Anyone successfully claimed PIP for osteoarthritis in the hands?

[scratchyfannyofcocklane]

So I generally like to think of myself as a 'young' 55. I work full time, have a 12 year old DD, run 30 miles a week etc etc...
I have osteoarthritis arthritis in both hands and all fingers which causes pain and swelling to the point I can't even press the top of the toothpaste tube or turn my keys in the door - basically anything that involves using my right thumb and index finger is painful at best and impossible at worst... Work have been great and supplied assisted tech etc but I really struggle with day to day stuff even doing up zips and buttons is really hard at times.
The pain, stiffness and swelling gets worse with stress /tiredness and if Icould afford it I would reduce my hours at work purely for this reason.
I did try to claim pip last year but was unsuccessful (although I did feel that I more than met the criteria for the daily living component)
I do realise that it may sound like a 'minor' condition but everything I do is either painful or impossible.

Has anyone in a similar situation managed a successful claim?

PIP is about how the condition affects you not what the condition is. There are a lot of resources online that show how the points are broken down - do you need help to get dressed, yes because you need aids and adaptations and more time to do so. Do you struggle with meal prep, yes because gripping knives etc is difficult so you need aids and adaptations to help you do so. Be blunt and honest about how you are on the majority (4 out of 7) days in a week. I would advise typing the form out or get someone else to fill it in for you because it may go against you to be able to write at length when you're claiming your hands are the problem.

Thanks for the response. I have looked at how each of the points are broken down and honestly i needed assistantce or aids for each component as it was either impossible or caused me pain to do each task... The problem was that the assessor decided that as I could drive (automatic car) the 10 minute journey to work then I didn't qualify... The assessor also went through the mobility section (which I had no intention of claiming) I told her that as I ran marathons I really don't qualify but I think part of the problem is that she couldn't quite understand how I could be fit enough to do that but not fit enough to squeeze a tube of toothpaste!

Did you apply for a mandatory reconsideration? That's the first step after it's been declined.

No, I realise now that i should have I suppose I sort of felt like a bit of a fraud as in most aspects I'm probably physically fitter than alot of people and if I can't get my head around that then I can't expect anyone else to... When I had my occy health assessment at work (via telephone) the assessor kept going on about 'keeping active' and watching my weight both of which aren't an issue. Every leaflet and all the information I've seen is focused on gentle exercise, staying active and losing weight as a way to manage my condition...Nobody seems to get my problem is solely my hands.

You're not a fraud at all. It sounds like you're really quite incapacitated by this

I’m not sure about PIP.
However what treatments have you been offered?
I have similar pain to you. Have been offered a Trapeziectomy for both thumbs. Finger joints can be fused to stop the pain. I’ve also had guided cortisone injections under GA.
The daily pain is excruciating & relentless, I do sympathise with you.

Grip is an essential part of activities 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 in PIP - you perhaps didn’t get enough points because they assessed you to have sufficient grip despite your arthritis. If you think that this isn’t the case (I.e you cannot grip to cook or manage medication etc) the go for reconsideration.

not everyone gets pip, the system is set up to award points for functional restriction caused by any illness, but there has to be a restriction in function - so it’s not enough to have a diagnosis , it actually has to affect how you go about your daily life x