Back problems. How to work?

LMS123

Hi all. My relative is a hard working guy and has always worked in manual jobs. He has had back problems on and off for a number of years and has had to be off work for a few weeks each year because of it. He's been employed, self employed, subcontracted but has always managed to keep in work by paying for private physio and self-help. Orthopaedics say he doesn't need an op, it's more muscular and misalignment of his spine.

Now he has another acute episode, is employed and is seeing another physio but is off work again, this time it may be a month or more. His work is obviously exacerbating his problem and his employer isn't very happy about his absence but what can he do? He's 40 and feels it's too late to change jobs to something more sedentary. Plus, he earns a reasonable wage and would find it hard to manage on a substantially reduced income.

Any ideas from anyone who's been in a similar position would be welcome.

El_Torro

40 is still relatively young. If he's having these problems now it's only going to get worse between now and retirement. It's often said that our health is the most valuable asset we have, this is especially true the older we get. I would say the best thing to do would be to retrain now, even if it means taking a pay cut.

LMS123

Thanks El Torro. How would he find out info on retraining? Where would he start?

He looked at the National Careers Service website but there was nothing work based within 10 miles and he can't afford to be in full time education for any length of time.

I suppose he may have to just look out for local jobs, sadly, that may not affect his back :( but it's difficult at interview explaining why you've left your employment without jeopardising your prospects.

elsien

What are his skills and qualifications? Manual work covers a multitude of options.

UnsureAboutthis

Hello

As you know, it is your relative who will decide if he is cut out for a different line of work.

Depending on where you live, lobs may be easy or hard to find.

He needs to decide if he wants change, think about what else he wants to do, think about what jobs there are in the area of interest and the skills/self-training, etc., required—brush up on interview skills, etc., etc., etc.

A word of caution - if he keeps on as he is, he may well damage his back to a greater extent and that is seriously worth acting on, consider a different job via working for someone or self-employment.

I worked at a van factory when i was a lot younger; my back kept on playing up when the stupid foreman kept on putting me on what we called "heavy work jobs.' I left but got another job before leaving in a big shop - it was easy work when compared with what I was doing previously. So I had time and energy to spare and did night classes and volunteer work, i.e., building up experience working with the public. I wanted a job with the council as they were local and easy/easier compared to my previous jobs but failed interviews and i applied for any job that came along and built up my interview skills and got a job in the postroom and worked my way up

to a senior officer level. They paid for my training etc - I started with the council at age 39. The jobs initially were

easy peasy, but towards the end, there was more stress and a lot more work but becuse I was good at what I did, I still had plenty of time to have daily laughs, a couple of hours chatting etc and never had to work weekends becuse I was good at what I did all done by watching, listening, and learning from others mistakes.

It was 15 minutes to the office in my own car, parked my car outside the office's car park and had a 10-minute drive back home, flexi working hours, and before I left, they allowed working from home which made the job even easier.

So, go for something you think you are good at, learn/train hard, dont overstretch yourself, and this way you will know a lot more than you need to making your job a lot easier and enjoyable, IMO

Becuse of the easy job, few mins to get there and back and a lot of flexi time off, I was able to buy property to do up and make money on the side, decor our own places and help out decorating our childrens places etc and more time going to the beach on the weekends as required.

So think about what he/you want to do and how important it is; are there jobs available in that line of work? Take it from there before he does permanent damage to his back.

Emmia

The risk he has is that he might be forced into a new employment path if he does serious damage to his back, to the level where he can no longer do a manual job.

What educational qualifications does he have? How does he feel about part time learning/going back to school?

Sbean61

You don’t mention his trade but it could be that he could use it to get into teaching at a local Further Education college. I work in a college, they are always looking for tutors in electrical, plumbing, bricklaying and plastering. The money isn’t great but there is a pension and the people are great. If you have trade qualifications or a Level 3 in something then you can take a teaching qualification (level 5 in Education and Training) alongside your job. It takes two years and is done one evening a week. There are also qualifications in assessing and verification that you can take, although these are harder to get into I think. Failing that they are usually looking for estates guys, caretakers, reception staff or catering staff. He could get a foot in the door by taking something like that then work his way up to something else.

LMS123

Thanks to all for your replies. Plenty to think about there!

He has a few qualifications (8 GCSEs A-C, BTEC in horticulture (where his back was injured)and some electrical experience, which is hard work on site. He looked in to qualifying in that but it's not easy when you're working away all week and you need to go to college. Plus your employer has to agree to day release which won't happen if it "doesn't suit the business". And now that sort of work is becoming difficult for him.

As for full time education/training, he can't afford to do that.

Anyway, he's looking out for something that his back can cope with. Fingers crossed but jobs in the area where he lives are hard to come by.

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81889047#Comment_81889047

If he's really driven then weekends and evenings are available - it would be tough though.

TELLIT01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81888895#Comment_81888895

Retraining is great in theory, but even if/when he has retrained (assuming he can find retraining) he will be at the back of the queue when employers are looking for new people. A 40 year old without experience in a job is unlikely to be viewed as a major asset. Unemployment is the highest for several years, and is likely to increase.

My next-door neighbour is in a similar situation of always being in manual work and now having some pretty serious physical problems. He's had a shoulder problem for years, he's a scaffolder. Recently had a bulging disc in his neck which took several weeks to correct, and now has a problem with one leg and hip which a physio is concerned may be tendon and ligament damage. If that is the case he won't be able to continue in the same work. He's about 40 too and is worried sick as scaffolding work is the only thing he's done since leaving school

Savvy_Sue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81889743#Comment_81889743

We had someone come and do a voluntary placement at the charity I used to work for. Admittedly he was younger than 40, but he'd never done well at school and had tried a range of things, from catering to - most recently - scaffolding. He'd decided he didn't really want to spend the rest of his life outdoors, working at height, AND realised that it was a young man's game which he wouldn't be able to do forever.

So he'd got himself to evening classes for accountancy, and to us once a week for practical experience. I'm sure that learning period wasn't easy, but he went on to get a 'proper job' in accounts.