out on medical job eliminated

I have worked as a manager at a tavern for a year and a half. In July I hurt my back and ended up in the emergency room. From there on I followed their diagnosis and treatment but didnt get better. In September I sought the advise of a nurosurgeon who discovered i had been misdiagnosed and began an oral steroid treatment pain medication and a prescription to stay off work until further notice.
In my job I have to be there i am responsible for a place that is open twenty hours a day seven days a week. So i ended up going back to work to soon.Within two weeks i was back at the nurosurgeon with even more pain.
I was then sent to their pain managment clinic where i underwent the spinal steroid injections. I was told up to 72 hours of increased back pressure with lay up flat on my back.
In all I was off from work for 5 days. When I returned to work I was told my job was eliminated and I would be required to take a $3 an hour pay cut but could remain doing all of my job except ordering time sheets the paper end of my job. I refused and gave my two week notice
I have since then discovered that my employeer is paying another employee to do a portion of my managers job. Money while he is on vacation covering absent employees etc. This is all going on while i am working out that notice. Can I file a suit against my employeer and I still cant find a job comprable to what i was earning and need to knowif i can recieve unemployment benefits while i continue my search. As I am due for more spinal injections in one week and will be laid up still.I will need some source of income to get me through until i can find something comprable in wage.