dla help sciatica/slipped discs

sandraroffey

can i just say here that, yes, you probably do qualify but did you fill the form in yourself?? if you did, there is every chance you will be refused!! what you do if that happens, is you appeal, BUT you must get the citizens advice people to help you. they have people who specialise in appeals and they will fill in the form AND come with you to appeal tribunals. they were magic with mine. after a lot of tooing and froing, it took them 18 months to agree i was entitled. a long time i know BUT they had to back date it to the date of my claim. a nice little lump sum. please do not give up and dont fill the form in yourself.xxxx

SuziQ

If the op has filled the forms in accurately then she may well get the dla-sounds horrendous what you are going through.I filled the form in for my son and he was awarded dla very quickly-his care needs are nowhere near those of the op!

viktory

My husband has sciatica that is getting progressively worse - he still works full time (45 hours a week) in a physically demanding job. I plan on paying for him to visit a osteopath before things get worse for him.

Mips

I have been given Tramadol for Sciatica which is getting much worse now.

I am scared to take it though because of the side effects.

toofy

Hi, i have also suffered from sciatica (over the last 11 years to be precise). I am intrigued as to how the op has managed to get any form of dla, for this condition, as it is in it's very nature sporadic & unpredictable. I have now had 2 mri , and the latest showed up arthritis in my spine also; however the consultant is still reluctant to proceed to discectomy even though on two occasions I lost function, first my achilles heel for over 5 months, then dorsiflexion of my foot for 6 weeks, both of which returned luckily. It is very painful, frustrating and debilitating, but because it fluctuates I was not aware I could try a claim for dla, any thoughts appreciated...xx

chelleybelley

hi i have had 2 discectomies in the last 16 months that have both failed i am currently awaiting a 3rd op, have been off work for 2 yrs and got the heave ho off them this year, i spend majority of time in bed in agony. i applied for DLA 18 months ago as have had this for 4 years and it has progressively worsened i got awarded high rate mobility and middle rate personal care. i filled out the forms myself honestly and had a surgeons report and a copy of 5 mri scans that i had had done(make sure u copy dla forms and all paperwork b4 sending it off to them)if u feel confident enough to do the forms then just be honest on them as i know that going to dial etc can take hours sat with someone while u get the help to fill out the forms and when ur in agony thats hard to do...some dial people will do a home visit to help with the forms always worth asking... good luck tho.. big hugs x

jadeackellie

hi ive just been refused dla wich im annoyed with as ive been on it for last 2 years,i have 3 damaged discs in lower back and have been told an op wont benefit me,i also have really bad sciatica wich ive had for a few years,im in alot of pain 24/7 and affects my life in many ways as i have trouble walking i now limp its that painful driving is very hard with pressing the clutch,i take tramadol and co codamol every four hours plus amitryptilene dont no if that spelt right,i got my gf to fill forms in and like i say ive been refused,does anyone think i should qualify for dla any replies much appreciated thanks jeff

rogerblack

jadeackellie wrote: »

I have trouble walking i now limp its that painful.
Does anyone think i should qualify for dla

If you cannot walk at all without it causing severe pain or discomfort, then yes, you qualify for the higher rate mobility component.

Convincing them of this is another issue.
Reports from any doctors stating that walking causes you pain would be of use.
You need to appeal, this will first trigger a reconsideration - for which you should send all the other information you have about your case, and then if this is not granted you appeal to the tribunals service.
You want to do a in-person hearing, not a paper one.
The tribunal at the moment is experiencing delays - it's likely to be over 6 months until you appear.

jadeackellie

thanks foor reply mate i told them on the form i cant walk any distance without being in agony im in so much pain all the time some morning i can hardly get out of bed,i put same down 2 years ago and they gave me it so what has changed if anything ive definitely got worse,i rang them last week and they asked if i wanted to appeal so i said yes,the girl asked me a few questions and that was it,id like to write a letter and put it all down in my own words,would they let me do this,thanjs,jeff

rogerblack

jadeackellie wrote: »

i rang them last week and they asked if i wanted to appeal so i said yes,the girl asked me a few questions and that was it.
id like to write a letter and put it all down in my own words,would they let me do this

Yes!
What you actually started in process was a reconsideration.
This is an internal procedure where the decision is looked at again by someone else.

Unless there are blatant errors, they are unlikely to change their mind, without further evidence.

If you then want to appeal the outcome of this, you have to do it in writing, and they then send a copy of all the information onto the tribunals service, that schedule an appeal that's many months away.

You definately should phone them up again - and ask for a written statement of reasons on the decision to not give you benefit. This will mean you have at least 6 weeks, not 4, from the date of the initial decision to contest it.
It also lets you know what evidence they used - ask for a copy of any reports they got too - and you can see if there are inaccuracies in this.

Also - when calling - say you're sending in more evidence to be looked at during the reconsideration. And send in the letter explaining your condition, how it affects you, ... As well as any other evidence from GP, or statements from other people.

If the reconsideration is not successful, you need to then continue with the appeal - you have to request the appeal in writing, and you will eventually get asked if you want an oral or a paper tribunal. An oral tribunal is one at which you appear and they can see how your disability affects you, and ask questions - lots more win at these than if they just have the paper to look at.