Friends and Advice needed

Annieboo87
Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
Hi all,

I am new to this site and have been having a good browse through this afternoon as I see a speciallist tomorrow in regards to my knee and I have a feeling its going to turn out to be arthritis. So I just want to prepare myself incase of this eventuality. I have had problems with this knee before six and half year ago which led to a cartilage and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Cant say its ever been 100% since and I dont ever expect it to be but since last week its in a v bad flare up the knee has basically 'locked' itself wont straighten or bend is swollen and painful. My main concern is working also im a 26yr old woman and i have a v hectic job of being a health care assistant at my local hospital so as you can imagine is strenous and long hours at times. I havent worked for a week now and im stressing over finances long term etc so looking into any benefits may be eligable for whilst of sick as i dont think im entitled to sick pay but main concern is am I quite likely going to have to look for a less strenous job eg office work etc to avoid any further injury and aggrivation to the joint.

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am so sad that you have had to find us at such a young age. I cannot help on the work-front (I was a self-employed specialist tutor for dyslexics so had a very understanding boss :wink: ) but I may be able to help on other fronts.

    What kind of specialist are you seeing? I have arthritis of two kinds in many joints, including both knees; I am awaiting knee replacements but still have some way to go time-wise. It may be worth your while posting again on the Living with Arthritis board on here (about the knee troubles rather than the work aspect) because not many look in on here but a good few do on that bit of the forum. As for your appointment for tomorrow it may be a good idea to make some notes tonight about the sort of trouble you have, how it is impacting on your life, pain and tiredness levels etc because that will give him / her a better all-round picture of you and the difficulties you are facing. I wish you well, I will be back tomorrow for an update, OK? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, thanks for taking your time to read my post and respond its much appreciated. Of course i will let you know how tomorrow goes either way. Also thanks for the advice of posting in the knee forum and to also make a list for the orthapedic speciallist i see tomorrow, i think that will be definite help as i forget questions i want to ask etc under pressure of nerves.
    Thanks again DD speak soon x
  • sailrib
    sailrib Member Posts: 327
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good Luck with everything, hope it goes well and you find out exactly what the problem is, even if it is arthritis, at least you'll know.

    Access to Work might be able to help you to stay in your job if it comes to it. Have a look at what they do but I know they'll pay for transport like taxi eg to help people stay in their line of work.

    You may still have to change jobs but speak to the person you are seeing tomorrow about your work and see what he/she says :)
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks. As you say I just want ro know what im dealing with so I know what I need to do to help myself whether it be arthritis or something else.

    Yes I shall ask today will i need to be thinking about changing jobs. I am just up getting sorted to go to the hospital so I shall update later.
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well im home sore from being poked and prodded n pulled and still none the wiser for it. Been reffered to have an mri scan so hopefully when i get to have this will bring some clarity. Consultant wasnt the one i was ment to see and was very unhelpful on the returning to work front so shall see my gp tomorrow also.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I guess, consultants don't have crystal balls so it will be hard for him to predict anything about your work situation until he gets the results of the MRI. Even then, it probably won't be easy as, assuming it is arthritis, we are all different in how quickly or slowly the disease progresses. However, your job sounds like a tough one for anyone with a chronic knee problem.

    I think it's a good idea to see your GP. Not only does he know you and your recent health better than the consultant but also you'll be able to discuss the consultation with him and he may be able to answer any matters that might have arisen.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks stickywicket. Thats what im thinking i can discuss it with them and see what they think about when i can be going back to work. Doesnt do no harm to go and see whats what anyway. He may also know if theres anything stronger than paracetamol I can have for the discomfort as there is certain pain relief i can not have because of my stomach.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm sure there will be other pain meds. NSAIDS can sometimes be tolerated with a stomach-protecting med such as omeprazole or lansoprazole. I can't do NSAIDS any more, or any other anti-inflammatories, because they messed up my stomach before the protectors came out. However I manage well with cocodamol and there's other stuff too for pain relief. These days I take everything with food which helps. Just a small plain biscuit makes all the difference.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • maria09
    maria09 Member Posts: 1,905
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Annie
    I managed for 10 years working as a SN on a busy orthopaedic ward the last 4 were a struggle with me ending up retiring on ill health grounds
    You do need to take good care of yourself and get a transfer to a less hands on department maybe day surgery or clinic where there is not all the lifting pulling and tugging we do on a busy heavy ward
    I know "No lifting policy" but in reality it doesn't happen
    Would it help if you could do less days or less hours to give your body chance to recover I ended up just working 16 hours over 2 shifts it was a big drop in pay but luckily my husband works full time so I was able to do so
    PM me if you can think of any way I can help
    Maria
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Maria,

    Thank you for your post. In an ideal world id cut the hours back but my partner and I couldnt really afford to do so it would be an extremely tight budget. I could ues look at going to a less busy dept I have been looking at positions but dr will not let me work at all at min till Ive had my mri scan and we know what we dealing with.
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    feeling so lousy today. I sooo wanna go back to work im fed up and cant dr wont let me till we least know what we dealing with from mri which i understand. Work wont give me sickpay as im classed as self employed so applied for employment support allowance through work and gps advice, to now be driven mad by the dwp tellin me i cant have it cause not paid enough national insurance based on 2011 - 2012. What about all ive paid every other flaming year especially 2012-2013. So gonna go to citizens advice i cant survive off nothin at all whilst im off. Anybody else had any issues similar to this?
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Been to citizens advice apparently what they have said is correct. Bit wll be entitled to abit of help with rent and council tax so i suppose thats something.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This is one of the downsides of self-employment - it seems monumentally unfair when those who have paid nothing into the system somehow get something out of it. :roll: I think the CAB is your best bet - and don't be afraid to post again on the Living with Arthritis board on the forum, more people hang around that one than this one and you may gain more replies and info about others' experiences. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Exactly ive worked for years with brief gaps for education purposes. Some people never studied or worked ever so what contributions have they got it def not fair :( but nothing i can do about it.
    Yes I shall have a browse through that forumthanks for reminding me of it, i forget to go in as i just come back to this post to have little rants on lol.
  • sailrib
    sailrib Member Posts: 327
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Have you thought about Access to Work for helping you at work?

    Worth looking it up and getting an assessment in. My friend has just had an assessment and been told there isn't anything they can do in her job view but she thought that anyway but was glad to of done the assessment just in case there were stuff that could of helped.
  • Annieboo87
    Annieboo87 Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey sailrib

    Thanks will look into it and give it a go but I think sadly Im in a job that wont be able to adapt either. But shall look into it anyway and see what happens.
  • sailrib
    sailrib Member Posts: 327
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Do do, look in to it and get an assessment as you never know if they'll come up with something that can make your job a lot easier. They are the expects and they could think of something really small that you haven't thought of.

    The change might be a simple piece of equipment that helps you in one area of the job which then helps you in other areas as you haven't strained yourself in the area of work where've they've helped you (hope that makes sense)

    Good Luck.