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Date: 16.09.2015
From: Tina carr

Subject: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Hi there, I've been told I've got oesoarthritis in my neck. It's causing pressure on a nerve and I'm suffering with weakness in my left arm and pins and needles in my hand and foot.
I've been recently suffering with a burning pain in my right knee with I've been told my leg doesn't run straight and know the doctor thinks it might be to do with my hip. He's told me several times to give up my job ( I'm a cashier ) but I'm scared that I wouldn't be able to claim anything. I need help deciding what to do?! Any help would be appreciated
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Date: 16.09.2015
From: lucy

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

You can still work and claim DLA, Tina, although it's getting harder to get onto it from what I've heard. If you phone for a form and fill it in it can't do any harm. You will also be entitled to sickness benefit or whatever it's called if the doctor signs you off. Perhaps someone else will come on and tell you more about it as I'm not too sure about it. Good luck though.
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Date: 16.09.2015
From: sleek fox

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Tina, you can put in a claim for Employment Support Allowance and PIP (what was DLA). You can find info here:
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim

Pip info here:
https://www.gov.uk/pip/overview

Most people say it is better to go to an advice agency, such as CAB or other to get help to fill in the forms. Some councils also provide help from social workers or the like. You'd have to find out about that locally.
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Date: 17.09.2015
From: tina carr

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Thank you for the advise.
I'm in pain all the time now. I'm on tablets, but I don't think there helping. Not sure if there the right ones to be taking?! I'm on Gabapentine, naproxen and co-codamol. Im not sure taking these would be enough to put don't to make the claim!?
Do you know if theses would be the right tablets to take for what I've got.
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Date: 17.09.2015
From: sleek fox

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Tina, the fact you have to take all these meds is support for your application, not the opposite, if I understand you correctly.
There isn't a lot of treatment for OA. My mother had severe OA and really only ever took co-codmol in the end. My dad also has developed in his spine and he is taking the same. Have you tried a tens machine? He says it helps.

I would make the claim, if I were you, but get some help with the form.
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Date: 18.09.2015
From: Tina carr

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Thank you for your advise. The doc said there isn't much that can be done with oa. The Gabapentine is due to the nerve damage, the discs in my neck are dropping so it's putting pressure on the nerves that's deal with my left side. I've only got to put my hair up and get constant pins and needles in my hand and foot. The naproxen is to try and reduce the swelling around the damaged discs. And co-proxamol is for the pain that's just getting worse in my neck, shoulder and know my hip and knee on the right side. Im struggling with work, but got to wait for result from X-ray to see what happening with my hip! All the doc keeps saying is give up my job. he keeps saying give up my job. But does that mean I can work in another job. Cause I ain't got the energy to look for another one.
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Date: 20.09.2015
From: ruth peters

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Tina, I was also on co-dmol for a while and it didnt help much. I switched to this new cherry based supplement (vitanana.com) and it helped. I have no idea how it will work for others though.
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Date: 18.10.2015
From: Jacqui

Subject: Re: Help with trying to figure out if I should work or not?!

Hi, can understand how you feel. I have discs that have moved from C5 to C7 which trapped the brachial nerve which left me in severe pain and unable to use my right arm and hand. I also have little boney growths on my neck vertebrae. I have also recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands and feet and trimengial neuralgia in the right side of my face. I currently take 250mg naproxen x4 and codeine x4 gabapentin and amytriptolene. I only take them when I have pain as I believe the body becomes used to the pain relief you take. Today I am having a bad day so have taken the naproxen and codeine. I take the amytriptolene at night 20mg to relax the nerves to enable me to get comfortable to sleep and also it stops my eyes twitching. I am still working = but take a lot of breaks. You have to do what is best for you
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