Chronic health condition that impacts my job - need advice
I’m a PA who works in an outpatient clinic, typical 8-5 Monday through Friday job - no weekends. I have a severely herniated disc and have been told by my NS that a reherniation is unavoidable. I’ve had setbacks in the past that has had me bedridden and left my job scrambling to cancel/rearrange my clinic patients. On one hand I feel horrible about it but on the other hand there’s absolutely nothing I can do to control these flare ups and how long it’ll take me to recover to functioning level.
For those of you who work in the outpatient setting and have health conditions that can periodically “flare up” causing you to miss work weeks at a time, what have you done in regards to your job - did you end up getting fired, changed jobs or profession completely? I’m aware FMLA protects your job but outside of its use, I know my clinic is hemorrhaging money from my recurrent absence.