I am a stay at home mom- I wasn't working when I got injured, but I planned to go back soon, which got derailed.

I'll say I work 24 hour days, but I generally manage to get some rest time in there

As I've said, my hobby is my horses (2). Lately with some improvements in my meds and last year's PT, I am able to enjoy them and ride 4-5 days/week.

My major problem last year was sitting- I wasn't able to sit at the computer for much time at all. That's gotten better also, now I can probably do 30-45 minute stretches while taking walk or laying down breaks.

I don't go to movies, and restaurants are very tough if they don't have booths. I can't do laundry or unload the dishwasher or walk around the house picking things up. I did manage to go to Disneyland this year.

Between 37.5 (normal) and 60+ hours a week. Desk job mostly with some light duty, moving stuff, diagnosing downed Ctec problems (I'm not a whiz, but most problems are connection related or low level software, so I can get it up and running again).
I also do some theatre oversight work. Watch the spaces and maintain safe work environments by being proactive when dangers are not apparent to the users of the space.

My favorite hobby is my old Ramblers, which I now have to work on very slowly and carefully or I end up not doing anything for days.

EDIT: after posting this I realized this subject probably should be somewhere in mind/body or conversation?

I work 10-15 hours per week in an office job that will eventually be 40 hours. I love cooking, computers and reading. I'm very active in my church (church clerk, greeting, singing, cooking for fellowship dinners).

I currently work 40 - 50 hours a week on a very demanding job. I am on my feet and in a cold enviroment for 6 - 8 hours a day. I definately pay for it later in the evening. Although i have considered medically retiring lately, i have a very strong mind and get through my day the best i can. My neuropathy that was just in my legs, has now spread to my hands and arms. I am also experiencing muscle atropthy and weakness. Meds seem to only help for about 2 months then time to change. But other then my SCS, i have not tried anything too strong.This forum helps my realize that I am not alone in my condition.

i am unable to work .i sometimes do a little light house work and even wash my car .but that's my limit and even then i an knackered and loaded on pain pills to do anythings ..i would love to be working ..back on the building sites again
STRAKER

janetatum, I am only 2 1/2 years post-injury. There are a lot of changes I'm still trying to process.

I'm actually looking to change careers now because I don't think I can do what I went to grad school for. I'm hoping to be able to do web design and graphics from home instead.

If I find I can't even do that, I might feel a lot worse about it. For now I'm trying to remain optimistic, as having a career is also important to me.

Before my spine issues, I was very active as a jet and helicopter pilot and law enforcement officer. Hours, well they varied from 50 hours a week to 140 depending on what case(s) I was working.

Fast forward, 2 cervical fusions (permanent damage), and now lumbar and thoracic issues. Grounded from any flying, and due to 80% loss of the use of my right arm strength wise, lost my gun carry privilege. My NS and the agency Ortho spine surgeon - agreed - you need to retire. On light duty now until that comes through. Administrative activities mainly - NO enforcement is authorized for me anymore. Now work 40-50 hours a week and much of it in an office environment. I am considered "retired in place" and can stay at my computer doing things and then walk around as I please. This isn't working for me much anymore as the pain for the back is now constant. Should be retired in the next few weeks.

I use to wall climb, recurve bow archery competitions and play, paint ball, bowling, martial arts - no more. I have regrouped to adjust that I fill my "glass" with new activities. Long walks with the hubby of 20 years I love to death, writing, consulting (setting up post retirement things to do), C++ programing, beading. I haven't taken my prior hobbies off the list yet, as I am not done "being fixed"...until or unless I get those nasty words "there is nothing more we can do..." I continue forward that "some" of my old fun can come back!

Like others posted, sitting or standing for any length of time = pain. Soooo....no movies, same as above, restaurants with booths, shopping when low amounts of people - slow walking for shopping hurts, and to top it off waiting in line, nope! I do a lot more shopping via the net now a days. My big post retirement project? Declutter the house, start re-doing the kitchen and bathrooms - hehehe, not ME doing the physical re-do of course! (G) Nerves sux, but I haven't heard the fat lady sing, so guess what? Change and adjust for what I can do, and still enjoy life!!! Stay safe and pain free if possible all!!! *HUGZ*

