u/_p4n1ck1ng_

Starting a job tomorrow, any advice or similar experiences?

I'm 19 and I have not worked before. I wasn't functioning in my teen years, let alone could work (for many reasons). And it took me months to get hired at my local Dunkin Donuts.

I have Scheuermann's Kyphosis. Essentially scoliosis but a hunchback. Pain started at 11, but due to medical neglect was only diagnosed at 14 and treated over 6 months after diagnosis with pt, rest, and weight loss. At that time, it was \*much\* worse. My curve was 74°, I was using a cane just to go to the grocery store, and taking so much ibuprofen. My curve is 47° now and pain is much better. I don't ever use the cane and I can do things for several hours without pain medication. Strength, flexibility, and mobility are all unaffected. But I am still in pain 24/7/365, which worsens with activity and is only 'recharged' by laying down. Sitting only does so much.

I'm going to be working 4-5 hours, 4 days a week. And honestly, I'm fucking scared. I've shaped my lifestyle around this and now I'm gonna have to change everything. I don't want to be in worse pain than I already am. I don't want to have to be in bed the rest of the day after work. I don't want to go back to taking meds everyday, which would both make it less effective and probably fuck up my liver the same way ibu fucked up my stomach. I'm already so fucking tired all the time even on 8-10 hours of sleep. I was out for not even 2 hours today and I'm so tired and I have no idea why. That's not even my back, I genuinely don't know why I'm so tired all the time (I drink liters of water everyday and get blood tests often). I have a knee disorder and shit feet, too. I know they're gonna ache.

I just have no idea how my body will react. I've already scheduled to start pt again. Thing is, I need to work. I'm trying to get on disability, but that won't be enough to live. I'm not living in this dirty house with my abusive mother for the rest of my life. My plan is to eventually move to the city with my brothers and start college. If I can't handle 4-5 hours at a fucking coffee shop, how do I expect to function going forward? I'm being told that my body will get used to it eventually and strengthen. Which, my back has done before with other things. Pushing through pain was commonplace in my teen years, trying to unstiffen those muscles. But also, I was only able to start getting better after I left public school and could spend a lot more time in bed. There's a grey area I'm trying to hit here.

I bake as a hobby, which is about 3-5 hours or so on my feet without pain meds, depending on what I'm making. But that's not several times a week. And I can choose not to during flare ups. Am I ridiculous to base my ability off of that? My pain has gotten better, so it might still get better, but eventually I am going to hit a wall. This disease is incurable. Pain is inevitable. And I've never heard someone with an entry level food service job say their job helps their body in any way. Sorry, I'm ranting and speaking childishly. I'm tired and stressed and don't really have anyone to talk to about this. I'll take any advice. I'm going to look into more back braces when I start making money. The heavy duty ones are too stiff, and while my little one helps pain with pressure, the velcro is not strong enough for this.

(If this is an inappropriate post for this sub, I apologize, I haven't posted here before.)

I'm 19 and I have not worked before. I wasn't functioning in my teen years, let alone could work (for many reasons). And it took me months to get hired at my local Dunkin Donuts.

I have Scheuermann's Kyphosis. Essentially scoliosis but a hunchback. Pain started at 11, but due to medical neglect was only diagnosed at 14 and treated over 6 months after diagnosis. At that time, it was *much* worse. My curve was 74°, I was using a cane just to go to the grocery store, and taking so much ibuprofen. My curve is 47° now and pain is much better. I don't ever use the cane and I can do things for several hours without pain medication. Strength, flexibility, and mobility are all normal. But I am still in pain 24/7/365, which worsens with activity and is only 'recharged' by laying down. Sitting only does so much.

I'm going to be working 4-5 hours, 4 days a week. And honestly, I'm fucking scared. I've curated my life around this and now I'm gonna have to change everything. I don't want to be in worse pain than I already am. I don't want to have to be in bed the rest of the day after work. I'm already so fucking tired all the time even on 8-10 hours of sleep. I was out for not even 2 hours today and I'm so tired and I have no idea why. That's not even my back, I genuinely don't know why I'm so tired all the time (I drink liters of water everyday and get blood tests often). I have a knee disorder too and I know they're gonna ache.

I just have no idea how my body will react. I've already scheduled to start pt again. Thing is, I need to work. I'm trying to get on disability, but that won't be enough to live. I'm not living in this dirty house with my abusive mother for the rest of my life. My plan is to eventually move to the city with my brothers and start college. If I can't handle 4-5 hours at a fucking coffee shop, how do I expect to function going forward? I'm being told that my body will get used to it eventually and strengthen. Which, my back has done before with other things. Pushing through pain was commonplace in my teen years, trying to unstiffen those muscles. But also, I was only able to start getting better after I left public school and could spend a lot more time in bed. There's a grey area I'm trying to hit here.

I bake as a hobby, which is about 3-5 hours or so on my feet without pain meds, depending on what I'm making. But that's not several times a week. And I can choose not to during flare ups. Am I ridiculous to base my ability off of that? My pain has gotten better, so it might still get better, but eventually I am going to hit a wall. This disease is incurable. Pain is inevitable. And I've never heard someone with an entry level food service job say their job helps their body in any way. Sorry, I'm ranting and speaking childishly. I'm tired and stressed and don't really have anyone to talk to about this. I'll take any advice.

(If this is an inappropriate post for this sub or flair, I apologize, I haven't posted here before.)

I normally brush once a day in the shower before bed. I only remember to do it in the morning if I'm going out and interacting with people and so I don't want bad breath/gross teeth (I know I should be doing it everyday). Yesterday was one of those days and I noticed a little blood when I spit in the sink. Not enough to even taste it. I checked my mouth and found the back left spot that I got a wisdom tooth removed August 2024 was a little bloody. Only hurt a little and wasn't actively *bleeding* and I assumed the scar tissue was sensitive and I brushed it too hard. Today I checked the gums under my molars cause they've been sore lately. I get cankersores sometimes so I assumed that was it and was making a point to brush them good. But instead I have, like, scrapes just under a few teeth and one on the other side? My gums overall look and feel healthy. I have ocd so when I clean myself, I do it long and hard. My brother recently even told me I brush too hard and my toothbrush gets frayed fast. The blood thing could've been happening and I just haven't noticed because I'm in the shower. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm gonna try and be more gentle. Should I start using mouthwash more to keep the scrapes from getting infected? Google says not to use full-on mouthwash because it can inflame it, but I'd rather a little inflamed than infected. Ps I don't have dental insurance and am poor so I'm not gonna go to the dentist just to check.