PIP for frozen shoulder?

Treacle1983

I have applied for the forms today over the phone but would appreciate any advice.

I have been suffering with a frozen shoulder for over 6 months now - I have had 2-3 physio appointments and another on 6th feb and have so far had 2 steroid injections into the joint.


My doctor has today referred me to a specialist to do another steroid injection via an ultrasound and i've been advised 8-12 weeks for the appointment

I'm taking max doseage parecetamol and 2 x naprozen 500mg tablets every day as well as regular heat pack on the affected shoulder

I am pretty much housebound now apart from car journeys to doctors appointments as whether walking or as a passanger in a car the movement/motion cause total agony

I am however still managing to work full time as luckily I work from home doing online admin type work which doesn't require much movement of my shoulder


My main problems are:
Washing and Drying Back/Hair
Getting into and out of the bath as I have to have someone physically hold me and help lower/assist me in and out
Shaving my legs/armpits etc.. as I simply cannot reach with that one arm

Getting dressed - I cannot do any of these myself: putting on lace up shoes, putting on a back fastening bra or tshirt, Taking off any upper items of clothing. So if I am home alone I am literally in a very loose pair of pj's and thats it

Brushing/tying back my hair - cannot do this myself any more

Cooking - I cannot lift anything two handed - so a hot family type meal would be impossible. I can't lift anything with that one arm higher than my hip.

I cannot do dishes/housework at all really as even just a few minutes leaves me in total agony

I cannot change the bedding or hang out washing etc..

Does anyone know if these things will be enough to get PIP - I just really hope that I can get enough to be able to get in someone to cook and clean a couple times a week.

My husband works shifts and although he is great when he is home - when he is not I cannot really manage at all.

For example today he's working Noon til 10pm so my lunch is a sandwich he made before he left and I have a simple ready meal for tea that I can put one handed into and out of the microwave.

cazziebo

Don't know the answer but just want to say you have my sympathy. I've suffered from this debilitating condition for six months now. I'm self employed and hardly worked at all for three months. However, I had a steroid injection a couple of weeks back and I'm lucky in that it made a huge difference to the pain. Sleeping through the night for the first time in months - heaven! Still got very limited movement but start back at physio this week. Had to stop because the pain was too great to do anything.

I don't believe the term "frozen shoulder" gives any sort of indication of the severity and impact of the condition. The constant pain, the absolute agony if anyone bumps you or you catch your arm on a door etc, and the lack of sleep are just hellish.

Hope you find something that helps.

jacques_chirac

You'll struggle to get an award because it is likely (hopeful) that the pain will be controlled within nine months. I would wait until you have had further treatment - at least a few months more physio. Have you asked about stronger pain relief?

Treacle1983

I will ask doctor again about better pain meds

Thanks for the advice

tinkledom

Treacle1983 wrote: »

I will ask doctor again about better pain meds

Thanks for the advice

I have something similar in that the top of my spine is damaged which causes extreme pain down both arms, week hands and numbness is the thumb and the next two fingers on both hand.


In addition I have a damaged lower spine that makes any walking or movement extremely painful.


The doc sent me to the pain clinic who have prescribed 60mg 12 hour lasting Morphine twice a day and as much Oramorph as I need.


I am now almost pain free and can do almost anything I could do 20 years ago. PIP would not help me - no amount of money could get rid of the pain, only medication can do that.


By way of note, the hospital wanted to give me that injection in my lower back, just about to go into theatre when they found out what other medication I was on. The surgeon told me that I could have bled into the spinal cavity and ended up in a wheelchair. So no injections for me!

Poppie68

tinkledom wrote: »

I have something similar in that the top of my spine is damaged which causes extreme pain down both arms, week hands and numbness is the thumb and the next two fingers on both hand.


In addition I have a damaged lower spine that makes any walking or movement extremely painful.


The doc sent me to the pain clinic who have prescribed 60mg 12 hour lasting Morphine twice a day and as much Oramorph as I need.


I am now almost pain free and can do almost anything I could do 20 years ago. PIP would not help me - no amount of money could get rid of the pain, only medication can do that.


By way of note, the hospital wanted to give me that injection in my lower back, just about to go into theatre when they found out what other medication I was on. The surgeon told me that I could have bled into the spinal cavity and ended up in a wheelchair. So no injections for me!

Well i hope you have informed DLA so they can stop your HRM and MRC.

Indie_Kid

I was thinking about the time limit too.

And get stronger pain killers. I was on naproxen for a few weeks and it did nothing for me. Actually it did - it made me feel sick and I bruised easily. Pain wasn't eased at all.

There's no harming in applying though and seeing what they say.

tinkledom

Poppie68 wrote: »

Well i hope you have informed DLA so they can stop your HRM and MRC.

Maybe because I still have mobility difficulties and care needs. It is only because of the medication that they are removed. Come off them, then I am back to where I was.


As you well know, I have no need to inform the DWP of that.


There is no improvement in my health just a removal of the pain I used to suffer courtesy of the Morphine.

cazziebo

Treacle1983 wrote: »

I will ask doctor again about better pain meds

Thanks for the advice

I'm on Cocodamol, Amitryptiline and Dicolfenac .When I was taking the recommended dose I was so zombied out I couldn't function. Since the injection I'm on quite a small dose :T

Treacle1983

I was on diclofenac but apparently naproxen works better

I will ask doctor about something codeine based liked cocodamol in place of the paracetamol

I was on a very low 5mg doseage of Amitryptiline until about a month ago - as I lost my mum to cancer in august and was suffering with depression and sleep problems
I don't think i'd want to go back on it - as I felt emotionless and quite numb on it and very drowsy when I woke up

rogerblack

tinkledom wrote: »

Maybe because I still have mobility difficulties and care needs. It is only because of the medication that they are removed. Come off them, then I am back to where I was.


As you well know, I have no need to inform the DWP of that.

You are wrong.
You have been successfully treated - and no longer meet the DLA criterion.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/275636/example-dla-uprating-letter-2014.pdf

Contains 'things you must tell us about'.

Included in this is 'if you need more or less help'.

Neither this, nor the identical changes spelled out in more detail http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-your-circumstances say 'but it's OK if I am not well when I don't take my medicine.

If the medicine actually enables you to do anything you could do 20 years ago - and you can take it - then unless you are in at least significant discomfort when doing so, or unless doing so would harm your health - by not informing them you are committing benefit fraud.