Brenda

or should I say being isolated all alone. I feel just like you. I loved my work. Do to a failed surgery, I had to medically retire. And even though I had a payed up early pension. And had done well on my investments. My life went up in smoke (Lord what did I do?) All of my hobbies were gone! It was like someone pulled the rug out from under me. And I was VERY resentful. And very depressed. And then wound up having to have many other surgeries. Just to make things sweeter!
But life goes on and mine did. Not at all the way I would have had it. But with my Pain psych. lots of anti depressants and this site. And a very long time, I now have a new different life.
I did not choose it. But it is what it is! And my glass has been half full for a long time now. (and I just had another surgery) By the way I've cut out all but 1 anti depressants. 1 welbutrin xl 150 mg. a day. And I'm going to see if I can cut that too.
Good luck, Jim

I do not think most of us are doing what we are doing because we really want to. My example is because i have to. I still have 2 middle age children at home to support and get through their lives. Trust me, i want to give up each and every day but always push myself to the limit. Like i stated, i always pay for it at night and on weekends. All i can do is sit in my recliner. I in no means was saying that you are not doing all you can do. If my wife was still not in school, i would have given up by now. But i created my family a lifestyle prior to my injury and will not take it away from them unless i can not pull myself throught it .

I haven't worked for 2 years since my back injury. I don't go out dancing with my husband anymore or go mall walking or anything. But I do enjoy sci-fi movies and shows and movies on TV. I can do light housekeeping only. I'm happy to get out 2-3 times a week for a walk. I'm still planning on doing some aqua therapy in the near future once I get my income tax return to pay for disability membership so looking forward to that. Hugs Jane. Charry

2 years ago, 1 year after my accident.
There is very little I can do.
I have two young children, one still not in school yet, so she is home 3 days per week.
I'm in the process of getting my cake decorating business up and running, as it is something I can pace myself with.
I barely leave the house and only do light housework. I do the cooking but only because hubby can't cook.
I don't expect i'll ever be able to do a desk job again and i've come to terms with that.
There is much i've yet to come to terms with as my condition is always changing (i've more than one problem), but i'll get there with time and with the support of people on this site.
Kylie
Interesting thread

I hope it continues for a long time. It's interesting to know how different members of our community make the changes that face us in work and play after spine injury or spine surgery, or what ever brought them to S.H.
Good luck, Jim

at first.

Like Jane, I am fairly (really) isolated to my apartment. I can no longer work. I cannot sit up to work in an office, I cannot stand nor walk (even with cane or walker) for any length of time. I am restricted to light housekeeping only. which means my tween children must pick up the slack.--which of course, 2 out of three are refusing to do.---i am trying to get a PCA to come in to help with the rest.

--the 2 younger children are also trying to take advantage of the fact tat mom cannot physically force them to do things...like leave the house to get to school on time, get out of bed, take things away from them, catch them if they run from me. I am at my wits end!

and yes, the depression, frustration, lonliness that comes with the realization that this is my new life, and that i must find new ways to cope was/continues to be a very long journey. I am lucky in that due to my son's issues (middle child) I now have a counselor that comes in once or every other week to help me cope with these issues, and to help guide me to a better new me.

--new hobbies are horror movies, true blood series, reading, I taught myself how to crochet, and am thinking about tackling knittting next!

dawn

Do not feel isolated on account of us!

Don't think I'm having fun here. Or it's a laugh a minute.

There are many, many times I wish I had taken my doctors offer to write me up as permanently disabled and passed on the surgery. Sure everything kind of works ok. But I can pay some pretty high prices for what I have to do. When I get home, I am usually to far gone to even want to do anything there, though I try to help keep things somewhat organized.

To top off this party, it is spring and Lacrosse season has started, that means, cold, wet, damp hours on bleachers, shivvering with my back and shoulder aching. I can barely remember how much I enjoyed those games when my oldest started before the accident It used to be fun, back in "what if" time.

My first post listed what I do, tinkering with my cars is probably the only thing I do enjoy, but even that can bring me down.

rplatt56 - I totally hear you on this. My husband and I have made a certain lifestyle for our family and it is hard to imagine having to change that. I sit back and think of everything my kids would have to give up, guitar lessons, wrestling club, and I carry the insurance because my husband's is not good and very expensive. If I could, I would quit tomorrow. I do love my job but sitting at a desk all day long is taking its toll and I am not a happy camper at the end of the day.

