Claiming occupational pension through ill health

andrea_louise

Well done Louisram, am delighted for you. Am still awaiting a decision on mine.

dunstonh

Thanks for the update. Its always nice to hear how things turn out. Especially when its good news (eventually)

andrea_louise

Hi Louisram,

Finally got a letter from the Independant registered medical practitioner. It was very vague. Stating that on the evidence presented, I do not meet the criteria for IHR??? I can only assume from that, he has not read the medical reports
1. "I certainly feel that things are persisting with no particular improvement and cannot personally see her returning to fitness in order to work"
2. "This lady has degenerative disc disease, long standing problems with the spine and peripheral nerve damage. The PND may improve, but the DDD will worsen, slowly and over many years"
He also says..
Whilst your spinal and arm pain is undoubtedly distressing, (I) note that you are continuing to receive treatment through the pain clinic, aimed at reducing the pain that you are suffering. What he is referring to is Facet joint injections, which COULD POSSIBLY provide temporary pain releif for between 6 to 10 weeks, Whether it would work or not is speculative. It is carried out under a gen anasthetic and requires hospitalisation every 12 weeks, so how it that a viable long term treatment???
Stage 1 Internal Disputes Resolution was posted today. Fingers crossed for a fair assessment.

cyclonebri1

Hi. Not read the whole post, or if I did I have forgotten it:o

The bit about the facet block injections.

My surgeon did these under a general whilst he was pressurising all the joints to find the specific nerve problem area.

I was told these could be effective for 5 days to 2 years.

For a week I felt like a teenager, after a week I was in agony again.

Might not help, just fact :beer:

Another point, I had the spinal surgery to stabilise the crackered joints.
Failed, plus further nerve damage at a cost of over £12000, bitter?, just a little

bigjl

Just a bit of info' for the OP, Spondylosis is Degenerative Disc Disease, they aren't different conditions.

I have had Cervical Spondylosis since an RTC at work in 2002, I had another accident at work in 2007 and after physio, pain clinic, pain killers and acupuncture. I have been diagnosed with sero-negative inflammatory arthritis, occasional sciatica, Thoracic Spondylosis and Fibromyalgia. I also have PTSD and IBS.

I have worked full time in the Ambulance service in London, carrying people up and down stairs, attended 999 calls, responding in blues, etc, etc. Since 2000.

I was intending on making it to retirement, but with Arthritis was the final straw and have been off sick for 3 months.

My scheme has teir 1 and teir 2, teir 1 being unable to perform my current job, I will have to fight tooth and nail to get my pension but will probably be terminated on capability grounds.

I was also told to consider lighter employment in 2003, by an A&E consultant from St Georges in Tooting.

If you have any case related information then please PM with it, if you don't mind obviously, as I am trying to find as many cases of people that have been medically retired with similiar conditions. Or did you just contact the PAS with your details and they got involved from there.

It really annoys me that the general public thinks all NHS workers have super, gold plated, easily claimed pensions, the truth is slightly different. Well it is unless you are a senior manager anyway..........................

I sometimes think that the NHS takes advantage of peoples desire to get back to what they do best, I have been asked by friends and family if it was worth it. I could have stuck with my previous job, not satisfying but well paid, I was self employed and selling a few cars as a sideline aswell. £1000 a week in 1999.

But then I think about what my service in the NHS has given me, I have delivered babies, not in Hospital, normally in the back of an Ambulance or in a hallway or lift. I have resusitated people in cardiac arrest then got a letter from them 6 months later to say they are back at work and fully fit. Hung off a building and pulled up a person that was attempting suicide.

I have witnessed loads of bad things that I would rather forget, but at least I can hold my head high and know that I haven't stitched anybody up to make my targets, or ensure my career progression or a promotion.