Cost and Cut Backs

[Paisley58]

It's been awhile. After being diagnoised with plantar fasciitis, they have found fluid on my ankle around the tendons. It has made walking really painful and I don't know if that has been the cause but I have had a number of falls which resulted in: broken toe, fractureed knee, broken thumb, fractured tooth and jaw. Plus, I looked like I'd been in a fight, my body riddled with bruises. It has been a long slow recovery.

This has really set me back, my moods have been quite low and dark. I miss the support of friends and family. This whole thing has been hard on them and they have their own lives to but I really had to rely on them for support because I have none from any other agency. The support I used to get from my GP is now over because he has reitred, he was the best of the best.

Now the new GPs, you never see the same one. They complain that my medication is to expensive despite the fact that the hospital consultant prescribed them and over the last year they have either been lowering the dosage or refusing to prescribe the medication on the grounds of cost. I finally saw my conslutant and explained this to him, as I was concerned about the fractures and breaks. Turns out my calcium and Vit D way below and his thought I had been on the calcichew D3 forte he'd prescribed all this time. Of course he prescribed colecalciferol, he said once they get me back up to normal I will have to buy calcium and vit D pills which in truth on top off all other cost my health is costing me I can't afford. I have always tried to get these through food but clearly it is not enough and at a loss as to what to do as i am already having to buy iron pills because I am anaemic due to a genetic blood disorder, no amount of food rich in iron can reverse this situation.

To top it off the DWP without warning stopped the DLA I was receiving on the grounds that they sent me for an assessment and i did not attend it despite me never receiving such a request. They said they won't accept that because they only accept hospital stays and their own faults. When I pointed out that I was in hospital at the time and when I returned home there wasn't a letter from them anyway, they refused to re-instate the DLA so apart from the stress with the DWP, the added financial stress is really beginning to get to me.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Gosh, you are having a really tough time. I get plantar fasciitis and it must be one of the most painful conditions ever - I can still remember the pain when I stepped out of bed, put my foot on the ground and felt the pain shoot from my foot to my brain! Agony!

I did every exercise I could find online, from standing on the lowest step of my stairs and letting my heels drop to freezing a bottle of water and rolling my foot over it, eventually I found elasticated plantar fasciitis socks on Amazon and they made a huge difference along with really supportive trainers - I would never wear slippers, flats or flip flops now.

Have you tried contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau for help with the DWP? Sounds like you really need someone on your side. Having once been sent the wrong tax code - not my fault either - I ended up working for nothing for a couple of weeks so that my part-time employer could get their money back I can easily imagine the DWP make mistakes as well.

You have had a lot of broken bones so have you been checked out for osteoporosis? Maybe have a DEXA scan to find out why all the broken bones?

My Pilates teacher who is also a physiotherapist says it’s vitamin D we need for strong bones - more than calcium (milk is for baby cows)and you also need K2 along with the vitamin D plus magnesium. I use a brand that has all three.

So when you have to buy your own Vitamin D get a brand that also has K2 and magnesium. You need the magnesium for absorption of both calcium and vitamin D.

Good luck with it all.

[Paisley58 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Wow! Thank you so much for the info and the advice. I'll be looking for the socks asap. The exercises have helped some what but yeah, walking with P.F is no picnic.

Got a letter today for a scan, my Rheumy ordered it in light of the breaks/fractures. I really hope I don't have Osteoporosis, fingers and toes crossed lol!

Once again thanks a mill, knowing about the magnesium was a great help.

[Nessa28]

I'm so sorry this is happening . Please lodge a complaint about the DWP and their actions as remember proof of postage is not proof of receipt their words not mine . That lady won her case on behalf of her daughter last week who the DWP let down unbelievably . Please get CAB or anyone including your MP to work with you . As I think unless you're in hospital 2 plus weeks they can't stop your benefits . Wishing you luck 🌷

[Paisley58 in reply to Nessa28]

Thank you, trying to get an appt with the CAB! The DWP have really been bloody minded and won't back down, so hopefully they can help.