My DMP Journey...

Monkeyballs

Hi Ailz,

Never thought of that! I guess it's worth asking, nothing ventured and all that

I have however had confirmation that my certificate has been received (I took a copy to the Jobcentre in town this morning) and payment has been processed... Hurrah! I thought, then I was told it would take 3 days despite being told it would be same day... Grrr... Oh well, at least I'm not struggling for cash but it'll be a right pain if it happens in future (or at least it will if I lose my job and have no other income).

MB x

Monkeyballs

Thursday 25/09/14

I spoke to HR today to try to find out what the future bodes for old Monkeyballs...

I'm guessing I spoke to the office junior as the lady said, and I quote "why not book a month off with your holidays, you might be better by then", great advice...

Then again, she did also suggest I try Vicks vapour rub... I wasn't quite sure what to say so I said I'd give it a whirl LOL awwww...

2 more sleeps until I see a specialist bring it on! Right now I'd happily let him cut me open and rummage around on the off chance he can fix it LOL I just wanna sit down Wahhhhhh...

MB

Seasidegal58

Poor old MB - it must be like :wall: I mean - Vicks Vapour Rub! Really! :rotfl::rotfl:

Never mind, you'll be seeing the specialist soon. Figures crossed that soon you'll be back lounging in that comfortable chair.:)

ailz95

I do, occasionally, use Olbas Oil on my hips and back. It is warming and soothing. Vicks vapour rub is the same thing with added petroleum jelly, it's a very 'new age' type thing to try. lol

Monkeyballs

Hi all,

Well, after a painful trip to see the specialist... I'm not suited for an operation

He showed me the scan and pointed out the desiccated disc and the split in it and some of the repaired damage to the bone and said that there is nothing that he would be able to do to my back which would improve matters for me also, that as the pain is probably related to the muscle, an operation would only serve to damage the muscle further and potentially make the pain far worse!

His advice is to continue with the exercises, small amounts followed by time to recover and also suggested trying to get back to work and just doing 5 minutes sitting down and then 10/15 minutes away doing something else LOL which is basically not possible in my current job...

On the more positive side he did say that most back injuries do resolve themselves after 18 months maximum and to make recovery at a suitable pace my main objective.

In other words, he told me what everyone else has already told me and while it's good to say I've seen a specialist I'm feeling quite down as A) it was painful (coming back wasn't as bad as I laid down on the back seat the whole way instead of trying to sit/recline like I did going) I've seen a specialist and he couldn't help me

And now, I don't know what is best for me and I'm worried that my GP will make me go back to work because a specialist said I should and I'll be useless and in pain? I think I'm going to try to see my GP on Monday but don't know if I should as I don't want to waste her time... Maybe I should limp away and join a Circus and become the amazing broken man and live off candy floss and peanuts?

I also feel bad for posting such a whimpy, whining post and feeling sorry for myself! Shoot me now...

MB

Seasidegal58

Oh MB you must be absolutely gutted. And please don't apologise for posting - you've been an inspiration over these past months - how you've kept up your good humour through all the pain and the vagaries of our benefits system has been fantastic.

I know you must have googled and researched everything you can on spinal disc problems but have you heard of a spinal specialist called Amjad Shad. I don't seem to be able to post a link on here but if you google him you will see an article in the Mail where when he operates on discs he operates through the front of the body rather than the rear which apparently bypasses the spinal muscles among other things. He is a private specialist but does NHS work in the Coventry area. There are other links on him. Maybe there is a surgeon in your area that does something like this. Anyway apologies if this isn't helpful.

Hoping you have a restful night MB.

ailz95

Sorry to hear that Monkeyballs. If your doctor suggests going back to work from what the specialist said you can explain to her about your job being unsuitable. If you have to find a new job then you can register with Jobcentre and they will suss out any suitable jobs before you go for an interview.

This happened to me 20 years ago and I never did get back to work. More than ever you need your DLA sorting as it opens lots of doors.

Sorry that the news wasn't better, but from reading your diary I'd say that you're a coper, you may be down but certainly not out and will bounce back (gently)

Thoughts are with you

Ailz

Monkeyballs

Hi there!

Thanks for the kind words I was in a foul mood for the rest of Saturday and although I'm still not "chuffed" today, I know what I need to do next (or I think I do, I at least know what I'm going to do LOL).

To be fair to the guy I saw, he explained himself clearly and understand that if he believes that an operation isn't suitable then so be it but I'm entitled to not believe him or look for more options

Tomorrow morning I am going to try to see my GP rather than wait for the consultant I saw to write to her (amazing that he was joking about post taking so long... ever heard of email!!!) and ask about the possibility of a second opinion.

I'm also going to ask about other pain relief options, I really don't care what it is I just want to try it. I'm sort of wondering if there is something that kills all feeling in my body but lets me move and use my brain? Maybe I can hit the gym for a proper workout and worry about the after effects later?

Thinking about it, I don't think my GP will make me go back as she has seen me all the way through since it happened and has even gone as far as to apologise for the time it is taking and has come straight out and told me that my current job simply isn't an option in my position.

Now, if this means I need to find another job then so be it - I need to work, I can't spend the rest of my life doing stupid exercises and laying about recovering LOL, there must be SOMETHING that I can do!!!

SSG, thanks for the name (Amjad Shad) I'll Google him in a minute I have heard about operations going through the front instead of the back but everything seemed quite dismissive as it is trickier, costlier and takes longer to recover from but I'd certainly be interested in having a read of something more positive

Anyway, more to follow soon hopefully... Fingers crossed!

MB

Seasidegal58

Hi MB

Did you manage to see your GP ?

Monkeyballs

Tuesday 30/09/14;

Alas, my GP is off for a couple of days and while I could see one of the others I'd rather not since my GP knows the problems I've been having and appears to be getting as frustrated as me lol

However, I have received a PIP form and started to fill it in... all 40 pages worth!!!! What is weird is how much appears to be relevant, I never considered the fact I struggle to cook as standing around is painful and I don't have the option of sitting is a problem since I've been quite reliant on microwave meals for example...

Regardless of this, I'm now officially in limbo

This is the last month I will get a regular payment from work (slightly reduced as my occupational health benefit runs out a week before payday),

I am expecting a call next week from HR to discuss the possibility of a discretionary benefit payment which is their way of buying me out of my contract (could be interesting),

I have handed my notice in on my room so I'm moving out in a few weeks time (back to Mums place)

I don't know what support my GP is able to offer, hopefully she will continue to sign me off to allow me to continue with ESA until I'm fixed rather than saying I'm ok for something else... Bit stressed still about this

Who knows what my income will be? I'm thinking I'd rather start making token payments of £1 for a while rather than going down the DRO route on the off chance I get a job/income which will allow me to make F&F's instead of having them written off - bit stressed about this but I know I have options so it's no biggie right now.

Did I mention I was having to move back to Mums place? lol

Then, when all is said and done I still have a back problem which at the moment seems to be fading into insignificance...

Last night I switched off my laptop and TV and focused on exercises after doing them I felt amazing for about an hour and then my back seized up and I had to try my hand at planking lol it did go but this morning I feel awful I sort of don't mind since I ache EVERYWHERE instead of just in my back, a bit like a good session at the gym surely I can't be accused of not doing my exercises

Ciao for now!

MB