Advice please

Margaret59

Morning it's a while since I've been on here, feeling very fed up at the moment. My arthritis is very severe in my left foot and ankle, I have had injections which up to a few weeks ago have worked, it has also started in my right foot and ankle, I saw my consultant yesterday who says surgery is really the next option but he can't guarranty it will be a cure as my left foot is so bad. At the moment I work full time as a registered childminder so I have plenty of walking to do some days I find a real struggle. I really don't know what I should do as I'm thinking about giving up work, but at the same time I don't know if I would qualify for PIP. I'm 55 yrs old and a mum of 2 (21 & 17). Any advice would be welcome. Many thanks.

helpline_team

Hi Margaret, many thanks for your post.

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re feeling very fed up at the moment. It sounds as if you have a lot going on, aside from being a mum.

I wonder if you would like to give us a call on our Freephone Helplines: 0808 800 4050 (weekdays 10-4) here we can take the time to talk things through informally and in confidence, sometimes a non-judgemental, listening ear can be helpful.

We’re not welfare rights experts, so you might like to talk to turn2us who would be able to help with regards to PIP http://www.turn2us.org.uk/ Telephone: 0808 802 2000

Here is a link to our information on PIP, which may be of interest: http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Campaigns/claiming-pip

You might also like to take a look at our ‘working with arthritis’ booklet, this has information about your rights at work and may be useful:
http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Listedbytype/Booklets/main_content/WorkingwithArthritis2014.pdf

I hope this is of some help.

Best wishes
Lynda