I quit working last February. I tore my rotator cuff, bicep tendon and muscle. Had that repaired, my rt carpal tunnel and left carpal tunnel release surgeries and sinus surgery done. During all this I had a pinched nerve in my lower left back. Had 2 epidural’s in my lower back that didn’t help. My neurosurgeon said he would not do surgery since I am overweight. Said if I lost weight it would all get better. I’ve had back problems since my late teens. I was underweight then. I filed for disability in July. Waiting on a decision. Hoping I get it with having Fibromyalgia, undifferentiated spondylitis, anxiety disorder, t2d and Barrett’s esophagus.

I hear you. I was a nurse for 17 years . It was a hard decision to make.

I have decided to continue to work. I’m a nurse so some of my nursing friends have seen me suffer, and have suggested that I go on disability. And I’m sure I could work it out with my doctors,I have all the right the diagnosis is to qualify me for disability..But the minute I stop, I will lose so much. I will lose.. my tack for life, I think my pain would increase, if I stop moving I just can’t get my head around being disabled. Ever.! I’m only 48 this is so not fair.

I just filled out paperwork for accommodations. When I told my assistant principal I am not able to stand for long periods of time, even constant walking around the room is hard. He was great about it. I am concerned about the stress though since it is constant and the educational environment is rough right now. My Rhumatologist told me to lower my stress level and I just laughed at her, not until the end of May

I was a legal assistant. Sitting at a computer all day caused me severe pain in my neck and shoulders and then lower back with sciatica. It was awful. I cried everyday all the way home from work. I went on disability because my diagnosis. Left my job in 2013, had disability by 2014 and wasn't diagnosed with AS until about a year ago.