Question by Go Ask: Would a doctor help me if my job causes severe muscle and back pain?
I work in a meat market (family business) and 3 days a week I come home in such excruciating pain from lifting thousands of pounds. And every Wednesday I usually get cuts on my fingers from lifting plastic tubs that are filled with meat. The plastic digs into my skin and breaks the skin in one spot on my finger.
On those 3 days a week I get home and I can’t hardly move due to the back pain and muscle pain. Sleeping is becoming very difficult. My back pain wakes me up at 2:00AM and I usually can’t get back to sleep. I’ve taken to drinking a lot of brandy to help the pain, but if I drink enough of it to help then my boss complains about me showing up the next day with alcohol on my breath, and I’m not working as fast as I could be when I’m still a little drunk. Over-the-counter NSAID’s don’t help.

I don’t want the doctor to think that I’m seeking meds for drug abuse, and if I don’t have some severe injury, then I’m guessing I can’t get any pain meds, right? Could a doctor help me with muscle relaxers, or something like that?
How would I explain this to my doctor without asking for pain meds?
Is it alright to ask for pain meds?

Best answer:

Answer by Amanda (mandy)
The doctor may recommend over the counter pain killers like paracetamol or ibuprofen. If these do not work and the pain persists the next step would be a recommendation of stopping your work. As the job itself requires lot of moving and handling couldn’t equipment help? Or more help. Sadly in this day and age I understand money is short but couldn’t there be an option that would help you make your job easier as physically it will do more damage in the long term than the pain you have the now. The doctor would/may be able to give you something if you to help ease your pain and if it is a back injury he/she could recommend time off work or physiotherapy. Hot baths and showers help. Cushions at night behind your back and lie on you side is a good idea this relieves the tension strained from being moving around all day and or from leaning on the area of the back that hurts.

I hope you get it sorted. Good luck.
Hope this helps

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