Arthritis?

[PlaneMan]

As predicted by my mother the DWP are being gits, they have asked for ‘A statement of reasons’, this means the want to check that the tribunal has applied the law correctly to my appeal. Of course they won’t pay any money owed or due until they have been through everything. My copy arrived yesterday so they now have a month to decide what they want to try next.

It also means that the automatic blue badge is out of the window as you need an award letter from the DWP.

Luckily enough someone at Cardiff Council has a brain and I now have a Blue Badge, awarded under the discretionary rules.

 

[Bob Williams]

Well done Cardiff CC.

‘A statement of reasons’ is a new one on me. More DWP Bastardy.

PM, don’t forget to copy everything they send and everything you write and send.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

I use the Office Lens app  to copy all the documents, backed up via google photos. Everything gets sent recorded.

I learnt that very early on in dealing with the DWP and government departments.

[PlaneMan]

On Wednesday and Thursday I spent far too long on the phone trying to get another crutch as my hip is so bad at times I can barely put any weight on it and using one was twisting my back (not good when it’s mildly ruined anyway). Best answer I could get was ‘we’ll make an appointment for an assessment- it’ll be about 3 months’.

Eventually I got hold of the physio I used to see and he pointed me at this lot. Ordered some Coopers crutches on Thursday afternoon and they just turned up, I thought they were the same as the Coopers one I had but they are better, they have a slight squish to the handles and are way comfier.  Not bad at all for under £14 delivered and no VAT to pay.  I’ll use them again when I need other stuff, really impressed with the service.

[Bob Williams]

Bought mine from a local Disability Supplies shop, PM. Same Cooper’s crutch, same squishy – comfy handle. £19.00!

Thanks for the link mate, I have bookmarked that site. Interesting that they are linked to NHS supplies.

I get some funny looks struggling through the soft beach sand, until I can get to the hard stuff. That gets me some good exercise, beach walking is twice as hard as tarmac/concrete. Have to keep my engine going, that’s the key. The funny looks get even funnier when I totter into the sea using the crutch, wearing my short shorts! Not a pretty sight. ??

I have one for the sea and muddy stuff, another for “best”. I am convinced that SWMBO Brasso’s it before we go on a night out.?

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

I know about the soft sand work out, I took my fat bike down to Merthyr Mawr sand dunes a while back, only did about 9 miles and I was totally exhausted.  I got plenty of odd looks that day, mostly the ‘what the ***k is that guy trying to do?’ type. ?

[Bob Williams]

The odd looks are from people who do not have to work as hard as others, just to keep breathing, PM!

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

Train hard, work smart.

Lol, I ain’t trained for years. Walking the dogs is about as active I get. I really should change that!

 

…….. I need a dog walker. ?

[Bob Williams]

The Duke wrote:

Train hard, work smart. Lol, I ain’t trained for years. Walking the dogs is about as active I get. I really should change that! …….. I need a dog walker.

No Steve, you need a couple of Greyhounds! ?

Old dog joke: The wife nagged me into taking the dog out last night in the rain. He hasn’t come back yet. ?

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

Just had a phone call from the DWP, they are finally going to cough up what they owe me! Should have the back money in less than 5 working days, then I can start looking for a car for real. ?

[PlaneMan]

Finally got another appointment to see a surgeon towards the end of next month. I’ll believe it when it happens.

[PlaneMan]

Had a letter this morning stating that I had an appointment with 2 hip specialists. Today. The letter was dated yesterday. Must have been a short notice cancellation.

Luckily I had enough time to get there. Just. Saw the 2 specialists and 3 other people, all at the same time. After lots of prodding, pulling, stretching, pain and questioning they disappeared to have a confab. After about 5 minutes they came back and explained that the damage wasn’t severe enough for surgery at the moment, a yearly review was suggested unless the pain gets much worse.

I’m now waiting for an appointment to have a cortisone injection directly into the hip.

All of this was correctly predicted by an extended family  member who is an ex nurse and now works in the pharmaceutical trade. The reasoning given was I’m young, still quite active and it would be very expensive long term to start  messing with the hip now.

[Bob Williams]

My SWMBO is having a hip replacement on the 21st, which is great as she only went to the consultant 3 weeks ago. Today she went to Louth hospital for a Pre-Op and was put on a new programme, only being carried out at Louth Hospital. They have a team working with the consultant’s team: physiotherapists, dietitians, masseurs, etc. The intention is to get people as fit and supple as possible before the op, and then carry that on in Recovery. She has is been given a lot of stuff, and some of it is aimed at me, as I will be her carer when she comes home. The idea is to get her walking ASAP, which is great if it works as I am getting bored walking (Well I calls it walking…. ?)  on my own: her hip only started being really bad over the last 3 months, although the consultant says it is some of the worst wear he has seen.

As I say, this is only being carried out at Louth, which is a relatively small hospital. I am so relieved that she is going there, as it could have been Boston, which is a nightmare to get to and a good drive south of us. Louth is a friendly old town and the hospital is just like the town.

Nolan I hope the injection does the trick, but I understand why they won’t give you a new hip if you are fairly young. My missus is 71 and almost as riddled with the dreaded Arthur as myself. The replacements do have a Use By date, I am told. I found this whilst looking for stuff about hip replacements, might be more informative:

http://tinyurl.com/y8ta3scd

I would have hated to have had all our problems at a younger age. You have my sympathy, it must have an impact upon your activities.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Ed P]

PM if your hip problems are not long standing then you may want to do some research on the impact of gut bacteria. Recent research shows correlations (but as we all know correlation != causation!).

Oral bacteria has a big positive impact on gut bacteria so good dental hygiene with frequent use of a mouth wash may help. (research shows that this causes a positive benign change in gut bacteria). Pro-biotics are also known to have healthy effects. I would guess that none of these measures will actually improve your hip, but they may slow deterioration and they certainly cannot hurt!

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Bob. I’m 44 so it’s way too early for the specialists to consider surgery yet. Unless things get really bad.

Ed, it’s classed as chronic, I’ve had issues for about 2 1/2 years but I’ve always had joint pains so it was only about 20 months ago it started to get really bad. Thanks for the link though, I’ll have a proper look tomorrow.

[RSB]

When was it you did the superman act across your bike bars in the park ? @planeman Was it about the same time?

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!

[PlaneMan]

It’s called a Freeman Flip, named after a BMX rider from many years ago. Scotty Freeman IIRC. Problem was mine wasn’t intended.

That was about 4 years ago, 3 bikes and 2 helmet cams have been and gone since then.

[RSB]

Do you still have the video to that classic ?

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!

[PlaneMan]

It’s on YouTube somewhere. I’ll look tomorrow, knackered right now and a few beers in.

Edit. Found it in about 20 seconds.

[PlaneMan]

Saw another specialist today, another surgeon after yet another x-ray. This one actually talked TO me instead of AT me like the last lot.

After about 20 minutes he came to his conclusion and wrote it down. Before showing me he asked what I would like to happen.  I said avoid surgery as long as possible, even if it means being in agony. Exactly what he’d written down.

So I now have to wait for a referral to a pain clinic which has to come from my GP.

 

[Author]

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