Has anyone else experienced pain and fatigue at work? Did reducing your hours help?

petula1969

Hi all I’ve recently filled in a PIP application (about 6 weeks ago ) . I work full time but have really been struggling the last few years . The constant fatigue combined with pain, trying to keep up with everyone makes me feel exhausted and incompetent at my job . I really struggle with stairs a My legs just feel like dead weights . My question is did anyone else feel one this and reduced their working hours . Do you find it made a difference? 

Thanks petula 

poppy123456

HI and welcome,

The first thing you should do is speak to your employer about reasonable adjustments in the workplace, this way you maybe able to continue working your usual hours. https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers

chiarieds

Hi @petula1969 - & welcome to the community, Petula. I can't exactly relate to your problems, as, when I reduced my hours, then eventually stopped working, I was self-employed, which was likely easier.

Have you considered asking your employer to make 'Reasonable adjustments' to support you in the workplace, or, looked at 'flexible working?

Scope has some info on 'Reasonable adjustments,' etc. which may be helpful.

Please see: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/work-careers/reasonable-adjustments/    &

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/work-careers/flexible-working/

I hope others who may better relate will also contact you with their thoughts.

Tori_Scope

Hello and welcome to the community @petula1969!

Just to let you know, I've moved your post into the 'Employment and Careers' category of the online community so that it'll be easier for other people to find and answer your post  

I hope you found the resources that @poppy123456 and @chiarieds sent useful? Working through fatigue and pain sounds very difficult, and I agree that asking your employer to make reasonable adjustments, or looking into flexible working, might help.

What do you do for work, if you don't mind me asking? This might help some members of our community to give you more specific advice about reasonable adjustments, or other options that might be available to you.

Tori

petula1969

Hi tori I am a music instructor. I have 9 schools in a week which involves stairs and constantly carrying heavy bags / instruments etc

janer1967

Hi @petula1969 Welcome to the community glad you have joined us here

First of all have you had a diagnosis for your symptoms and getting any support from a medical aspect

Regarding work you should request to be referred to Occupational Health who will do an assessment and recommend any work place adjustments or aids and equipment which could support you.

Your employer will then have a better idea of what you can and cant do and try and put reasonable adjustments in place to support you if they can

Reducing your hours could be one of the options, as could cutting down the number of schools you need to go to and getting assistance with the lifting of equipment

I hoe you get something sorted and if you need any further help just ask

Tori_Scope

Hi @petula1969

Thanks for letting us know. As @janer1967 said, it does seem as though this is something you could get assistance with if you were to get in touch with Occupational Health. Update us with how you get on, and give us a shout if you need any help with identifying what the next steps you need to take are

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @petula1969, you might find these helpful: 

• Reasonable Adjustment
• Access to Work grant scheme
• Flexible working
• Asking for adjustments when you become disabled
• If your employer rejects adjustments