PIP Medical

[covbabe]

Hi all......got a date for a PIP medical next week, my stress levels are just about on the roof right now! If the doc/health professional asks me to raise my arms etc what should I do? I've talked about this with family and they say no don't refuse and some friends say just tell em you can't......don't know what to do for the best. I've got osteo arthritis in all my joints as well as fibro,and I can't feel the back of my right leg because of nerve damage. I don't know what to say.....and even worse I'm so worried about the outcome because I don't take conventional drugs as I'm allergic to most painkillers and I had to put that on the form! HELP!!!

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi Covbabe,

I will be sending you lots of positive vibes for your PIP, but you ask what to do if the doctor asks you to raise your arms I would try to raise them a little until the pain kicks in. I've had/got arthritis in both shoulders and I know at one point I could hardly move the arm forward more than an inch without it hurting, so my advice would be to do it, but to show how much pain it causes you to do so. That way you can't be accused of being dishonest, I think that is the most important thing as I'm sure they have plenty of people who "put it on" and they will see straight through that. So you, having genuine horrid pain must just let them see that. I'm not sure that they can penalise you for taking alternative drugs if you are allergic to pharmaceutical ones, that it a genuine and probably documented in your medical notes.

Again, I'll be sending you lots of positive vibes to help get through the interview, good luck !👍🏻😃😃😃

Foggy x

[Victoriakelly21]

hi I tried to do all they asked and it went against me. Even when I dislocated me knee during the examination. I have RA, fibro, several Asthma, a knee that dislocates daily and hip bursitis but the report capita sent to pip I'm a fir and healthy person of there's anything you struggle with just say you can't do it. I hope you have a better experience than I did. X

[SparkyMark]

As we discussed when we met, they will ask you to do certain movements. If you feel that it will cause you too much pain, you can refuse to do it, but if you try and it causes you pain, don't be afraid to stop at the point and even cry out if it is that bad. I have been through a few of these assessments and for the most part they were very understanding and sympathetic. However, the last one I did, she was a bit more draconian and I am guessing she had been 2p'd over from ATOS after they didn't get the contract for the midlands. Another thing, if meeting this new person causes you severe anxiety problems, then show them, don't try and hide any of your emotions as they all score you points. If you don't get the decision you think you deserve, then you have my number. I am sure you will be fine as you are genuine. Good luck.

[Offcut]

They cannot get you to do something that will cause you pain or severe discomfort no matter how insistent they are. One of the biggest problems is we tend to put on a brave face rather than show/tell them how we are actually feeling. Talk about your bad days and do not say "On a good day!" use "on a better day" I failed my last because of all sorts of reasons but mainly because of the way I was saying things to them. I have since looked into it a far deeper way and I missed out loads of things that I take for granted like the amount of Aids I use for day to day living that I have picked up over the years.

Good luck

[TheAuthor]

I want to genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best of luck with your assessment, and I hope that you get your desired outcome. I would personally not do anything whereby you end up in pain or risk your health further, and I would tell them that you physically cannot do something if you cannot do it without hurting yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Hidden]

Good luck with your medical, when asked to do things only do what

your able and comfortable doing, i couldnt lift my arms above my

head when asked too, i lifted till my shoulders then the pain kicked in

i told them i couldn't go any further, they were fine with that as i think

my facial expression told her everything. But don't do anything that

will make your symptoms worse.