Sharing My Pain
Working with Tinnitus, Bursitis & a Disabled Hand
I currently receive a 10% disability rating from the VA for tinnitus, a condition that causes constant ringing in my ears. As an Audio Visual Technician, my job has been directly impacted by this disability. More than two decades ago, I had to transition from audio work to video only related tasks. This shift resulted in a reduction in my income and slowed my career progression compared to my peers. My employee reviews consistently acknowledge my expertise and have led to supervisory roles, but my disability has held me back from early technical growth.
My journey continued as I transitioned to a career as a camera operator. However, bursitis began causing me severe pain, which escalated in 2014 to the point where I had to kneel during a shoot due to unbearable shoulder pain. I reluctantly gave up my camera work and redirected my focus towards projectionist roles. I served as the UFC projectionist for over nine years, but in June 2023, my direct employer cited my request for increased compensation as a reason for letting me go, particularly mentioning working with my disability.
The demanding hours (5 AM to 3 AM) and physical strain of working in arenas, climbing stairs, and lifting heavy equipment exacerbated my bursitis, leading to frequent days off to recover through methods like salt baths and icing my knees. Another significant setback occurred in 2022 when I fell, dislocating three fingers and fracturing four, along with multiple fractures in my hand. Despite nearly a year of occupational therapy provided by the VA, my four fingers remain impaired and cannot close fully, affecting my ability to perform tasks like climbing scaffolding and handling heavy projectors.
In an attempt to transition towards engineering roles that involve less manual labor, I find myself facing limitations. My bursitis has become increasingly severe, causing pain in my knees, feet, hips, back, and shoulders. At times, multiple areas are inflamed simultaneously. Currently, I rely on copper fit compression socks and knee braces, but my pain persists.
Recently, I was assigned to work in meeting rooms despite being booked as a "standby Video Engineer" at Caesars Palace, a union position that allows for more relaxed responsibilities and coverage for non-union workers. I informed my steward about my disabilities and I continue to struggle with tasks I'm forced to adapt to.
Throughout the years, I've been applying for new job opportunities and positions, fearing that I may no longer be able to perform even simple tasks while sitting down due to the severity of my bursitis. I've also applied to increase my VA disability rating to include bursitis, which I believe is related to my military service.
My current situation necessitates seeking Social Security Disability benefits, although I can't afford to stop working entirely. Today, on 11/8/2023, I'm reaching out to our union's disability representative for guidance and support.
This blog will be my link to share with this disability representative, a disability lawyer and possibly more. My hopes are to collect my pension early along with social security and move where I can afford daily therapy, massages and seek alternative treatments to help make life more comfortable. The dream is a lot of spear fishing, the water seems like it would be the easiest thing on my knees at this point...
I won't tell you the exact words I did Dall-E 3 AI yet I think they conveyed my feelings accurately with this image. Thank you for sharing my pain today, tell me about yours in a comment or a post and share the link, I know many have it worse than me and not looking for anyone to feel sorry for me.