Stress and Pain

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nzkiwiman

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#286069 3-Jun-2021 13:52

Since at least December I have had terrible back pain at work; which I put down to bad posture, and constantly needing to swing around to work at another desk, which leads to bad posture again.

I went and saw the physio I have been seeing randomly since 2013 and he gave me some new stretches though I wasn't finding them to be very helpful.

In March I took 8 days off work to do a 2000km road trip around the South Island, which had me really worried that I would be in constant pain - to my surprise, I wasn't; a bit stiff but a nice hot shower at night cleared that up and by the time I finished I was generally pretty ok and pain free. Back at work - instant sore back.

Fast forward to May; I finally "broke down"; I realised I was no longer coping at work, my stress levels were through the roof, I was burnt out and my management team had no interest in implementing any suggestions I had towards trying to make it "better"; I was seriously considering just handing in my resignation

One of my friends suggested deep breathing exercises and through the stress, the rage, the anger and the anxiety I started doing this several times a day... and while all the work issues are still present, my back pain is mostly gone. Occasionally I will feel "something" at a weak point in my body (of which I seem to have a few), and will need to remind myself to do several minutes of deep breathing and eventually the pain vanishes and I can continue on with the work.

The result of this has made me look at the 9.5 years I have been in this job and the various body related issues I have had and thought - has this all been stress related because of the terrible work environment I have found myself to be in...

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#2717738 3-Jun-2021 15:56

I can relate to your situation. If you left your employer, you might find that is the ultimate cure. it did for me :)

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gzt

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#2717813 3-Jun-2021 17:49

The result of this has made me look at the 9.5 years I have been in this job and the various body related issues I have had and thought -

Serious question - Similar or same chair for 9.5 years?

gzt

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#2717826 3-Jun-2021 18:21

I've seen colleagues with possibly similar issues over the years trying different equipment. I think it's helpful.

My own experience is that no one item of equipment mouse keyboard chair etc solves everything forever. Changing equipment regularly does the trick for me personally. Note to self have not done this for a while.

Some office environments seem to think chairs are in the same asset category as buying a building forever..

Eva888

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#2717828 3-Jun-2021 18:30

Deep slow breathing also reduces blood pressure naturally and counteracts the effects of stress induced excess cortisol in the body. It does work and it’s a pity that such a simple exercise isn’t more widely practised. Great that it worked so well for you. Most people going to a doctor if told to go home and just breathe deeper, would think leaving without a script for meds was a wasted visit.

dafman

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#2717833 3-Jun-2021 18:50

Personally, I’d cover all bases and discuss with your Doctor.

eracode

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#2717961 3-Jun-2021 21:02

nzkiwiman:

…. I was burnt out and my management team had no interest in implementing any suggestions I had towards trying to make it "better".

If you have made your issues well-known to your employer and they refuse to listen or do anything to assist you, they are exposing themselves to serious liability. That’s inexcusable and incredibly foolish.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Fred99

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#2718105 4-Jun-2021 08:22

nzkiwiman:

Fast forward to May; I finally "broke down"; I realised I was no longer coping at work, my stress levels were through the roof, I was burnt out and my management team had no interest in implementing any suggestions I had towards trying to make it "better"; I was seriously considering just handing in my resignation

That's thoroughly disgusting.

IANAL, and maybe it's too late, but if anybody finds themselves in similar position, then document everything. That doesn't necessarily mean putting something in writing to your employer, but in a personal diary, dates, notes of verbal response from management etc. This can be used as evidence in employment claims against them and also with a potential ACC claim if that's needed.

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nzkiwiman

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#2718197 4-Jun-2021 11:54

gzt:
The result of this has made me look at the 9.5 years I have been in this job and the various body related issues I have had and thought -

Serious question - Similar or same chair for 9.5 years?

Around 3 months into the job I was getting pains; eventually I brought in my own chair and finding some comfort, I asked if I could get a new one (maybe the same as my personal chair). They required me to prove that a new chair would assist and I couldn't, so the request was denied. In the end I left that personal chair at work and purchased a new one for home (same model). With the new information I have, maybe the original chair wasn't at fault and it was stress caused by the job was the issue ...

