What to do while waiting for treatment

Bobit

Hello all
Been of work since May 2019 existing on SSP. I tried asking my employer to allow me back on light duties. Nothing doing there, so i'm left in limbo waiting for nhs surgeon, which is september hopefully for treatment plan. My job is in jeopardy because of the waiting around and the dole queue beckons. Is there nobody to prevent this spiral decline to misery. I don't have a soft office job, im not retired so I recon I ought to be more a priority with the NHS. Seems i'm not and the dole queue is the most likely scenario and severe debts due to borrowing to exist on SSP. Crazy stuff.

[Deleted User]

Hi Bobit,

Welcome to the forum, you are in a tough position, medically and financially. Medically, does your GP know you are unable to work still? They can help with pain relief, maybe physio which might help you back earlier. If your appointment at the hospital is September that may be quick, I think I waited 6 months in Bucks though that was a good while ago. You should also tell your GP about your financial worries, you may be entitled to use food banks, I think they need to authorise that.

Financially I’m not really up to date, however if you give our helpline a call tomorrow on 0800 520 0520 between 9am and 8pm

If you can give a little more detail we can help you further I’m sure.

Take care
Yvonne x

Bobit

This has been ongoing since May so over 3mths without salary, and will be 4mths come sept,that's if they don't cancel again. This is only an assessment appointment, so it's looking close to december I might be able to return to work if I have a job to return too. Ive told the doctors im on SSP and they weren't concerned. They were a bit hesitant with the sicknote on my last visit, ive already asked for a return to work on light duties and was refused due to the heavy repetitive lifting of aircraft wheels n brakes which probably caused the problems in the 1st place

BettyMac

Hi Bobit
I'm sorry to hear of your ongoing problems. The money worries can't be helping your health.

Your local Citizens Advice may be able to help. They have people who are very knowledgeable about benefits and employment issues.

Good luck

Bobit

Never found CAB much use, straight caucasian 6ft male nothing to see here move along next. Tried contacting the food bank, open mon, wed, fri, got answer phone "we cannot answer your call right now "
Seems the worlds falling in around me. Considering industrial disability benefit mainly because i'm pretty sure my work has contributed to this and I'm likely to never do the same work again including driving for a living. So many thoughts probably all lead to dead ends and ruin.

stickywicket

Hi there.

I, too, am sorry things are so rough for you. I presume you have some sort of arthritis (osteo?) and you are clearly waiting to see a surgeon. Is that an orthopaedic surgeon? I'm wondering what sort of operation you are hoping for? I've got new knees and hips but they are, albeit routine, complex operations requiring quite long recovery periods.

It must be horrendously stressful to have no idea when, or if, you will be able to return to work. Have you considered all the benefits for which you might be eligible? Have a look here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11717254 You'll have to scroll down a bit to find anything relevant but it's there.

If you would be prepared to give CAB another chance I think they'd be useful to you. If you encountered prejudice that is very unfortunate and, I think, rare. Most people on here find them very helpful with benefit advice.

As for food banks – I know a little about them as my husband helps at one. Yes, they usually operate on very limited timescales as they are run by volunteers. His, too, is only open for one hour, three days a week but the volunteers work much more than that, asking for food, collecting it, sorting it, buying in the fresh food daily. Recipients must be referred by either Social Services or CAB and they are all made aware of the limited time slot for collecting their food. Many people feel embarrassed at having to use them but, as 'Dorothy' writes on 'kfrweaving's' thread 'Things you are entitled tó but......' it is, indeed like a bank. We put in when we are able and take out when we need. No embarrassment there.

I think you are, understandably, angry right now that you are in this unwarranted, undeserved situation but we can all only start from where we're at. I think, for you, that is the benefits site, CAB and the local foodbank. I wouldn't personally hold out any hope of a quick fix from the surgeon. If you are very lucky there might be a slow fix but don't bank on it. Arthritis is a pain and, usually, an ongoing one.

Have you tried ringing our own Helpline? They might well be able to offer some suggestions. They have done for many others.