Before my surgery I was a coach for my kids soccer team, I used to play soccer and run track myself. I was in the process of building my drag bike when this all happened and I pretty much have come to terms with the fact that I am probably never going to be able to race it down a track now. I am also afraid of riding dirt bikes anymore for fear of wrecking, I am not a pro on them by any means and have wrecked...a few times I can still do light house keeping, and on days that I actually feel "better" I clean like mad and then pay for it later. I love gardening too but know I will need a lot of help to take care of one this year. I do still like to hang out with family/neighbors and we have cookouts/dinner parties, even if I do not stick around for long I go for a little bit just to get out and socialize so I do not feel quite so isolated.

I feel like I have had to change a lot of what I do/like to do, but I had to. It is either adapt and make changes or pay for it later. Some of it is just not worth the pain later. There are other things out their to do that can make us happy, we just have to find those things. Like it has been said many times before, we did not chose this life of pain but it is up to us what we do with it to make ourselves stronger and find out what we can do to make ourselves happy and somewhat have lives.

And my kids took advantage of me too, at first. I do not think they really understood what was going on with mom, my kids are old enough to understand, to an extent, now that it has been explained to them. They knew me as "super mom"; even sick I did anything, other surgeries have never even put me down and out like this, I never said I couldn't do something ever. So in their minds they could not understand why I could not do certain things anymore, even simple things like sitting through an entire wrestling meet or practice. They seem to get it more now and are much more receptive to me when I ask for help or say I can't take them to the mall and walk around, etc., they actually ask if I need help when I am cleaning or doing anything around the house.

Mouse - great subject by the way.

Wrambler, do you have a bleacher chair?

I swear this thing saved my life at swimming lessons last year. After the first day, I thought I was going to have to lay prone on the bleachers to get through it (people look at you strangely when you do this, by the way) but this thing is AWESOME!

Hi Mouse,
I live in Nashville Tn.
I've been a chef for 20 yrs.I love my job,that's why I continue working.Cooking is my passion.My wife loves it too,not cooking,she loves that I cook..lol.Great thread,very interesting.
Peace and Love,Mark

I have been out because my surgery, but I work in IT in a organization doing work on their Servers. I was doing PC tech work before I got this promotion, which I'm glad I did, because 90% of this job is a desk job. I couldn't really do the job I did before, because of all the lifting and getting under peoples desks and all.

I just went back to work Monday after being out of work for 5 weeks. Its not easy, from the pain. Today I was furloughed and glad I had the day off to rest. In these times, I am just glad I have a job, even before all this, I have been working pretty much pay check to pay check and I'm glad my work has afforded me the time to take the time off to do this. I had to go back because I was running out of leave.

I love computers too, but if you have to work on them everyday for everybody else you get tired of looking at the things. Also I work 8 hour days mon thru fri and we have to go on call once every couple of months for a week. 40 hours unless its a emergency and then we have to stay there till its fixed.

Also I love football, cooking and reading.

Good luck to everybody.

It almost sounds like you work for the same organization I do.. Government perhaps? LOL!

That was interesting, I feel like in a way maybe we've all gotten to know each other a little bit better, maybe just what everyone does and doesn't do, or enjoys. It was fun! Thanks for participating! Best wishes to everyone..

I work 40 hours a week and the only time I have taken off was for my Laminectomy 3/5/09. Had it done on a Friday and was off for 2 weeks. Went back to work half days for one week then full time. Looking forward to retirement in 4 or 5 years.

I was already a stay at home mom when my back went caput (sp?) It's a long story so I won't bore anyone but to sum things up I did work before falling ill from a lupus like autoimmune disease a few years before. I like to watch home renovation shows, read nonfiction books, interior decorating, babysit my dog, cook when I can, go shopping....nothing terribly exotic or exciting. I just enjoy spending quality time with my family and having a good laugh. I'd like to do more things someday like travel for instance when I know I'd tolerate it better. Nothing sucks worse than going somewhere and having to leave because there is no place comfortable enough for me, or no scooter or wheelchair. I stay home a lot so I like it to keep it decorated nice and for it also to be comfy and cozy. Everyone pitches in with chores so it doesn't wind up looking like a tornado went through it, and I am so grateful for that.

Thank you for this wonderful poll Mouse