My back story

[Slippery]

Hello all.
Here is a history and account of my health problems.
I am inviting anyone to suggest anything at all that might be of some help. Be it advice on health, pain management or advice on how to deal with the powers that be.

I have experienced neck trouble since the age of 15 when I woke in the middle of the night with it. (Hardly relevant, but it had to start sometime.)
Snip… Short version: It took 18 years to diagnose a C5-C6 herniated intervertabral disk.
Despite what the surgeons own journals say about treatment; "All conservative treatments should be tried before surgery is considered,” (National Institute of Clinical Excellence,) I was only offered a spinal fusion. Back in 2001 I was somewhat white coat phobic and declined the offer being placed on an emergency short list if the worst should happen. A decision based on a little research and the advice of my friend and chiropractor (May the sun shine on him.)
If you are familiar with these problems you will most likely know that a herniated disk will fibrose after 8 – 12 months, offering a degree of protection and you mange to control the inflammation.
And so, not wanting to be labeled "lollygagger” I returned to work as normal. A dependence on analgesia goes without saying, which was pretty much the way of things anyway. From around this time sciatica set in and has been with me ever since to one degree or another. ThisI find I can cope with. (Not to diminish anyone who has it you understand. Just a fact.)

Needless to say my work record is somewhat sketchy at best.
I am the kind of person happiest when working with my hands (broad creative streak) and as such, have earned a living self employed in physically demanding jobs. As you might expect having reached 38 this has finally caught up with me in the shape of a new herniation C4-C5. This diagnosis I paid for and was treated as a prince in private health care. This consultant was far more agreeable than the previous one (surprise surprise.) However, again the only treatment on offer was a double level fusion (I suspect because it generates the most revenue.) She also issued a warning that C3-C4 was also showing signs of wear and tear, and if I herniate this one it will then become inoperable. Double level cervical fusion yes, triple level no.
A good time to change my way of life I think, but with financial pressures, far easier said than done, especially when you enjoy what you are doing. The inevitable happened and I have been unable to work for neigh on two years now. The curious thing is howfew people believe I have a problem at all because of the way I cope with it. I still have the appearance of a relatively healthy and even fit 6' 1” middle age guy (I used to be an inch and a half taller.) I realized long ago after the first disk went that remaining active was key to coping with the problem.
I have been trying to change direction but it seems the help available to me is somewhat limited to assistance with application forms and how to read a newspaper!
Optimist that I am, (though some may disagree) I have pursued various avenues that are of interest and that I felt I would be suitable for. It would appear I have unwittingly attained the status of unemployable. And so, in my inactivity I become ever more creased with what I can only a

 

[Emad Thee]

Hi Carlov

Please please please don't go back to lift installation! You need to look after your body- you only get one - and you better than anybody, know how constant pain and debilitation can seriously affect your mental state and quality of life.

My immediate thoughts are that you have to try and get out of the benefit system that is locking you into a future with few prospects. Do you have any family or friends who would be willing to lend you some money while you find and train for an alternative career? Could you stay with friends and family while training? It's not ideal, but to take a year out of your life, to improve the rest of it, is a fair compromise. Have you thought about training in osteopathy, or some form of gentle massage or pain management technique such as bowen? Some courses only need a weekend a month committment for a year or so, and at the same time you would be helping your own body. I'm sure you have thought about all these things, and that they are obvious, but the most important thing is your happiness. My sister is also caught up in benefit system, with no possibility of retraining, only to face the prospect of going back to the stressful, life absorbingjob that premeditated her ME in the first place. These are just some thoughts that I thought may help a little. xxx

 

[Colemarhoth]

Hello bluemagpie
Thanks for the input. Already traveling the road you suggest. As for borrowing money, the good will is running out I am afraid. There are such things as career development loans but the constraints imposed make this a high risk, even last ditch option. I am living with my parents "until I get back on my feet." This is a double edged solution for mewhich was a no brainer,I wish I didn't have to subject them to it.
I have in the past looked into training in McTimoney Chiropracty. When I had money I had no time. Now I have the time.....well you know the rest.
Perhaps I should post my CV in the hope someone will offer me a job?
I recall sitting in one of the identical "mess rooms" in a location somewhere in these British Isles, putting the world to rights as tends to happen on construction sites: The subject was Benefit Fraud and the introduction of the "Grass on your neighbors" anonymous phone line system.I was agreeing with the general consensus of the "honest working man" so common to building sites, not being able to comprehend how someone might choose to live in the underhand way that would drive someone to make this choice to break the law.
How things can change.

Rambling now.