I currently have femoroacetabular impingements, a torn labrum in my left hip, back spasms, and nerve damage throughout my left leg. For my work, I have to pay bills and rent while medical-leave pay only covers 70% of my income. I can barely save enough as it is, so I keep working.
I’ve already had one surgery with two more expected, the final one ideally being a new hip. I’ll use my personal time for recovery and stretch it out with medical leave as needed, but I can’t afford to stop right now. Eventually I want to buy a house and marry my girlfriend.
I went through that for a few years once. You start to distrust yourself and your emotions, and the spiral only deepens. I remember all I would do is work, sometimes eat, sometimes shower, and go to bed. I was just a shell of a person, and I don’t want that for anyone. No one can truly understand unless they’ve had it. It was a long struggle, but I eventually made it out. I hope you do the same.