Ill health retirement with arthritis

Dave73_2

Hi DRS1 
I have psoriatic arthritis which is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy joints and tissue 
right now I could cry with pain in my knee and that’s been a week like this, next week it could be my elbow and my knee will be like it never happened, new joints aren’t the issue it’s controlling the disease that’s the problem.

the irreversible damage I have is bone erosions on my feet and ankles for example, not fixable but the hope is to prevent further damage by managing the disease and not putting stress on these joints / bones 

the person who makes the decision based on medical advise is the pension fund trustee 

DRS1

OK I don't remember my elderly relatives with "the rheumatics" chasing the pain around like that.  A very different type of arthritis.

Good luck.

LHW99

the irreversible damage I have is bone erosions on my feet and ankles for example

It sounds as if whoever makes the decision needs to be be provided with those details (and evidence - x-rays, ultrasound?). 

That may be one question for your meeting - How can I arrange to provide complete medical information for decision making?

Hopefully your GP / Consultant will be supportive. You should in any case be able to request copies of your medical notes from both GP and surgery, to ensure that everything is sent.

Dave73_2

I have the MRI scans and report that says there is extensive corrosive damage and errosions, and several specialist reports on my journey. It might be ok and I’m over worrying . Just that there is a lot on the line.
i have my specialist appointment tonight and I’m going to discuss the prognosis a bit more than I usually do given that my employers are looking to initiate I’ll health retirement process

LHW99

Good luck, and do update us on progress.

crv1963

I don't want to give OP any false hope but I would suggest that as the employer has suggested this process be followed then the employer possibly has a good idea that the OP meets the required criteria for enhanced pension/ retirement.

Similarly OP you seem to be offering every co-operation to your employer with the process and required access to your medical records and the opinions of the medics treating you.

It is a very stressful process to be in the middle of but despite it being of no use to you I can simply offer you my very best wishes that enables you to put the process behind you with an outcome that benefits you in the long term and enables you to recover some control. 

Good luck for a speedy response that enables your retirement.

Dave73_2

CRV
thanks for the supportive post, 

Im just back from my specialist they tried to drain fluid from my knee but couldn’t , but they injected steroid into it so it may ease off but it’s agony, and they took some X-rays to see what damage I might have, so that could be good evidence if I need it. 

I’ve already had a good chat with HR it feels like they have my best interests and want to help me, 

Ali660

Hi OP, fellow PSA sufferer here - just wondering whether your consultant mentioned being able to support you in any way? I recently went through a stressful redundancy/relocation scenario and my consultant offered to write a letter in support of me not being able to travel the extra distance to a possible new job. As it happens I was made redundant in the end but have managed to get a similar job with no travel. 

Not the same scenario by any means but I’m sure your consultant will back you up. 

Sending best wishes 

Dave73_2

Ali
thanks for the advice, I hope your doing well with your own personal health.
My consultant is good and I think he’ll help where he can, my worry is he’s young and very positive so he tends to focus on that positivity in my recovery, now that’s great, but I need realistic prognosis too, it’s great saying that after another year or 18 months we could have this under control, however my employment situation is here and now and very real, an assessment will be done in the coming months, if they think I’ll be cured in the next couple of years that only allows them to cut me loose with no incapacity payout, they are not going to pay me till that indefinite outcome plays out, it gives them a get out of jail card,
fast forward a couple of years and I’m still struggling and also unemployed and skint and out the family home.
i understand the need for accurate prognosis but it feels unfair that it may be based on a guess or a balance of probability when I have so much to lose

Dave73_2

All that said he needs to say it as he sees it, that’s all he can and should do..
definitive answers are likely to only come form X-rays and my MRI