Redundency and OA.

mellman01
mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
I apologies in advance if this rambles a bit but I am dog tired due to knee pain keeping me up most the dammed night again.

Right first my story, I double knee op 2 years ago due to a lot of pain I was then told I have really bad OA of both patella, since then I've lost my old shift job and the £8k that goes with it, I have been stuck in an office doing PC work 8 hours a day 5 day's a week, I was looking for a post at the new power station this company is building in Pembrokeshire, we were going to move there and get a small holding etc but since this illness I have been told to forget it I'm dead in the water, I'm also going to be made redundant in just under 3 years.
My home life has also been effected badly, some day's I can't even walk the dog due to the pain even with meds, so I can become house bound when I have a bad flare up.
The last few days though I started to think that the predicament I find myself in is totally crazy, I'll explain.

The works OC health Doc say's I am disabled in his eye's same for my GP, the surgeon who operated on me told me at the time that he wont operate on me for 10 years as I'm far to young at 47, yet he said if I carried on as I was I would wear the rest of the cartilage off in 18 to months to two years if I don't watch out. So here I sit to ill to do my old job and not sick enough to get medically retired and stairing unimployment in the face, it's a catch 22 if ever there was one.

So now I'm stuck with a degenerating state of health/mobility and mind, yet the way I see it if I had the operation now to replace the cartilage I could be much more mobile and subsequently more employable when the big day's come, I just can't see why I should be thrown onto the scrap heap when I could have an op that will see me through to retirement, It's starting to get me down I fear for the future, I'm trapped and it's starting to drag me down physically as well as mentally, what should I do, start pushing for an op now while I still have a chance to use the company private medical insurance and give my self time recuperate before I'm out of work, or should I try and push for medical retirement, if so how in hell do I do that?.

Oh one last thing I haven't mentioned the fact I will be redundant in just under 3 years to my GP or the surgeon who operated on me, should I would it make any difference?.

Comments

  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    I think you have already answered your question, use the company to get the op done privately. Hopefully then u can get it done quicker then. You will be set up better for your inevitable redundancy to get another job. Don't put yourself on the scrapheap just yet, you've got a lot to give still, there are ways to get round things, access to work can help you at work, do u get DLA. Get the support, it's there for you.

    Hope this helps

    janie
  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Janie sorry I do tend to ramble, no I don’t get DLA I’m not sure what it is or does and anyway I’m sure I earn to much and medically I only have OA of my kneecaps so I’m probably not sick enough either so no change there then.
    Also I don’t know if I should put in for a blue badge I keep thinking about it but from what I gather you have to be almost bed ridden to get one which I'm not as some day’s I can walk a fair way but others doing more than 30 yards can be agony.
    I’m really confused with all of it so many questions but very few direct answers seem available.
    One other thing should I apply for one?, should I see my GP about one or not?, will it help do you think??. :?:
  • markc1
    markc1 Member Posts: 253
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    mellman01 wrote:
    Hi Janie sorry I do tend to ramble, no I don’t get DLA I’m not sure what it is or does and anyway I’m sure I earn to much and medically I only have OA of my kneecaps so I’m probably not sick enough either so no change there then.
    Also I don’t know if I should put in for a blue badge I keep thinking about it but from what I gather you have to be almost bed ridden to get one which I'm not as some day’s I can walk a fair way but others doing more than 30 yards can be agony.
    I’m really confused with all of it so many questions but very few direct answers seem available.
    One other thing should I apply for one?, should I see my GP about one or not?, will it help do you think??. :?:

    I am in a similar position to you,apply for the blue badge its only £2.It makes life a lot easier.My knees permanantl.y ache so i can sympathise with youl the specialist i had was not very good but my doctor is
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  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think that applying for a blue badge differs between councils so the best thing is to ring up first to find out. Your doctor could maybe back up your application.

    good luck and keep us posted

    Janie
  • minky67
    minky67 Member Posts: 2,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi to get a blue badge you ring you local county hall.they send the application form out.
    Fill it in for your bad days,then take it to your GP,put a stamp on the envelope that comes with it,& put your photos in with it & your GP then fills in his section & sends it off.
    Here it doesnt cost anything for the badge.
    If your appling for DLA then make appointment with CAB as they know how to word it all.
    If you are working & get DLA & are entitled to working tax credits theres an extra £2,500 premium for disabled people that work.But again ask the CAB for advise.
    Good luck,debs
  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks all for the info, that does it for me I'm going to try for one, I will let you know how it goes!. :)