Injured, confused, and wish things got better
So I got injured due to shoveling snow and slipping on some ice. I injured my back pretty badly, and had re-injured it right after I was cleared to go back to work. I work as an RBT, and even though I'm on work restrictions that are very tight (no bending, pushing or pulling, and no lifting anything over 5 lbs) and able to follow them, I still experience really bad back pain, and it's so hard to focus on my clients. It sucks, especially when I'm in the middle of a program and have to pause because there's pain radiating down my legs.
Recently I hired an attorney because it's been getting really complicated with worker's comp with doctors not sending in order, doctors saying they sent in orders, only getting pain meds that I can only take at night, and no MRI or physical therapy to start healing my back. I'm calling out of work constantly because my back pain sucks so bad that I can't even focus on making a meal, taking a shower, play my video games, read a book, anything. And yes, I've been following the same work restrictions at home as well. It sucks because I want to show up to work, but I can't meet my program requirements with clients if I have to take a breather to push through the pain and then remember what I was even trying to do in the first place. I feel like the pain meds I take too linger into the next day, and I feel really foggy.
I'm just at a point in all this where I just wish I had a magic wand and erased any injury I had before all this. I was kicking butt as an RBT, and really loved interacting with all my clients. Now I feel like a stick in dry mud, and my performance has been lacking significantly since the injury. I was making enough to live but now, it's either I give really poor sessions to pay the bills, or I'm late on payments and not getting enough groceries for the house. This sucks, a lot.
I'm fortunate that the company I work for really care about me, and my supervisor has been really supportive of me. She even checks in every once in a while to see how I'm doing, and offers her help with anything she can do for me professionally (dual relationships are strictly forbidden in this sort of field). I really appreciate her, but I feel just terrible knowing that I'm like this now. I love my profession deeply, and would hate to lose this job at all. Hell, the clients I work with has brought me so much joy, and I'd hate to lose a job that I really love doing.
I guess I'm here just asking: what would you do in this situation? I'd really like some guidance with this, as I feel like I'm either screwing myself or the company I work for over with this injury. All of this is so new to me, as I've never injured myself like this at all in any jobs prior to this one. I'm considering seeing my doctor soon and see if there's a chance I could have temporary disability to cover the lost wages. But I don't know 😕