did you see this news story?

caprica

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-10868506

it as all over the radio today too.

so many things bug me about it.

first of all, it doesnt specify what type of arthritis the guy had. he got it at 25 (36 years ago, he's now 61), by 1990 he was so disabled he was house bound (15 years into the disease aged about 40) and in 2005 (15 years after he was totally disabled) he got a hip replacement which meant he could become Mr Twinkletoes.

Ok.. lets assume it was osteo. So knowing it was osteo, the doctors waited.. 15 years before giving a 40 year old a hip replacement that they knew would give him his life back?! If that's what happened, then that's the real crime here.

Or if it was rheumatoid.. maybe he went into a natural remission but his hip was really destroyed but once that was fixed he felt well again. But I think that's unlikely, for it to just be one hip. But maybe not impossible.

I dont know it all sounds a bit sketchy and very badly reported. I think it reflects badly on all us sufferers and makes it out like the blanket term 'arthritis' isn't a major issue.

hileena111

Yes...I'm in the North East and have been seeing that story in the news ...it is a very blanket statement.....and does reflect badly on us.......people then think...right a new hip...new person. Not so in all cases....Marion / Speedy could you go and teach dancing now ....you should be able to...you have had a THR LOL So should I.....NO WAY!!!! LOL
I dont know but i dont think he should have been getting DLA all that time when there are people claiming it and not getting it {people yho are probably entitled to it}
Love
Hileena

dreamdaisy

He was caught. He has to pay it back, but probably at a rate to suit him, not those he cheated. He hasn't really been punished has he? I think his hip should be removed and he should be denied any more benefit. When I have my revolution . . . . .

Arthritis is a catch-all term used to describe a wide range of conditions - who cares about the detail? Reporters won't, it's irrelevant to their story. This dancing cheat is no worse than the linesman in Wales and the other Welsh one who was caught out doing similarly acrobatic things whilst claiming. At least they were found out. And, let's face it, there are loads of scroungers and swindlers out there - it's easy to fake what we have and other conditions too. The system is faulty - we do need more stringent medicals etc but they have to be administered by those educated enough to spot the cheats from the genuines. DD

hileena111

Well said DD......to early for me to string sentences together sensibly LOL
Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hi Caprica

I said on Silver beaks thread about this....

thing is it gives US a bad name when we are trying to tell THEM we are being treated unfairly by the ESA and DLA - 'no wonder', the public will think, 'they are all scroungers'

Bad publicity for all of us

Having said that he did not actually lie it said on radio 2 he just didnt tell them

Kni*kers to it all eh?

We need two 'good' stories to every 'bad' one to even it out.

Love

Toni xx

jemima

Why on earth can't someone report a person who deserves benefits but is denied from getting them?

I suspect because there are lot more of them and it's not so "sensational" as someone claiming something to which they're not entitled, whatever the reason.

Yes, people like this make me feel ashamed for being disabled and tars lots of us with the same brush so that the public is constantly thinking "mmmm, didn't I see him/her running for a bus this morning or was that someone else?" Then everyone starts on a witch hunt...

Isn't it bad enough being genuinely disabled to add in the constant overview of everyone with a disability?

dreamdaisy

To answer your points in order: some people are too proud to apply for benefits. There is that recent case of the two women found dead - a mother who cared for her paralysed daughter refused all offers of help etc. She died, her daughter could not raise any alarm and died too. Pride is not necessarily a good thing.

Cheats who are caught is always going to make the news. Sensational is probably too strong a word for it, but it will confirm the average Daily Mail reader's prejudice about benefits and those that claim them, thus leading them on to a pleasing rant about johhny foreigner too. And all before breakfast.

I for one am not ashamed about being disabled. I don't like it but I am not going to creep around, head hung low, saying sorry to everyone. This is not of my doing, I am not responsible for it, I do my best to accept it and make the best of rotten circumstances.

I didn't understand your last sentence, so I can't respond to it. DD

elainebadknee

I think you should realise that they do make you want to wait....Im 41 and having problems getting a TKR that i need and have been fighting this now for about 3 yrs...They do not want to operate on you if youre too young.....
So while youre thinking that this story might not be cosha, please think of the other side I have told you about and yes I am getting told that i wont get an op till im nearer 60.....So this does happen.....
Not saying this has been the case but may well have been.....

Elaine

caprica wrote:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-10868506

it as all over the radio today too.

so many things bug me about it.

first of all, it doesnt specify what type of arthritis the guy had. he got it at 25 (36 years ago, he's now 61), by 1990 he was so disabled he was house bound (15 years into the disease aged about 40) and in 2005 (15 years after he was totally disabled) he got a hip replacement which meant he could become Mr Twinkletoes.

Ok.. lets assume it was osteo. So knowing it was osteo, the doctors waited.. 15 years before giving a 40 year old a hip replacement that they knew would give him his life back?! If that's what happened, then that's the real crime here.

Or if it was rheumatoid.. maybe he went into a natural remission but his hip was really destroyed but once that was fixed he felt well again. But I think that's unlikely, for it to just be one hip. But maybe not impossible.

I dont know it all sounds a bit sketchy and very badly reported. I think it reflects badly on all us sufferers and makes it out like the blanket term 'arthritis' isn't a major issue.

tarasmygirl

dreamdaisy wrote:

To answer your points in order: some people are too proud to apply for benefits. There is that recent case of the two women found dead - a mother who cared for her paralysed daughter refused all offers of help etc. She died, her daughter could not raise any alarm and died too. Pride is not necessarily a good thing.

Cheats who are caught is always going to make the news. Sensational is probably too strong a word for it, but it will confirm the average Daily Mail reader's prejudice about benefits and those that claim them, thus leading them on to a pleasing rant about johhny foreigner too. And all before breakfast.

I for one am not ashamed about being disabled. I don't like it but I am not going to creep around, head hung low, saying sorry to everyone. This is not of my doing, I am not responsible for it, I do my best to accept it and make the best of rotten circumstances.

I didn't understand your last sentence, so I can't respond to it. DD

Well said DD
Cath

dachshund

Hi Caprica.
I've had my thr 14 years and my tkr 5 years
and i know i would not be able to teach dancing.
my legs ache if i do to much standing or walking.
i would not mind having his arther if i could
dance or even go horse riding again.
perhaps he has the same arther has my friend
she has no pain i dont understand why,
never mind friends we know we have arther.
joan xx

dreamdaisy

You are right dachshund, we know all about it. I think he was a cheat all the way through - but there is no shame or humiliation is there? I bet he's bragging that he got away with it for so long. Odious little creep. I know: I'll wave my arthritis wand VERY VERY HARD and hopefully he'll get RA, OA and PA all in one lovely go! Then he'll find out what it's like. (I have a mean side). DD

dachshund

Yes DD.
I forgot i would also have a problem as i take 9
tablets a day and thats without the parecetamol
oh dear never mind.
joan xx

frogmorton

Hi Joan

I hope today is not too bad for you?? Not nice drugged up to the eyeballs is it just to get through :roll:

DD dont be waving your wand over here :shock: I been good - I promise :shock:

Love

Toni xx

caprica

Yeah totally benefit cheats make people who really need help look like fakers, it's so wrong.

That's how it tends to work with everything though, the people who lie and cheat get it and those who are honest get smacked over the head with a big sledgehammer.