3 replies to this topic

[Interpol]

I am a 44 year old para T4, have worked full time for the past 19 years, been T4 for 25 years. I have been off sick for 6 months with depression, this has led to my overall physical health deteriorating - Dysreflexia, horrendous spasms, joint and muscle pain on elbows, wrists and shoulders, extreme fatigue, some days it is a big effort to push myself. I tried to go back to work last week but it really is becoming immpossible, so I am signed off again. My GP, and CPN are really supportive and both feel I should give up work. However, the decision will rest with my employers Occupational Health advisors, has anybody else in a similar situation had experience of being medically retired from their job? Has it been a problem or are they quite in-tune with the problems facing the spinally injured? Thanks in advance.

[nomis]

I'm similar injury level and experience with SCI as you and I gave up fulltime work at 50. I don't recall depression being a problem for me but I was exhausted and dysreflexia was a big problem. I'd work hard all week and collapse at the weekends and somehow drag myself back to work on Mondays to push myself through another week.

My job was becoming increasingly physical - time was split between office and visiting up to eight sites a day (in-and-out of the car ad nauseum). So I took a three month break, moved back to the old hometown as a solo parent with one school-age kid. Then I found I couldn't get back into work - why pay for my experience when for the same you can employ two new graduates.

I was quietly relieved not to go back to the old work. I've picked up freelance stuff but nothing permanent. I like life this way. I live simply but without the pressures of earlier years. Absolutely no regrets. Can't remember when I last had AD but it was more than a year ago.

My only concern for you, Interpol, is that at 44 there's heaps more productive activity in you yet and if you stop working then I hope you have other exciting activities to chase. Having said that I believe that whenever you create a vacuum in your life it gets filled with something. Busy people stay busy.

Maybe you've had enough of the same old thing and it's time for a life change. Might be the best move of your life. Do you want to take the risk?

Edited by nomis, 12 September 2008 - 10:54 PM.

[pikey]

I am medically retired and I am a T4 paraplegic, being so means that you are exempt from all the tests that abled bodied people have to go through to get Incapacity Benefit. As you say your GP and CPN are supportive, if they suggest you give up work you will have no problems in doing so.

Provided you can live on the money, I would suggest you look after your heath.

You can once you feel well enough you can do voluntary work, or if you do not wish to do that you can fill your time with gentle exercises down the gym.

[greybeard]

If I were you I would not be the one who makes the running on this. Let your employer make the decision especially if you might benefit from some special ill-health payment arrangements from a company pension scheme.

I made the mistake of resigning when I felt I was no longer productive as a consequence of an industrial injury. Although I was old enough to receive an early retirement pension, I would have got a larger pension if the company had made the decision to retire me on ill health grounds. The compensation I received for the injury did not make up for the lost ill health pension payments.

Perhaps you should seek professional legal advice before making a decision.