Arthritis

gill5blue

Hi Every one,

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis today
I have it in my left ankle and right wrist. I am going to apply for a blue badge-I feel I need it.
Is there anything else that would help me?
I am 53years old and broke my ankle 4 years ago and have been in pain daily since then. I have plates and pins in my ankle.
I originally posted this on the disability forum but was directed here

Regards

Gill5blue

TELLIT01

Have you looked at the conditions around qualifying for the blue badge?
The CAB site list the level of disability required to qualify and that level is pretty severe. The 2 areas which seem to be relevant to you are these :-

• you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you are a driver and have severe upper limb disabilities

I wouldn't think arthritis in one wrist would class as severe upper limb disabilities, and although you say it's painful to walk, is walking 'very difficult' ?

I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't apply if you think you need the blue badge, but be prepared to be disappointed.

teddysmum

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Have you looked at the conditions around qualifying for the blue badge?
The CAB site list the level of disability required to qualify and that level is pretty severe. The 2 areas which seem to be relevant to you are these :-

• you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you are a driver and have severe upper limb disabilities

I wouldn't think arthritis in one wrist would class as severe upper limb disabilities, and although you say it's painful to walk, is walking 'very difficult' ?

I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't apply if you think you need the blue badge, but be prepared to be disappointed.

Our council's site says you have to be unable to walk just 50 metres.

TELLIT01

teddysmum wrote: »

Our council's site says you have to be unable to walk just 50 metres.

I suspect the actual wording may vary between websites but the underlying message is that your ability to walk is extremely restricted, not just very uncomfortable. When PIP took over from DLA the walking element of that was tightened up a lot too.

gill5blue

Hi
Thanks for all your help and advice, I can walk (with a limp) but it is uncomfortable, I cannot get out of the car if I am in a normal sized parking bay, So I usually have to park at the far end of a parking area or go back home.
Regards
Gill


Maybe I could buy a Delorean car, that would solve it lol

sangie595

Noble_Viking wrote: »

I would say struggling to manoeuvre in and out of a car in a normal space would entitled someone a Blue Badge, you can only apply and see what happens.

It doesn't. Nor does walking with a limp or being uncomfortable. You must be almost immobile and in excruciating pain to qualify. I know. Been there, got the T-shirt, and finally got the blue badge - but only after demonstrating a lot more than needing the doors wide open to get out, I'm afraid.

kingfisherblue

Some disabled spaces are only the same width as ordinary spaces, although most are wider. If the OP can park at the far end of the car park and walk to the shop (albeit with a limp and pain), then go round the shop and return to her car, it seems unlikely that she qualifies for a Blue Badge.

teddysmum

Our local Tesco Extra has the disabled parking in two lines going away from the store front, so more than half are further away from the entrance than 'normal' parking.


Family parking is right by the door though. How on earth did we manage without these spaces and having to walk to the shop, carrying shopping on the pram handle or in a basket underneath?

Ames

teddysmum wrote: »

Our local Tesco Extra has the disabled parking in two lines going away from the store front, so more than half are further away from the entrance than 'normal' parking.


Family parking is right by the door though. How on earth did we manage without these spaces and having to walk to the shop, carrying shopping on the pram handle or in a basket underneath?

Mine too (wonder if it's the same one). What I don't understand is it means that parents with small children have to cross the 'road' part. It would make so much more sense to swap the disabled and parent and child ones over, I've no idea why they've set it up like that.

GaleSF63

teddysmum wrote: »

Our local Tesco Extra has the disabled parking in two lines going away from the store front, so more than half are further away from the entrance than 'normal' parking.


Family parking is right by the door though. How on earth did we manage without these spaces and having to walk to the shop, carrying shopping on the pram handle or in a basket underneath?

Ames wrote: »

Mine too (wonder if it's the same one). What I don't understand is it means that parents with small children have to cross the 'road' part. It would make so much more sense to swap the disabled and parent and child ones over, I've no idea why they've set it up like that.

Our nearest Morrisons manages to do both - long line of blue badge spaces going away from the entrance (but not starting till after the cash machines and trolleys,) and others across the road in front of the entrance (but not immediately in front; that's the parent and child spaces and ironically, the very nearest the door are normal spaces!)

In short, I would say it's at least 30-40 metres of walking to get to the first door and another 5 to the second! It would still be too far for me even if I had 5 blue badges.

tanith

I've had Osteo-Arthritis for over 20yrs I have one hip replacement, the second is imminent a spinal surgery to scrape out the O/A impinging on nerves, I have been diagnosed as having multi-joint O/A as its in most joints. I don't qualify for a Blue Badge .