously works, acting on Broadway putting on 8 performances a week.
Some can not work. I am one who cannot work, due to a combination of RA, congestive heart failure and COPD.
If you are unable to work, SSDI is getting harder to obtain. It is probably a good idea to START your application having a lawyer. Lawyers will collect a portion of your first payment from the government, so you don'tpay up front.
I worked full time and then some for about 20 yrs. It wasn't easy but I'm glad I did. The newer meds now might make it a lot easier for you also but everyone is different and I think you probably have to figure it out over time. My advice - Don't give up a good job too soon though. Try to work it out.I am a full time student in my last year of an honours program, as well as working two jobs, both taking care of young children. It isn't always easy, but you just get to know your own body. For instance, you realize when is a good time for you to go to sleep, ie. I go to bed much earlier than I used to, I also don't drink or smoke or any of those things. My life has changed a lot, and I make sacrifices to keep myself healthy but it means that I still get to go to school and work and those are the most important things to me. I would try to work it out and see what you can do. I have heard of surgeons who have RA...it may not always be easy but it's better than giving up and sitting around all day and thinking of how much life sucks. From my personal experience I have learned to always look on the bright side...my answer to people's questions on how I'm feeling is NEVER BETTER. It makes the day go by better when you have a positive attitude.
Chin up!
Hi Jason,
A lot of people work with RA. With all the new meds out there, it makes this possible. You may have to take a sick leave here and there, but usually people work for as long as they can. I work Full Time and have continued to do so since first day of diagnosis. I'm hoping to work for as long as I can.
good luck to you
Jackie
Jason,
I work also. My biggest fear is that I would have to stop working early. SSDI isn't the best pay check.
I try to keep a positive attitude and I fight the disease. I exercise, I try to eat right, and I study the disease along with alternative ideas. In my area, the local hospitals and the Arthritis Foundation offer free classes where Rheumies come in and discuss ways to deal with the disease.
Each of us have our own story but the drugs of today are so much better than in the past. Fortunately for myself, I have had good results from the meds which help keep me active. Without the meds, I'm pretty sure I would turn into a statue so I take them and keep my appointments with the rheumy.
Not everyone is as fortunate as I so we each walk our own path. This disease does change your life but hopefully you will respond well to the meds and everything will be okay. Good luck!
Jason,
I work full time too. I have a desk job so it's not very physical work. Most days are okay but when I know that I just cannot absolutely do it, I have to call in sick. My employers know that I have RA and are very understanding. I guess we all just do the best we can.
Linda
jason,
i still work, and i've had to change the way i do a lot of things. but i have a very physical type job i wouldn't be able to sit at a desk because my body locks up and i can't stand up. have fallen down a lot just tryin to move after sitting too long (20 or 30 minutes) like everybody says todays meds really can help you to be a lot more normal
best of luck and find a good rheumy,
mary
wow y'all, that is wonderful. all that positive adivice. for me the hardest is getting up and suffering that first hour or so. have faith in our lord JESUS and you will be healed. jasonHold on there, Jason. You know RA is not curable. So if it turns out to be RA, how about, "have faith and you will be given relief from the pain." That will be good enough, right?Well I've dropped from God cure me, to God help someone diagnose me, to Godmake the pain go away, to God stop it getting to other joints, to God help me get out of my bed, to God please let my mouth open to eat - GOD, knows what's next I guess it all depends on what you do and the severity of your illness. I have congestive heart failure, RA and ulcerative colitis and I am working part-time. I work as a contract mental health therapist, so I can pretty much chose my own hours, how much I want to work, etc. Some weeks I work 20 hours a week, other weeks I don't work at all. Today I did a 5 hour IQ test on a client and I did fine. Tomorrow, I may just have lunch at my son's school and call it a day. Who knows. I hope you are feeling well. love and gentle hugs, JuliahJayboy, I'm a nurse and have been working about 35 hours a week but went in today to have them reduce it to 25. I get thru work ok but find there is nothing left for home, family or church. If the mtx kicks in then I'd love to work more. I can no longer do what I want when I want , but I understand my priorities better now. Living with RA you learn alot about yourself and others. Jason, My rheumatologist says I will likely be able to return to work in the spring. I have a very physical job - hiking in rough terrain. He says I have "aggressive ra" and he still says I will be able to go back to work this Spring. That is how good the new meds are. So don't worry yourself before you have to. I love my job. I don't plan on quitting !Julie, I want you to know. When I first had a major flares they were way worse than what I am going through now. I was hospitalized. I could not do anything. Just know that. It is not as bad as it was
Trust in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Well I'm agnostic, but that aside I work full time and I'm doing pretty well.