Bobit

Thanks for your replies. Yes it's osteo and waiting on a podiatry surgeon zzzz , ive tried the turn to us benefit calculator and its computer says no scenario. I did call your helpline a few mths back but felt the response was generic and nothing I wasn't already aware of or tried. Wish there was something that takes peoples individual situations and fast tracked you thru the NHS so you could cont to lead a productive life rather than a slow lurch into misery and poverty.

dreamdaisy

Things don't sound good at all. You mention osteo and podiatry so I conclude it's your foot or feet which are affected. What has your GP recommended medication and exercise wise? Feet are tricky areas, I have one kind of arthritis in all my toes and osteo in both ankles so am familiar with the restrictions it can place on life if it's allowed. Males have more pain receptors than females so can falter more quickly under the strain of physical discomfort. As for 'what to do whilst waiting for treatment' well, that' s a hard one to answer as I've always got on with work, running the home, socialising etc. but I have the huge advantage of never having had good health.

Any form of arthritis is progressive and degenerative but some are fortunate in that it remains in a limited area. It is a very common condition, around one sixth of the population has it, and sadly is not restricted to the eldery (a common misconception). The ubiquity of osteoarthritis works against it, it is seen as an inevitable fact of life simply because for so many it is. If you have not been affected so far in life by any long-term health issues then this is very hard for you, especially as you still feel able to contribute towards society (arthritis does not preclude that but can inhibit it). I can't recall if you have mentioned anything about pain relief or physio, feet are difficult areas to exercisr and what kind of pain relief are you taking? Alxo are you using any walking aids to ease the strain on the affected area/s?

I am not sure why you are finding everyone and everything wanting in their responses to your plight but can only presume that you have never been physically challenged through illness rather than through choice, e.g. running marathons. It opens up a very difficult reality, a whole new way of supposedly 'living' life which nobody welcomes but challenges millions every day. Welcome to the faceless group.

I have been reliant on the NHS since childhood and have witnessed first-hand its decline under the strain of an increasing and ageing population. Throwing more money at it is not the solution, people need to learn to use it as it should be used rather than abusing it, then there would be room for you to be dealt with as you see appropriate. DD

stickywicket

Waiting, for one thing or another, is one of the features of arthritis. There is rarely a way round it other than, possibly, private medicine. It's extremely frustrating and, when your job depends on it, extremely worrying too.

Could you explain what you mean when you say our Helpline's advice was 'generic'? You do also say that it was nothing you hadn't already tried so perhaps you simply meant they were unable to tailor their advice to your specific circumstances. I guess that's probably the case for everyone. Everyone's situation is unique and special to them but organisations can only deal with generalities.

Oddly, because he is currently in a great deal of pain while waiting for a hip replacement, my husband feels that young, working people should have priority over him. I admire him for his attitude but I don't regard a financially productive life as being the only way of working for the good of society. Of course, you must be terrified of 'the slow lurch into misery and poverty' and I do hope it doesn't come to that. I've always found that the trick to living with arthritis is to do everything possible to improve one's situation (which you clearly are doing) while learning all the good things about being where we must be. Anger and frustration are natural but counter-productive.

In answer to your thread's header - I'd say find something that you've always wanted to do, and still could do, but have never had the time for. use your time in a fun, enjoyable way and try not to think about any negatives which you can't remove.

Bobit

Very positive replies and from people who know the frustrations of waiting for treatment. I'm walking every day, there is a discomfort but bearable, whether it remains bearable in the future I dont know. Received my SSP today a whopping £394 I had a sleepless night knowing tomorrow £700 comes out my for account for rent, and other utilities. Was up most of the night in a dark place. Holding out to see what the surgeon says in sept and hoping any treatment is swift and effective.
Thanks for all your replies.

stickywicket

The financial situation sounds horrible. I think you're doing the best thing for your foot / feet by continuing to walk, as long as the shoes are strong and supportive.

One thing you might need to factor in is that, from what I've read on here, all foot surgery seems to require several week's recuperation often starting off as non-weight bearing on the operated foot. I write this not to depress you but simply so that you can be better prepared. Have you read Versus Arthritis' info on foot and ankle surgery? If not, go to the top, grey menu. ......surgery...foother and ankle.