EDIT: Same chair since 2013; I have repaired it several times over those years including new wheels and a new gas thing.

nzkiwiman

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#2718202 4-Jun-2021 11:59

Fred99:

nzkiwiman:

Fast forward to May; I finally "broke down"; I realised I was no longer coping at work, my stress levels were through the roof, I was burnt out and my management team had no interest in implementing any suggestions I had towards trying to make it "better"; I was seriously considering just handing in my resignation

That's thoroughly disgusting.

IANAL, and maybe it's too late, but if anybody finds themselves in similar position, then document everything. That doesn't necessarily mean putting something in writing to your employer, but in a personal diary, dates, notes of verbal response from management etc. This can be used as evidence in employment claims against them and also with a potential ACC claim if that's needed.

Yeah I have made sure I have been documenting emails and other related issues; I have everything from 2012-2017 written down, but took a few years off documenting but am doing it now.

I saw the employment counsellor this morning; it was very helpful.

nzkiwiman

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#2732438 22-Jun-2021 08:15

Just an update to this; I took a week off work backed by a medical certificate by the doctor.

I am now back at work on "light duties", which for me currently means imaging a bunch of new laptops that finally arrived to get them out to their new users, setting up new users and removing old users as well as a bunch more "proactive" (rather than reactive) work

Management have put all their eggs into the "we are trying to hire more people" basket yet are currently on round 3 of adverts.

timmmay

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#2732439 22-Jun-2021 08:23

It's quite difficult to hire qualified people in IT at the moment, specialists even moreso.

Hope you're doing a bit better, a week off and light duties sounds like a bit of a break.

freitasm

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#2732504 22-Jun-2021 08:57

nzkiwiman:

Fast forward to May; I finally "broke down"; I realised I was no longer coping at work, my stress levels were through the roof, I was burnt out and my management team had no interest in implementing any suggestions I had towards trying to make it "better"; I was seriously considering just handing in my resignation

nzkiwiman:

Around 3 months into the job I was getting pains; eventually I brought in my own chair and finding some comfort, I asked if I could get a new one (maybe the same as my personal chair). They required me to prove that a new chair would assist and I couldn't, so the request was denied. In the end I left that personal chair at work and purchased a new one for home (same model). With the new information I have, maybe the original chair wasn't at fault and it was stress caused by the job was the issue ...

I know this comment may not be the help you need but this workplace sounds toxic. I would be looking for another place to work.

nzkiwiman

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#2732948 23-Jun-2021 10:29

timmmay:

It's quite difficult to hire qualified people in IT at the moment, specialists even moreso.

Hope you're doing a bit better, a week off and light duties sounds like a bit of a break.

This week I have felt more like my old self with no random bursts of pain somewhere in my body. I know that "light duties" will eventually end and I'll have to go back to the reactive tasks .. so it will be interesting how that pans out.

nzkiwiman

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#2732950 23-Jun-2021 10:32

freitasm:

I know this comment may not be the help you need but this workplace sounds toxic. I would be looking for another place to work.

Yep, the IT Department of the firm I work for is 100% toxic; I do have to correct myself when I say "this company is [expletives]" as its not the company, just the department. Unfortunately, there isn't a heck of a lot of replacement options out there at the moment - I have been looking since the start of the month (I should have been looking earlier), but the "light duties" still reminds me that I do actually still like the work I do (well at least part of it anyways)

MikeB4

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#2732955 23-Jun-2021 10:43

Your health comes first. Don't ignore what your body is telling you. If you can find a new role and leave the job under your own terms and timeframe. It is easier and less stressful if you can. If your job leaves you things could get a lot harder to resolve. I am not being nosey but have you had a diagnosis for any underlaying illness that maybe causing the pain? It sounds a lot like Fibromyalgia which is exacerbated by stress. There are treatments available for that and you may find CBD beneficial.

The way you are being treated is not okay and maybe you should talk to OSH or an employment lawyer. You don't need to be going through this and your employer should be nailed for allowing it to happen and to continue.

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