Any help available??

medders2604

Hi all,

Bit of a long one so apologies in advance.

3 Years ago I had an accident and smashed my left elbow into 40 odd pieces, since then I have had 18 operations and have my 19th booked in a few weeks.

I had an appointment with the surgeon yesterday and basically if I am still getting such severe pain and dislocations every few days after this next operation the only option will be to have the elbow joint permanently fused. They will basically put a metal plate around the back of my elbow and it will be held in whatever position is set permanently.

Now I have had to have casts on lots over the last few years and know how many things it is hard/impossible to do when one arm is useless and stuck at a set angle things like fastening buttons, getting tops on and many household chores are going to be a problem but I'm sure I will be able to adapt things.

My main problem is my car I drive a lot for work and recieve a car allowance rather than company vehicle but the car is manual which I was advised to get to try and help me keep using the arm rather than just let it wither. If I have to have the joint fused I will not be able to drive a manual so will need to get an automatic but even that will require adaptations as my left arm will basically be useless there more for looks than function so will need to have the gear selector thingy and handbrake moved somewhere more suitable.

So after all that my question is will I be able to get any help such as a grant to help cover the cost of the conversion or anything? Obviously the decision as to whether to have the fusion or continue in severe pain with an elbow that pops out of joint every couple of days will depend on if I can get the car sorted if I can't I will have to cope with it as it is for a long time until I have saved up enough for the modifications to be done.

Thanks for your help in advance

di3004

medders2604 wrote: »

Hi all,

Bit of a long one so apologies in advance.

3 Years ago I had an accident and smashed my left elbow into 40 odd pieces, since then I have had 18 operations and have my 19th booked in a few weeks.

I had an appointment with the surgeon yesterday and basically if I am still getting such severe pain and dislocations every few days after this next operation the only option will be to have the elbow joint permanently fused. They will basically put a metal plate around the back of my elbow and it will be held in whatever position is set permanently.

Now I have had to have casts on lots over the last few years and know how many things it is hard/impossible to do when one arm is useless and stuck at a set angle things like fastening buttons, getting tops on and many household chores are going to be a problem but I'm sure I will be able to adapt things.

My main problem is my car I drive a lot for work and recieve a car allowance rather than company vehicle but the car is manual which I was advised to get to try and help me keep using the arm rather than just let it wither. If I have to have the joint fused I will not be able to drive a manual so will need to get an automatic but even that will require adaptations as my left arm will basically be useless there more for looks than function so will need to have the gear selector thingy and handbrake moved somewhere more suitable.

So after all that my question is will I be able to get any help such as a grant to help cover the cost of the conversion or anything? Obviously the decision as to whether to have the fusion or continue in severe pain with an elbow that pops out of joint every couple of days will depend on if I can get the car sorted if I can't I will have to cope with it as it is for a long time until I have saved up enough for the modifications to be done.

Thanks for your help in advance

Hi there

So sorry to hear of your accident in regards of your elbow, unfortunately this also to my mother as well, where she now has a number of plates and pins at the last op, she does manage to get so much use from it, but does complain of the aches and pains that comes along with it.

I wish you well with this.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to help you, but have you tried claiming for disability allowance, for the mobility side of it?

Again good luck and hopefully someone who may know more of how this mobility thing works, in regards of cars etc, will post soon, take care.
:A

Di
XX

medders2604

Thanks for the support Di, I haven't looked at disability or anything but will have to take a look and see if I qualify for any help at all.

Think its all just a shock that has come to this. I am 31 and Dr has said no point doing an elbow replacement as their lifespan is so short just seems scary that in a few months I may never be able to move the arm at all again. I've got my splint on at the moment locked off at 90 degrees to try and help me work out what I will and won't be able to do so I am pre prepared.

Hope your Mum's elbow settles down soon!

Invasion

You wouldn't get the mobility side of DLA... unless your elbow affects your ability to walk, or you need supervision in unfamiliar places. However, if it will stop you being able to cook a meal or wash/dry yourself safely then you might get the lower rate element of care. Other than that can't help, but sure someone who can will be along soon

medders2604

Thanks Invasion, I've just been reading up about it and thought that from the info I could get.

Think need to try and find out about grants to modify a car no idea how much it would cost though so wil have to start reading up on that as well.

Paparika

Can i suggest you contact dial, the occupational health part, they can see what your needs are, and will give you great support, this is free, and a good base to plan what you may or may not need, they also give you information on organizations that will give money towards things that you may need, i don't want to raise your hopes, as i haven't tried the organizations yet, but dial will be able to help with advice on what you might be entitled too if any dla wise..

good luck

sunnyone

If you have an auto a steering aid is all thats needed in my car, my legs dont work as well as one arm so I have hand controls aswell but if its just your arm there are some nifty steering aids available and they range from £20 upwards, if you live in the NE I can give you a pin to try before you have to choose about your elbow though to tell the truth a tri pin or similar might be more appropriate for you. For a manual it costs more to adapt but its still easy to do, the biggest problem is that (in my case) I didnt pick the car knowing I would have problems with the controls or I would have bought a diffrent car after working out how I would manage to drive it IYSWIM.

There are independant living centers around the country which you might find useful and there are reigional mobility centers where you can find advice on driving aids but since you dont get HRMC you would have to pay.

Theres a michilin star chef with a prostetic arm fixed to help him cook but no one knows what help he gets behind the star, chopping food is hard without the full use of an arm for a start and that maybe the criteria that you can claim the care componant of DLA (the cooking test) and you may get a higher rate for help with dressing, bathing etc. while you adjust.

Best wishes on sorting it all out.

sunny

Savvy_Sue

medders2604 wrote: »

I am 31 and Dr has said no point doing an elbow replacement as their lifespan is so short

Have you checked what that lifespan actually is? I only ask because I remember when they wouldn't do knees or hips when you were under 50, and then only with EXTREME reluctance, which meant that many people were battling with limited mobility and extreme pain for a very long time.

Then they started doing them earlier, because it made such a difference to quality of life etc, and those years of quality at a younger age were reckoned to be worth the risk of it all going wrong later.

It's got to be a carefully considered decision, but I can think of some cases where even just a few years of mobility in an arm might make a big difference - for example if there were young children in the family.

medders2604

Thanks for all your help guys.

The life expectancy of an elbow replacement is approx 3 years in an older patient but as I am 31 and more active the replacement may only last a year or 2 and can only be replaced once. The problem is if they do a replacement they wouldn't then be able to fuse it in the future as there would be no bone to fuse. Its a sticky one and I have to give my consultant full credit he has done a lot of research to try and give me more options. The one possibilty is if the elbow replacements get better in the future there is the possibilty they could remove the fused elbow and replace it. It's been done with knees before in that order but not with elbows so I could be a first!

I get what you mean about cars sunnyone I currently have a manual as at the time it was thought it would be good for me to keep me using my elbow rather than keeping it still and not moving kind of like forced physio I suppose! I will have to find out about the costs of converting it and also look at the life of the car I do a lot of miles for work and the car already has high mileage so I wouldn't want to pay out for it converting and then it conk out on me anyway. I will also pop into one of the mobility centres and see what they have available that will be useful.