Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

dla and osteoarthritis & mild scoliosis

18 replies

fransmom · 18/09/2007 20:27

my sil works in the mental health field and has mentioned thta i might be able to get dla because my arthrits is affecting the things i can do at home with dd adn is now affecting my job. obv i want to sort thingss out before i leave work completely but where on earth do i start? have never had to dela with anything like this before and tbh i don't have a clue what to do or where to go.

hope you can help or give advice! mtia x fm xxx

OP posts:

chocolateshoes · 18/09/2007 20:28

what is dla?

Original poster

fransmom · 18/09/2007 20:33

disability living allowance

OP posts:

Paulatwinmum · 18/09/2007 20:40

Speak to your GP or Consultant at hospital if you are under one. the claim form will need to be filled out by one of these so make sure you tell them that you are having trouble at home work etc. they will put this in your notes-tell them about dla and you are thinking of applying and ask them what they think are they happy to fill out form. i work at hospital and our doctors fill them out all the time

Difers · 18/09/2007 20:43

Disability Living Allowance:

Tel. 0845 712 3456 as soon as possible to obtain a claim pack. It will ask you questions about your daily activities and any help you need. Answer the questions honestly and as fully as possible. It's a huge form but don't let that put you off.

www.arthritiscare.org may also be useful to you.

Difers · 18/09/2007 20:45

Org.uk....sorry, great site, has info on coping at work.

mymatemax · 18/09/2007 20:55

I only have experience claiming for a child but I guess it must be the same process...
As the others have said ring & request a pack,the process can take a while but any award is backdated to the date that you request the forms.

Give your local disability advice centre a ring they are experts with DLA forms.

Good luck.

chocolateshoes · 18/09/2007 21:10

Good luck Fransmum. I also have scoliosis which causes me alot of pain so am generally interested.

Original poster

fransmom · 18/09/2007 21:13

am not sure which one it is causing all the pain

gp said i could join a gym for help with special back exercises. err, i earn minimum wages how am i supposed to join a gym!!!

OP posts:

weebleswobble · 18/09/2007 21:17

I applied for dla for my osteo-arthritis and was turned down for the reason that I didn't need help preparing a meal.

When I went for my blue badge assessment, which was successful, the assessor told me to apply again and tell them that when I move around the kitchen I need to hold onto the work surfaces. I'm going to leave it a few months and try again.

Original poster

fransmom · 18/09/2007 21:19

thanks. i have trouble holding heavy pans

OP posts:

chocolateshoes · 18/09/2007 21:20

A colleague of mine's brother was gicen free gym membership to help with his back problems!!! I must remember to ask my GP if it is possible for me. His back is certainly no worse than mine.

Where is your pain? If its lower back it probably is the scoliosis. Mine has worsened in the last couple of years.

Hope you manage to get dla sorted.

Original poster

fransmom · 18/09/2007 21:21

how did he get that?!!!

all over my back, and shoulders and legs, knees.....

OP posts:

chocolateshoes · 18/09/2007 21:25

I don't know how he got it. I think it was his GP who referred him although I think he only has it for 2 months. Bettre than nothing. I need a jacuzzi on prescription.

Have you had a recent x-ray? It would show if your scoliosis curves have got larger. I've found that I am getting a fair bit of pain from trapped nerves because my back is wonky the nerve pathways can't go where they should.

Original poster

fransmom · 18/09/2007 21:30

i had one xray a couple of months (maybe) ago now - that was how they found the scoliosis cs.

lol at jacuzzi

OP posts:

Difers · 19/09/2007 14:41

Try using chip baskets in saucepans so that you are not lifting heavy hot pans and then slide pans across surfaces when cold.

or use steamers...

magsiemags · 30/01/2008 12:37

i was diagnosed with osteoarthritis last week.... my legs are bad... my left leg is now almost 2 inches wider than my right leg (i have doc appointment in 7 days regarding the swelling) i have had to give up my job because sitting at a till was not good for my legs..... should i apply for dla? do youi think i will be successfull?

Weegle · 30/01/2008 12:42

I get DLA and I have ankylosing spondylitis - similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It was a 6 month fight to get it - you need the support of your consultant and also your GP helps. You definitely need help filling in the form. And they frequently try to turn people down so it's common to need to appeal. I'm in a rush now because taking DS to nursery but I'll come and post more later...

Weegle · 30/01/2008 13:32

ok.. am back

There is no harm in applying if you are feeling strong! I say this because it is an uphill battle to get. and it is emotionally quite hard, especially when you are coming to terms with a new diagnosis and all that entails.

Your first point of call should be someone like the CAB or a charity to help you fill in the forms. CAB have people practised in how to fill in the forms - and with a variable condition like arthritis you need this knowledge. You must fill in the form as if it is your worst day. You will be in a much better position if you can get supporting evidence in place at the beginning e.g. letters from your consultant, GP, and anyone who helps you (eg I had a charity providing respite care at the time of my application) - all the relevant people who know what you are like on a day to day basis. As I said it took 6 months from the time of my initial application (and it took me a good couple of months before that to organise the form-filling etc). They initially turned me down. This was hard and disheartening because anyone who knows me knows I needed the help - in fact at that point we had already arranged help with our DS banking on the DLA and we were getting in to debt, but we really had no choice. I asked them to review my case with more information including a direct letter from my consultant saying "I recommend this lady gets DLA to help with the activities of daily living" and it took them another 11 weeks to reply but then they awarded it to me. From speaking to others they frequently turn applications down, particularly ones like arthritis which are hard to quantify to the individual. Knowing that gave me the strength to keep fighting. But it is hard... on these forms you are forced to be negative about your life, your condition... so if like me you are trying to be positive and upbeat and focus on things you CAN do, you have to change your thinking about 180 degrees. I found it hard a) accepting my limitations that are here for life and b) committing them to paper for some faceless person in an office to make a judgement over. I strongly recommend you see first if your GP and consultant will be backing you, and also getting the support of someone - ring the ARC, they might know support they can offer you in your area.

Also - it is worth noting that you can claim incapacity benefit whilst receiving DLA - so if you are too ill to work you may find you are entitled to both. I haven't personally gone down the incapacity benefit route, but I know people who have done.

Flip