what is 'disabled'?

Morglin

When I started to get severe pain, they did some blood tests, as they thought it might have been RA setting in (although it came on very quickly).

The tests have shown it to be Polymyalgia Rheumatica, which isn't the same thing.

I would have thought your GP should have done some tests to give you a definite diagnosis.

Lin

needmoney

Bit of a long story , I've had blood tests and the consultant told me it was Rheumatoid, then the next day she rung me to say that her 'boss' for want of a better word had told her that the tests she'd done were not conclusive and wanted to do more , by this stage I was fed up and had lost some faith.

When I got worse I went back to my GP who then sent me back to Rheumatology for more investigation.
I went in to the consultant who looked at my joints and said 'that's osteo' but your hands are bad enough for me to give you injections I asked him if he was sure and he said yes but we can do the tests if you want. I said that there wasn't any point if he was sure. I asked him what I should do and he said don't take the anti-inflamatory pills because they damage your stomach, just take paracetamol. I refused the injections because I paid £140 for one previously and it did no good at all.

jobbingmusician

One of the main DLA tests is 'can you prepare a basic meal unaided?' If you cannot (and it sounds as if many of you on this thread can't) you should get DLA care at low rate, for starters....

Woby_Tide

w're in a quandary at the moment about whether to make a claim. The rules and requirements are all so flexible it's hard to work it out. We're in a position where technically my wife can actually do most of the tests they would use i.e preparing meals and walking certain distances. But by actually doing these activities her condition deteriorates so over time she can achieve less. Technically by claiming now we could halt the degeneration of her joints by getting help in thus reducing our requirements to claim long term as post pregnancy we know within reason what course of treatment can help her. But on the other hand technically she doesn't hit all the criteria so has to do general things that cause her condition to generate, making the recovery a lot longer. We don't want to claim fo rthe very reason that to an outsider it probably looks like she would be lying, as it stands she has to do what she does as we have no option for extra help, but every action she takes causes her condition to get progressively worse.

jobbingmusician

Woby_Tide wrote: »

w're in a quandary at the moment about whether to make a claim. The rules and requirements are all so flexible it's hard to work it out. We're in a position where technically my wife can actually do most of the tests they would use i.e preparing meals and walking certain distances. But by actually doing these activities her condition deteriorates so over time she can achieve less. Technically by claiming now we could halt the degeneration of her joints by getting help in thus reducing our requirements to claim long term as post pregnancy we know within reason what course of treatment can help her. But on the other hand technically she doesn't hit all the criteria so has to do general things that cause her condition to generate, making the recovery a lot longer. We don't want to claim fo rthe very reason that to an outsider it probably looks like she would be lying, as it stands she has to do what she does as we have no option for extra help, but every action she takes causes her condition to get progressively worse.

Would your consultant support a claim by supporting your assertion that your wife cannot do these activities because, although physically capable, she has been warned that they exacerbate her condition and will lead to long term damage? (Just an idea....)

Morglin

Woby_Tide wrote: »

w're in a quandary at the moment about whether to make a claim. The rules and requirements are all so flexible it's hard to work it out. We're in a position where technically my wife can actually do most of the tests they would use i.e preparing meals and walking certain distances. But by actually doing these activities her condition deteriorates so over time she can achieve less. Technically by claiming now we could halt the degeneration of her joints by getting help in thus reducing our requirements to claim long term as post pregnancy we know within reason what course of treatment can help her. But on the other hand technically she doesn't hit all the criteria so has to do general things that cause her condition to generate, making the recovery a lot longer. We don't want to claim fo rthe very reason that to an outsider it probably looks like she would be lying, as it stands she has to do what she does as we have no option for extra help, but every action she takes causes her condition to get progressively worse.

Try this home assessment:

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/default.asp

I would apply.

Lin

LaidlawUk

My appeal got turned down, they couldn't even be bothered to listen to what I said, they sent me out a statement of the appeal with loads of mistakes in it, its not there life its affecting.

dmg24

LaidlawUk wrote: »

My appeal got turned down, they couldn't even be bothered to listen to what I said, they sent me out a statement of the appeal with loads of mistakes in it, its not there life its affecting.

I'm sorry to hear that ll, is there any further right of appeal? If there are mistakes in the documentation, it sounds like it is worth pursuing?

Have you contacted your MP? They can sometimes be helpful when things have got to this stage? x

Gillianh2

:rolleyes: I have a BB and do not appear "disabled". I have osteoarthirtis, heart condition, "embarrasing medical problem":mad: And have recently suffered a nervous breakdown.
Yesterday I had the horror of being shouted at by an "OAP" who said that I had parked in the disabled bay wrongly even though my badges were on display. He retorted that "Those bloody things are given out like smarties" If only:rolleyes: I had to go thru many hoops to get mine;) The upshot of that little run in had me get back in my car burst into tears and scuttle off home:rolleyes: Pathetic I know:eek:
So please dont "Judge a book by its cover" not all disablities can be easily seen.:o

davsidipp

what a rude oap maybe you should have said that blue badges are not for being old its for being disabled. we notice the looks my husband gets when we park from oap and if i even started rattling off whats wrong with him they still would not believe it as he is only early fifties but tough they should mind their own business dont worry what they say.