Bad leg - What should I do?

jamesflood

Okay, in 2004, I suffered a motorbike accident which snapped my tibia and fibia and ripped my Achilles tendon. Ever since then, I had to stop competitive sports, and any strenuous activity, because I just couldn't cope with the way my leg was feeling and the pain I was in.

Its been 8 years now since the bike accident, and its still the same, and probably always will be. I have a lump the size of a golf ball on the front of my leg, which I have been back and for my GP for the last 5 years complaining about it, back in August, I had a scan which told me it was the way my front leg muscle grew after I had the operation. So this explains the hurting... streneous activity on this lump of muscle will make it hurt, therefore, i cannot walk for long, drive for long (because of the shape my foot is bent whilst on the pedal) and cant really do much. And at 22 years of age, this makes me upset. I got refused for the Army because of this and my rugby career went out the window pretty sharpish.

Now, Ive striped with this leg for years, and I just cant cope anymore. At this moment I am unemployed and going through the motions of getting housing benefit and JSA. My leg hurts worse in the cold, and I am looking for a job 24/7, but It would be great If i could just get a few months rest from the stress of my pain.

What should I do? Can I claim some sort of sickness/dissability benefit because im limited to the jobs I can do?

Please help me as im tearing my hair out.

Thanks

McKneff

If youre on JSA you cant claim sickness benefit, Not sure if you could claim DLA, the criteria for it is very tough.
And its for care and mobility needs anyway,

Can you not have any further treatment to alleviate the pain to your leg. What medication are you on.

You sound at the end of your tether, you would possibly be better going back to your doctor and explaining it all to them ohterwise you will end up with depression, do you have any family to support you.

jamesflood

Yes I was thinking that,
I'm stuck in a big catch 22 if I cannot claim any disability or sickness benefit ain't I?

I cant be expected to put myself through hell, Ill only make my situation worse.

missmontana

If you're struggling why don't you change over to ESA?

jamesflood

What's the difference?

mazza111

If you get a fit note from your doctor saying you're not fit for work for a set period of time, you will go onto ESA. It's what replaced incapacity benefit and you wouldn't be expected to look for work while you are on it, and wouldn't need to sign on every 2 weeks. Are you getting any pain relief from your GP for this condition?

sunnyone

You havnt got a cat in hells chance of getting DLA or ESA for your leg, its up to you if you want to try but you wont get it, "virtual wheelchairs" prevent you getting ESA and for DLA you have to be virtually unable to walk or unable to walk and your neither.

You should ask to see another orthpod, thats your best chance at getting any help with your leg.

ab.da54

sunnyone wrote: »

for DLA you have to be virtually unable to walk or unable to walk and your neither.

Isn't it the case though that the person has to virtually be unable to walk or unable to walk without pain.

In effect, someone could walk 40 yards and be in tremendous pain so will therefore qualify for DLA. It's not about being unable to walk, it's about being unable to walk without pain.

sunnyone

ab.da54 wrote: »

Isn't it the case though that the person has to virtually be unable to walk or unable to walk without pain.

In effect, someone could walk 40 yards and be in tremendous pain so will therefore qualify for DLA. It's not about being unable to walk, it's about being unable to walk without pain.

Read the OP, the clues are all their and they havnt a hope in hell of getting DLA>

McKneff

I can understand your pain, many years ago I started with arthritis, every single joint in my body, virtually over a period of a month, I couldnt sleep for the pain apart from 10 minute stretches 24/7, I dont mind admittig now that after 3 months of this I really wanted to die, if my kids hadnt been so young I would have done, it was just so intense. I had so much pain all over, at one time my feet were the worst and I really felt like taking a spade and cutting them off so I know just how you feel. I just couldnt see a way out, it came,slowly through
medicine and the RA setting in so to speak but it took 20 years before I was pretty near normal. I still get flare ups when I over do things but there is light at the end of the tunnel if you persevere with your doctor.

McKneff

But OP to be honest more money ie ~DLA which you probably wont be able to claim wont make the pain go away.

Does swimming help, exercise bike, ordinary cycling, have you had physio.