Question
My Doctor suspects Crest syndrome, as well as I have many hand joints affected by osteoarthritis. I have worked manual labour as well as labour with much hand strength. Getting much grief at work because hands have had surgery, and will need more surgery. Present job has been much hand labour for last 23 years (same job) should by employer be giving me grief due to hand surgeries or has the job contributed to the agravation of the joints?  

Answer
Dear Shirley,   The type of manual labor you have been doing for all these years as probably led to your osteoarthritis in the hands....  Osteoarthritis is also known as "degenerative joint disease" and is caused by age, manual labor jobs, sports, etc....  

As for your employer giving your grief, employers never like a employee who can not do the work they were doing no matter if it is health related or just sluffing off...  It is not right, but it is done all the time....  It may be that you will no longer be able to do this work and if that is determined by your doctor, then you may want to checked into applying for your Social Security Disability....

thank you,   karen