Yes, if you do the wrong thing, it will damage your joints. I picked rocks one year in my garden with badly flared thumbs. In three days they were deformed forever.

It sounds to me like it is time to go on disability, at least until your maternity leave is over. I remember that pain, and thinking I had to keep on working. And I didn't have to do any heavy lifting.

Can you go to your family doctor and get him to specify some guidelines? And is there not someone medical around where you work who can help decide what you cannot do?

I hope you can get the advise you need. There is nothing worse than pushing through pain like RA.

I am a nurse also and we all do alot of walking alll day long. My feet,ankles,knees ,hands fingers hurt like hell most days. I work 9 hour days. I had a note to work 6 hour days...that never happened as i am the only nurse and the manager. I haven't found that happy medium. Just from one nurse to another. ..i feel your pain. Good luck

Every situation is different. In my case I was commuting 2 hours daily and teaching middle school. After about 10 months I had to take a disability retirement. It wasn't just the painful joints but my body was worn out and I was becoming sickly. Being home has helped tremendously. Nursing is a tough job. Only you would know how much work you can do in a day or a week without flaring up and getting run down. Hopefully you'll employer at least will give you some reduced hours if that's what you want. For me it was all or nothing,

I have RA, but I am also an employer. It was totally irresponsible of you doctor to give you a note for your.employer without stating exactly how many hours are safe for you to work and how many pounds you can safely lift.
Call your doctor's office, explain the questions your employer is asking. Your doctor has someone covering his patients while he is away.
If your employer tries to guess what your doctor intended for you, and gets it wrong, they are liable.
Lynne

Walking and standing can do you in. You did not say how far along your pregnancy was. If delivery is close, maybe you should knock back to halftime or something.

Hi RA Sucks, and you are surely right about that. I am a nurse as well and was diagnosed about 13 years ago. I hope you are not on a heavy unit where you are expected to turn and position patients. I am fortunate enough to work in an ambulatory clinic and presently out on temporary disability.
Doctors are notorious for not filling out much needed paper work out correctly. You may end up having to tell your Rheumatologist what you feel comfortable with as you would probably know best. January is about 2 weeks away. What would feel best for you to cut back to part time 12 hrs. or work more days 8 hours. Since you are the one working the shift, do you feel like the 12 hours is too much? What will your managers allow? If you can get things in place, you might as MarleneJ says want to think about disability. I feel for you having to deal with RA and to soon be taking care of a litlle baby. Hopefully things will get sorted out for you. Please keep us posted and know that we are here for you.

Hey, thank you all for your advice and encouragement. I am 24 weeks along. I definitely feel 12 hours is too long and the more I talk to people around me it seems people go off on leave for various reasons. I'm stubborn and push myself to limits I shouldn't, I hate that feeling that I'm incapable. I want to work less and get paid the same so maybe ill use so I time or holiday time. I'm due beginning of April and need to write the Nclex prior to having a baby ( as I think I'll have more energy to write it before and in Canada I need to write before June)
This whole situation has be baffled. My one manager is really good and gave me a hug when she saw me, she said they will do what I need. I just don't know what that is. I'm suppose to meet with my family doctor on Thursday and hopefully she can clarify what my Rheumy didn't.

Even without a chronic illness no pregnant woman should have to work 12-hour shifts. I'm appalled that you are in this situation even without RA. (I have three kids and worked a full day the day before each of them was born, but that was more like 8 or 9 hours.)

You are not incapable at all. You are just being asked to do more than what is healthy or sane. Are you doing three 12-hour shifts a week? How many days in a row? What would an altered schedule look like?

Believe me, you don't want to go into motherhood exhausted- besides, that what labor is for!

Hey guys.
Well, when I saw my OB-GYN/ Family dr and she watched me hobble into the room, she knew i wasn't kidding. My Doc has always been straight to the point, she was even the one at the beginning who didn't think I had arthritis at all. All and all, she'll say what she really thinks and is a good doctor.
To my shock she said she wants me off work! OFF! Since I have too risky and high stress work load even four hours she says is pointless if I want to be healthy for baby.

I was not expecting that. I was telling her about the light duty and how I could go down to eight hours or something. But she's known me my whole life (actually delivered me), and knows I push myself. I told her I wanted her professional opinion and not MY opinion, and she wants me off. :( Shes looking out for my baby and me, its just a hard concept to grasp. I feel like a wimp. My husband continues to reassure me im the farthest thing from it, but now I keep thinking about what if I start feeling good again? What if I can walk normal in a few weeks? I'll feel bad I'm not at work.
I dunno, i'm processing it.
I have to go for a third ultrasound as well, to ensure baby's doing good.
Just wish things were simple.

Your doctor sound great. Looking out for you and your baby. Wonderful.
Lynne

I was taken out of work completely in august and my doctor still won't let me return. I have a sit down job but a lot of stress and it was wrecking havoc on my entire body. I have felt better since not working. You should look into disability from now until you have your baby. Don't fool around with not only your life but you unborn child.

I've been a Physical Therapist for 23 years. Long before I was diagnosed I was amazed by RA patients. I always told my students how amazing they are at adapting.

I don't know you and I know you are not a wimp.

RA makes you strong. take a non-RA person and have them wake up how we wake up daily and they'd be calling an ambulance. we get strong emotionally too. Stronger than anyone should be forced to be.

something my Rheumy said last bust surprised me. I said something physical was bothering me and he seemed very concerned and commented "hmm ... you're not one to complain"
I almost said wait can you just say that again. I want to get my husband on the phone!

We sometimes need to be reminded that it's ok to take care of ourselves.