I can relate to you a little....

4 years ago, I injured my back moving a 22 Gallon keg of beer. Since then, I've not been able to work and ending up on benefits....

I can't stand or sit in the same position longer than 10 mins or I will be in complete agony. I don't go out anymore at fear of it hurting more. My Wifey takes my son to school, gets the shopping done and does a lot of the housework, even though I do try doing some things....

I use to be a Bar Supervisor in a Public house, been doing that type of job for over 10 years. Now my back knackered, I don't know what the fuck to do. It's hard on your persona when your use to a job and then you can't go back to that line of work again....I am kind of lucky in a way, my mother passed in Feb this year and she left me and my 2 siblings a house. It is currently on the Market waiting to sell and then I should have a tidy lump sum of money to live the rest of my life on.....

Without the knowledge of me getting that money, I wouldn't of been able to survive. I am currently depressed due to my situation and while the money will ease my problems soon, it's been a rough ride the last 4 years....I have lost a lot of weight due to not eating, this is because being on benefits, your only limited to what you can buy food wise after you pay your bills...There were times when we didn't have a lot of food so I starved myself so my son could eat. I am constantly up till 4am in the morning because I want to get myself that tired, that I won't wake up during night with my back aching....

My advice to you, If the pain is bearable, stay in your Job..If you lose or give up your Job then your back will feel like it is worse. I carried on working for about 3 months after I injured it. It just felt like a twinge in my back, it was bearable so I was able to carry on....I only left the Pub due to it closing....About a week after closing, my back started getting worse. I think was due to the fact that I hadn't in a week been using muscles that I would of been using if I was still working. It was like my whole back stiffened and got worse...

Physio didn't help me at all, also had a MRI scan that confirmed I had Degenerative disc disease. On the results it said that a number of my discs were impinging on the Cal sac and I had dehydration in one of the discs...A couple of slipped discs thrown in too....


It all can be a nightmare and sometimes doctors don't take you seriously. OP, if you lose your job, keep active the best you can because if you stop, your back will stiffen more...

Keep active. If you have family and you start to feel down or depressed, you may start taking out on your friends and family, Try to avoid this, but if you can't, just talk to your doctor....

I got a bit violent after finishing my job as my back got worse and family life stressed me out, even the slightest thing would set me off. I use to argue with my Wifey loads and punch doors. I ended up moving out after I seen my then 3 year old son crying after punching a door. The time away did me good in way that I had peace, however, after of 2 years of being away, I couldn't cope with everything on my own so moved back in with my family. I am a lot calmer now and since moving back in last year, me and the Wifey haven't argued.

When you have back problems, it's a long way to happiness again in you get into a depressed, angry and recluse state. Try and stay active, thus will lesson your back getting stiffer or more sore. If you start to see your Persona change, get help ASAP....Talking to nobody will have a big effect on you and your family/friends lives...Don't end up like me....You will start hating yourself if you end up stressed and taking it out on them...

There are many out there in the same situation OP, you just got to try and get on with things the best you can. STAY POSITIVE, don't let depression kick in....

I hope this helps....


Take care...