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

ohreally

Two things, firstly it's not your GP's decision on your entitlement or not to benefits.

Secondly, consider updating your qualifications, perhaps with a view to non-manual employment.

Dunroamin

emmasgirl wrote: »

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

Exercise is very important for arthritis; that's said from personal experience, not just theory.

I second the idea of studying for a career change or else you may face spending the rest of your life on benefits.

wazza

I also have difficulty like yourself. I have been looking for and found a desk job.

You can try to look for jobs like in a call centre, receptionist, till operator etc. All desk jobs.

You could also try assembly line where workers assemble or pack items while sitting down.

HurdyGurdy

Is it osteo arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis that you have?

I am shocked that, with that level of pain and mobility problem, your doctor is only offering you paracetamol and tramadol to control the pain.

Are you seeing an arthritis specialist at the hospital? If not, then I think you should be asking your GP for a referral.

I understand just how debilitating arthritis can be - I have severe rheumatoid arthritis in all my joints. Fortunately, my local health authority allow me to have some fantastic - but outrageously expensive - medication, and I am virtually now symptom free.

There are many different drugs available for the treatment of this condition - you should definitely investigate this.

As for employment, I had to give up my job as a shelf stacker when my joints were really bad, before I was diagnosed. I then was able to claim DLA, as I was more or less housebound and immobile.

But once a proper drugs regime was established, I was able to do childminding, and eventually return to office based work.

I think your first port of call should be asking for a referral to a specialist, and getting a drugs regime in place. Then you can start to evaluate how mobile you are, and what level of pain you have, and THEN you can start to think about what employment you feel able to do

ladylouise62

Definitely go back to the GP - they can so often be dismissive can't they? I've not had good experience with them, so you are not alone.

As for work - you say that you have no skills, but what you mean is that you have no skills that can be proven by certificates.
Take a good look at yourself - are you organised, good with people (waitress?), good under pressure (waitressing?) good with figures (I don't mean a maths whizz, but with so many people unable to do basic maths, being able to that is a skill, and you may have covered that as a waitress or shop assistant too?)).

See if you have Excel and Word on your computer and google 'how to use' or look on Youtube where there are lots of good vids on how to do it. Work out the basics of how to use these and you can quote that with regards an office job. It might be easier to start with what you know you really can't do (by that I mean "can't" rather than "not fantastic at", as to be honest, a lot of people in jobs that require specific skills aren't as good at them as you would expect). You would be surprised at how many jobs you could do.
Your big problem would be getting the first office job, so try and do what you can at home to pick ups some skills, see if a place near you has a course for "The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)" which shows a basic competence at the basic office skills, and maybe see if you can do some volunteer work at a charity, who will not necessarily be so demanding of proven skills.

. Once you have worked out what you can offer, maybe look to starting as a temp. In that way you have a wider selection of roles than you would have imagined and a better chance of trying something out (I got into more than one role that way, with no experience).

I understand to some degree what you are going through as I have an intermittent issue with my joints/muscles and am in fact just ending a period of 4 mnths of requiring a stick to walk (or should I say hobble? ). It's been very difficult getting into work, but my role mostly involves sitting at a desk, and although I do also get pain in my hands, it's not so bad that I can't continue with my work. In 2010 I didn't work at all as I couldn't face the hell of getting in (I don't have a car either).
I know that it must seem daunting as you don't know what work is out there, and the disability also knocks your self-confidence, but there IS suitable work out there and you are NOT as unskilled as you think.


EDIT - I forgot to mention that some agencies have a computer-based test to demonstrate how competent you are at Excel/Word, so they are able to tell prospective employees how much you can do without you having had an office job before - it's just down to you to work on the basic skills yourself first. Maybe you know someone who can talk you through the basic skills?

Mrs_Arcanum

Osteoarthritis is often termed manageable/curable. I have this in both knees and work part time as an Administrator. I also cycle to work as this puts less pressure on the knee joint.

I do take Glucosamine (2600 mg) as without this I would soon be immobile, but with it I can face a couple of days at Alton Towers and all that walking with the bonus of the pool.

You definitely need to get better pain management and help.

emmasgirl

Thanks for the replies, tips and support , im seeing a different Dr on wednesday so im keeping my fingers crossed i get some help

TrickyWicky

As previously mentioned, you qualify under the DDA as it's a long term adverse affect on your health. Doctors are well known for giving wrong advice on other areas such as benefits that they know nothing about. Just because it's a doctor doesn't mean they are right about non medical stuff.

Secondly, I've been there with the arthritic knees myself. Turned out to be something else causing it which was operated on via key hole surgery - totally unrelated to the knees. Within 3 weeks, I was back to normal which was a very pleasant side effect of the operation. Now that health condition was only applicable to men due to the nature of it however its possible that there is something similar that can affect women too.

I am going to send you a PM to tell you more, maybe you can then talk to your Doc and see if there is something wrong. No promises as you don't mention your age but you never know!

rosered1963

Dear Emmasgirl,
I have arthritis. You should have had loads of tests to see what type it is - Rheum factor, liver function, chest xray (helps diagnose RA) etc etc. In my case the doctor does not know what kind I have, but the point is, your knees sound in a bad way and you need to know what it is so you know whether, for eg, exercise will be good for you or not.

I find it sad that you say you have no skills - yes you do! You can use the internet - you would be amazed by how many people can't. You have been a waitress and worked in retail so you can handle pressure, handle money, and work with the public - skills a lot of people don't have. You sound young (i'm not being cheeky so sorry if I'm wrong) so you need to press on and get referred to a rheumatologist. I feel for you being in pain and know how hard it is, but there is lots you could do - so mnay people spend most of their day in front of a PC doing various jobs, so you do have options xxx

TrickyWicky

emmasgirl wrote: »

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

<snip>

Dr, but he just tends to give me pain killers , he doesn't really listen

Same happened to me, life was miserable, very restricted, I was almost crippled. You don't mention your age so it could be you're getting old OR you have another health issue that is causing it. My doc was the same as yours - gave me painkillers and told me to get on with it.

I've sent you a PM, it may / may not be of use to you but please consider everything I have said and think about any other health issues you may have in the lower half of your body that could trigger the knee pain in the way I described. I was pretty much a cripple at one point and seriously considered taking an axe to my knees one day I was in so much agony and so distressed.

For anyone else reading this, if you have any weird physical symptoms in the lower half of your body, it may pay dividends to have something done about it if you started suffering knee pain afterwards.