Need advice on going back to work...frustrated. - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

tina1966 · 11-14-2005, 01:12 PM

Hello,
Most of you know my story. I am down again after having a second relapse of tmj and back and neck pain after overdoing it at a house we are building..anyway..I am doing much better now, can do household chores and drive again,,but I have to pace myself...still on meds....I have been so heartbroke because I had to quit my job as a preschool teacher. I love children and felt it was my "calling" to teach and work with small children. This tmj problem has ruined my life as far as working I am afraid. I have been doing my exercises and stretches and still get myofascial release done. It helps and I know I will get better. Do any of you work with this problem and if so does it affect your work?? I want to work so bad but am scared to when I get better. Most of my family and friends say, just stay home and take care of yourself, etc., and dont worry about working....but its hard...I love people and getting out and making money of course....I hate what tmj has done to me and my life....and so sorry for others it has affected this way. And then I wonder if I do work what kind of work should I look at doing? Teaching can be very stressful and it is physically demanding I know....Its what I love and I just dont want to give in to this monster of tmj. I would appreciate any words of help and encouragement right now and what many of you may do to deal with this thing daily to get by if you do work. Thanks so much and this board means alot to me. Tina

TiffanyAnn · 11-14-2005, 04:12 PM

Hi Tina:
I personally am disabled and unable to work but I know that some people do. Maybe they will reply and give you a better idea of what it is like for them. What I wanted to say is that I totally understand you wanting to work, to be with people, feel productive and earn money but truthfully it is so stressful and stress makes TMJ worse without a doubt. I guess alot depends on if you are a generally calm or generally nervous person. I am your nervous type person so the stress really gets to be very badly. Sorry I can't help in regards to working but I did want you to know that I so totally understand how you feel.
Hugs,
Tiffany

tina1966 · 11-16-2005, 08:44 PM

Thank you TIffany,
I am sorry you are unable to work....and yes...I have always been a nervous type person,,,when I was little I was terrified of everything...new places, people, etc.,,,I somehow broke out of my shell after I had kids and got involved with them and their activities. I suffer too with bad pms and all those lovely symptoms...All of the women on my mothers side are the same way...so I guess I have inherited this too. I was generally outgoing and love people and doing things for them...I am a christian person and have strong moral values, etc., I have been trying to figure out what type of work I could do without much stress and so far not coming up with much. I used to make good money selling things on **** years ago...I may have to take that up again...I am just afraid if I go back to work I will "trigger" something and be in bad shape again...I am so glad you understand and hugs back to you!!!
Take care, Tina

Shirlett · 11-16-2005, 10:39 PM

Tina,

I had to stop working in 2000, had my TMJ Concepts put in September 2003 and just this year I have been able to return to work two -three days a week. I got very lucky and have a very understanding boss. I have not been to work for the past three weeks I had something show up on my implant and pushed it forward caused my face to swell way more than normal and it pulled my bite back so I could not open (again) blah, blah, blah anyway I had a small procedure done in the OS's office this afternoon and HOPE I can go back at least Tuesday since we will be closed for the rest of the week. I am a paralegal so the attorney I work for let me do a lot of work at home and e-mail it in if I am not up to driving in to town. I have learned the hard way not to over do it. I wanted to go back so bad and started Monday, Wednesday and Friday thinking it would give me a brake in between but it was just too much and I was causing myself more pain plus i was so tired when I got home I just went to bed (I still think it was commute...traffic..ugh) so I had to cut back to Tuesday and Thursday. Be up front and see who and if the employer is willing to work with you and try it out and if you can not handle it right now then know you at least tried and now is not the time for you.
I hope you find something that works for you.
I will say that having to stay at home did give me so much more time with my children which I feel so blessed to been able to have. I only have two left at home now (15 & 16) but knowing I was here every morining when they left and here when they came home, I might not have been in the best shape but I was here. I am 34 now and had to stop working when I was 31 but I was at home for my children instead of sitting in traffic on the interstate so to me something very Good came out of me having to stop working.
Shirlett