I work in a glass factory and do physical work all day. For the past month I have had increasing lower back pain. It's gotten to the point where I'm walking bent over forward and leaning to the left. Twice now I've had to have my wife help me off the toilet and out of bed. Yet I've still gone to work.
Friday, I had a back spasm that put me on the floor. I used pto and left halfway through the day to go to urgent care. I stumbles into urgent care holding myself against the wall so I could remain standing. Before I even got to the counter I was told “If you're looking pain medication, we are not going to prescribe you any” So I went to the ER. The ER told me “You're just a hard working young man, everyone has back pain from time to time”
They did no checks or scans on me.
I went back to work Monday and struggled through the day, Tuesday I was able to stand upright, so I did a little more demanding work because I felt better. I woke up today again unable to get out of bed or off the toilet. I called off and explained that it was because of pain again. I have a huge sense of dread now.
I'm a hard worker, my shift struggles to function when I'm not there. I know it's not my problem. I'm still getting paid because they auto use your PTO for any time you're not at work. Yet this society/work culture has me so fucked up that I feel guilty and like I've done something wrong for not going to work. I hate this.