I WANT to work but have arthritis in my knees - any advice pls

emmasgirl

Hi , I want to find a job but i have artheritis in both knees , its painful to walk and i can't bend , kneel or squat down - My partner works full-time and we get no help with rent or anything- my Dr says my arthritis is not disabling so i cant claim for my arthritis - i take 2 paracetamol and 2 tramadol EVERY 4 hours to help with the pain, i really want a job but with no qualifications im only going to get a cleaning job, but will struggle with bending/kneeling etc - can anyone advice me on anything i can do about my situation, many thanks In advance

sniggings

Sorry but if you can't bent, kneel or swat down surely that is disabling!

getmore4less

Think about what you can do ratherthan what you can't

Sit,drive........how do you get about if you can't walk

I would go see another docctor for a second opinion/assesment

Racheldevon

Are you receiving physiotherapy?

You would be entitlted to an access to work assessment in whichever role you went for. I have a condition which affects my joints, so I understand some of the limitations and difficulties this can cause. Access to work provides equipment and other support to enable people to do their role. So for example if you were in an office, an ergodynamic chair might be appropriate, or specific keyboard/mouse etc etc

You say you have no qualifications, have you thought about doing some courses/going to college in September? Or something like learn direct?

Perhaps speak to your hospital consultation about whether or not they would support an application for DLA, although I know other people with widespread arthritis that have to work despite being severely affected.

emmasgirl

I dont tend to leave the house unless its with my mum in her car - i can walk - slowly but it is painful, my knees tend to either "lock-up" or it feels like i have a knife wedged between the two joints /bone in my knee , i just have to walk slowly and carefully
I can't drive , and if i do have Dr/dentist appointments i have to get taxi's , think i will have to re-visit my Dr, but he just tends to give me pain killers , he doesn't really listen

marybelle01

You have my sympathy, as my father suffered the same way and I know how hard it can be. But it might help if you told us more - "I want a job but there's pretty much nothing I can do" isn't exactly loads of help. For example, you had a job in March - what happened to that? What skills do you have?

emmasgirl

I left my job as a waitress as my knees couldnt take the strain of all the running about , i have no skills , ive either worked in shops or waitressing

Notmyrealname

As was mentioned above you need to concentrate on what you can do, not what you can't. When my spinal injury flaired up again I could no longer do what I did or what I was trained for so I looked at what I could do. Administration was the first idea so I applied for admin type jobs and with a cleverly worded CV eventually got one.

What about something self employed, maybe working from home?

princessdon

What about a checkout operator if it doesn't affect your arms.

you can get up and or down from the seat when you feel like it.

Tiddlywinks

I have arthritis and know the reality is that the condition hurts and there is still relatively little that can be done - not being defeatist, just realistic.

Firstly, speak to your doctor and ask to be referred to a consultant... just in case there is a better treatment plan to try out plus it'll keep you in the system.

Work out what you CAN do and what you like doing... if you want to study then research if you can get funding.

I would imagine your condition would fall within the Equalities Act 2010 definition of a disability:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068

Also, research this:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/WorkSchemesAndProgrammes/DG_4000347

I know from personal experience that pain levels fluctuate and, for me, it is easier to deal with when I have other things to get on with.

I think we are all programmed to only be able to process only so much and can 'fool' our brains to notice the pain less by giving it something else to work on... so getting occupied with studying or whatever would be useful for mind and body!

Good luck.

Racheldevon

Ask for a referral to a consultant if you're no longer under one.

When there ask for a referral to the pain management team - make full use of everything they run from the group courses, to the psychology and OT input to the physio sessions. Ask if they run the 6 week acupuncuture sessions and ask to be put on the waiting list if so. Have you tried hydrotherapy? Again something that the pain clinic/consultant can link you into and nothing to be lost in doing it.

You may also benefit from the mindfulness based stress reduction course which are run for people with chronic health conditions, places like Oxford, Exeter, Bangor and others all run them in partnership with the NHS so they're free. It can be really useful for developing strategies for helping manage your pain, and have only mentioned this and the things above as I have had to really push for services, but it has really paid off.