Is this a possibility for me?

[DaisyGivemeyouranswer]

I'm 55, and work full time from home. I've had arthritis for the last... probably ten years.
I have tried everything. More exercise, less exercise, steroid injection, physio - anyway, long story short, I've finally been referred to ortho for a hip replacement 🥳

I've been told today that I could apply for PIP. Does anyone know if this is likely? I've had a bit of a google, and I'm happy to call them, but is it worth it, or are they likely to just discount me?

Things are going to have to start being adjusted a bit in the house - I'm starting to really struggle to get in and out of the bath, for example - and we don't have a separate shower either! I walk with a stick and I wake up most nights with the pain.

Just wondering if anyone has had experience of this.

If you are in social housing contact your provider and ask for help with keeping you safe at home. If not could you contact social services and ask for help?
My housing provider put in a over bath shower as I was struggling with the bath.
Good luck with the operation, and the pip application x

I'm in private rented accommodation, I've been in the same house for 15 years. Trouble is, my landlord is my brother in law, and he is useless at the best of times.

Thanks so much for your good wishes, I am scared of the op, but it's gonna be a long wait no doubt, I just want the pain to stop!

@DaisyGivemeyouranswer i would still do some investigating about having the place adapted. Even if its family they still have responsibility as a landlord x luck, lovely 🌹

If it’s affecting your mobility then yes apply, but be warned, it’s a gruelling process! However, I was awarded straight away with inflammatory arthritis, I documented my difficulties with day to day tasks in detail and provided letters of diagnosis from my specialist.

So sorry to hear that you’re in so much pain OP and hope that you get the op soon!

I don't really have much mobility at the moment, truth be told! I'm starting to make a list of all the places I might be able to walk once I've had the operation 🤣

Thanks so much! Fingers crossed this op makes a difference 🤞🏼 I hope you're well too x

My DF had a hip replacement in his early 60s. I remember him being in so much pain by the time they finally did the op, (waited a ridiculously long time) that his life had almost ground to a halt, as even getting in and out of the car had become too difficult, so I really feel for you, but it was amazing how quickly he recovered and was soon up and about!

As long as you can convince PIP of your needs then go for it.
But it's not enough to just say that you have arthritis - you need to show how your life is affected by having it. So can you safely cook for yourself i.e. chop and prepare food or do you need adapted tools to help, can you safely lift pans or remove trays from the oven? Or do you need help from someone else to achieve this? Having an air fryer on a work surface maybe safer for you than the oven as it is at higher level? What can't you do? Open jars and bottles? Or do you have to have ready meals because you tire from preparing meals from scratch? How do you shop? Online or ask family for help?
Have you been prescribed pain relief? Are you still safe having had medication? Some heavy meds make you dopily unaware and therefore more likely to have a fall. Do you start with a milder pain relief and then progress to stronger meds when the pain is too much? How long can you sit or stand for?
How far can you walk? And for how long? With aid of a stick or without? Do you need to rest at all? How do you feel after a period of activity? Worn out? Depressed while you wait for an operation date?
You need help with bathing - can you do so safely? does someone help you in and out of the bath? What adaptive aids are you using? Make sure that you tell them what helps? Having an air fryer on a work surface maybe safer for you than the oven as it is at higher level? What can't you do? Open jars and bottles? If you had PIP you could pay someone to clean your home or do other things for you such as gardening.
There are you tube videos you can watch for tips to enhance your case for PIP. Good luck

I have to say, it's much underrated as pain goes! That's given me a boost, I am hoping and praying that this works. Well, eventually 🙏🏼

This is really great advice, thank you.

You know there is part of me that feels like a bit of a fraud and that I could be taking it away from someone else. I don't even know if I should do it.

Fortunately it only affects my bottom half, but it has had such a huge effect on my life over the last five years that I am going to need some help/adaptations until I can have this op.

I'm sick of taking meds that don't really work and sick of being in pain, and I've had a lot of trouble accepting that I need help.

Thanks so much!

I think it would likely depend when you are due to have surgery. one of the conditions of claiming PIP is that your difficulties need to be expected to last at least nine months. So if you were having surgery soon and recovery time was say 3-6 months you may not meet the criteria. If surgery is likely to be longer away then definitely worth applying. If the arthiritis is affecting multiple joints and pain and loss of function likely to be longer term then PIP may be appropriate.

I would think that ESA would be what you first apply for to cover the period of not being able to work as much due to illness, then surgery, then recovery.
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
ESA gives you:

• money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work
• support to get back into work if you’re able to

You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

PIP would be more of an option if the wait for surgery is years long or if you still have issues with basic tasks and mobility after the surgery.

If it takes longer than 18 weeks to have the operation, you can go down the right to choose route. My sister had her hip operartion done at a private hospital under this. I think the surgeon/hospital has to do NHS work as well as private and you have to go through your GP but it would be worth asking if it is affecting your life badly.

Yes claim pip. It takes ages to come through and you might have to go for an MR or tribunal. I got turned down (cancer) as they stated my chemo ended the day before the year cut off date!! I now get full pip. If you are struggling with normal activities then apply. (Before anyone targets me for that, pre cancer I was a high rate tax payer for the career I had to give up!)

As an aside, I wonder if the option of biologics has ever been an option for you? That can be (and is) often very successful in treating many forms of arthritis.

If it's not then of course apply for PIP, and good luck with your op. I don't know enough about the PIP process, but others have been kind enough to go through it.