osteoarthritis

Payless_2

I have osteoarthritis in my fingers and feet. My condition has deteriorated rapidly over the last 6 weeks, especially my fingers. I presently work as a researcher which means that I am out in the cold on my feet every day. My fingers are absolute agony after a couple of hours now. They swell and become so tender. Consequently I am thinking that I may not be able to do this job much longer, especially if this cold spell doesn't ease up. I can't take anti inflammitories as I am allergic to them.

If I resign from my job will I be entitled to any sort of benefit? It used to be that if you quit of your own free will you got nothing for 6 weeks. Even if the weather does improve, I can't see me managing another winter working outdoors and work is so hard to find at the moment.

[Deleted User]

wouldnt it make sense to try and get your gp to sign you off for a month and then see how you are from there?

McKneff

What Woodbine says above makes good sense.

If you resign, you can be sanctioned for up to 28 weeks. Best see your GP.You should never resign because of ill health. Wait till they 'let you go' then you go onto benefits straight away. Apart from that, you are accruing holiday pay whilst you are off sick.

Keep warm.....

McKneff

Have you been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, I have rheumatoid arthritis and its a case of layer after layer after layer for me.

Payless_2

Thanks everyone. I used my "sickness allowance" when I had sugery in October, If we are off for more than 2 weeks in a 6 month period we are given a warning that we shouldn't be off sick for the next 6 months. Still, I suppose it could be worth it until it gets warmer. I have just had 2 weeks holiday from work and just dread going back on Tuesday.

My GP diagnosed me with osteoarthritis a few years ago. It wasn't too bad until the last 6 weeks which have been hell. It's my fingers and feet that hurt and I find it impossible to keep them warm. I wear loads of layers but can't wear too much on my hands as I need them to work the mini computer we use when interviewing people.

Payless_2

If I get finished for being on the sick won't that make it difficult to get another job in the future?

rogerblack

Payless wrote: »

I have osteoarthritis in my fingers and feet. My condition has deteriorated rapidly over the last 6 weeks, especially my fingers. I presently work as a researcher which means that I am out in the cold on my feet every day. .

Why can't you wear gloves?
Even, perhaps, heated ones?

If you can't, for some reason, get a doctors note, to the effect that you can't work without gloves in the cold, and then ask for your employer to assign you different work due to your disability.
If they refuse, or refuse to make 'reasonable adjustments' so that you don't have problems, then you can resign (once you have gone through the full process) and claim JSA.
You are not generally entitled to ESA, if you can work in an office without issue.

Payless_2

I can wear fingerless gloves but nothing on my fingers. We have small machines with touchscreens and tiny buttons. My fingers are clumsy because because of my osteoarthritis and I can't hit the right button with gloves on. We have pens for the touchscreen but, again, because my index finger is so bad, I have problems using them with gloves. I also keep thinking that I'm going to drop the blumming thing when I wear gloves.

Even before my arthritis became a problem in my hands I found it difficult to use the buttons with gloves. Up until 3-4 months ago we used pen and paper and I managed ok with that.

I have to go in for a meeting in a week or so. I could mention it then.

rogerblack

Payless wrote: »

I have to go in for a meeting in a week or so. I could mention it then.

You pretty much will have to, in order to be able to claim JSA, if you did resign, and fully work through the process of your employer being unwilling to change your working conditions.

(Assuming for the moment they're not).
However - on the disability side - you may find it useful to keep your core temperature up - this encourages bloodflow to the extremities, which will keep your fingers warmer.
Wear enough layers that you're almost too warm outside.

On the hands, perhaps some Thinsulate-FIngerless-Gloves - layered over Touch-Screen-Magic-Gloves or similar.
This will let you work touchscreens.
I've found that something like these - Silk-gloves-liner also works very well and adds a little warmth - in place of the touchscreen gloves.
I have not investigated heated gloves like HEAT-2 this one, but they do look like an interesting concept.

I do not have osteoarthritus, however, due to budgetary reasons, the house has been at 5C for periods.

You need to start out with appropriate clothing - if you're working outdoors or in a cold environment, and not wearing at least two layers on every bodypart - including a hat - you will be losing heat.
If you're losing heat too much, your core temperature drops, and your peripheral circulation shuts down, making problems like osteoarthritus lots worse in hands and feet.

With the wrong clothing - it's deeply unpleasant to be working in the cold.
Get enough of the right stuff, and it's if not pleasant, at least bearable.

Good luck.

Payless_2

Thanks, Roger. I wear trousers, tights and 2 pairs of socks on my bottom half. At times I've worn jodhpurs under the trousers. On my top half I wear a long sleeved thermal vest, 2 t shirts, a polo neck jumper, a fleece and my big coat. I aways wear a hat and scarf.

I'm certainly going to look into the gloves though. I'm just so clumsy now as none of my fingers seem to be pointing to where I think they are

McKneff

Could you look for another job when the warmer weather comes.