i have both arthritus will i be classed as disabled ?? - NRAS
i have both arthritus will i be classed as disabled ??
Hi Chalky, there are many different types of arthritis, disability is NOT based on diagnosis but how the condition affects your daily life.
Exactly what type of arthritis do you have?
Only you would know if it's a disability based on how it affects your life.
I have Rheumatoid & ostio Arthritus and find it very hard to move about even with painkillers and other meds and i am on enbrel as well now
if somebody has diabetes or RA and OA,, as Beth says it isnt the condition but the way it effects you, do you feel disabled?
yes i do feel disabled and i do have a blue badge have a job to go up stairs and do anything else
Thanks for your help Philip and Beth
Chalky why you asking if you already have a blue badge?
If your having problems moving around in the home you need to speak to your local Adult Services Team, you should be able to find their contact details on your councils website.
Or ask at your local councils customer services desk, they should be able to give you the contact number for your social services adult assessment team.
My advice is if your good on a computer would be use google; search for... adult services in ??????? and put the name of the area you live in or search for disability services in??????????? your area.
Good luck. x
Chalky. if you have a blue badge then you are classed as disabled. You may be able to get help from Social Services with moving around your home, particularly on the stairs. I found them very helpful in putting in hand rails and grips by outer doors and extra toilet help. My hubby also put in extra hand rails on the stairs as I also had problems with stairs and still do but the extra handrails help a great deal. I did read that Social Services can help with a stair lift if it is needed particularly. Might be worth looking into.
Are you claiming any benefits such as DLA? I assume you must be claiming something as otherwise a blue badge is difficult to get unless your GP put you in for it. What treatments are you on as well? Most of us are on Methotrexate and anti tnf drugs which help the RA but only have a very minor effect on Osteo Arthritis. Although having said that, I have OA in my knees and thumb joints and my knees have been better since being on the RA drugs.
The NRAS website has many helpful booklets about RA which you can send for - they are free, or download. Also Arthritis Care charity has booklets on Osteo Arthritis. Worth having a look. Best wishes. LavendarLady x
Hello thanks for the reply. I have Rheumatoid and OA all over and yes im on Methotrexate prodisolone etc. and im on enbrel once a week i allso have had somethings done in the house thank you
Hi i would just like to mention that i have RA in my legs and arms and when i flare up like just now, I have trouble getting around which is why i applied for a Blue Badge via my GP and i got one, no problem. I think its more your GP than the forms etc if they are willing to be understanding of your position. Mine understood that on a good day i can move around really well I just have a bit of a limp but i still need to park near the shops as i get exhausted very quickly so i can do the food shopping but sometimes am too tired to do a long walk back to the car then unpack it into the car and walk back with the trolley then back to the car again! And of course as we all know thats before we drive home and unpacking it all again into the cupboards! Having the Blue Badge enables me to park close to the supermarket so that i can just come out put the shopping in the car and the trolley park is right there. Its been so handy and useful for me i dont know how i coped without it before.
I dont however classify myself as disabled. I also do not claim any benefits other than the Blue Badge. I think its very much a personal thing whether or not you wish to call yourself disabled or not is up you each person. When i looked at the benefits it seemed to me that you had to be pretty much dependent on others to look after you to be able to claim anything.
My husband has put up a grab rail for the bath and i am going to get him to put one in the downstairs loo to help me get up the very large step but apart from that i dont think theres much else we can do to the cottage we are renting at the moment to help me on my bad days. Luckily we have a downstairs bedroom so i can sleep downstairs like i am now, when the stairs get too much for me.
Chalky I hope you can get some more help if thats what you need I'm not quite sure why you are asking your question, is there something particular you need to enquire about?? Your local council website should be able to answer most of your enquires about benefits available, i found my local one very helpful.
Sue
Sue, Chalky and anyone else struggling in the home or with benefits.
The benefits are there to enable us lead as normal a life as possible.
I also have a blue badge and DLA care and mobility exchanged for a car which enabled me to continue working (I left work last year).
When I first spoke to social services some 18 yr ago, they gave aids to help me get up out of bed and for using the loo, also, as I have a downstairs toilet they gave me a commode for upstairs. They also installed a stair lift for me to get down stairs on bad days, bath rails and hand rails at my front and back doors.
More recently 5yr ago they installed a walk-in shower in my bedroom as I often struggled with or got stuck in the bath. They left my bath in so during bad flare ups I could soak in a bath of hot water which helped ease my shoulder/back and hip pain.
Many aids are available for household tasks i.e. bottle openers, special kettles that tilt if you can't lift one, wide handled cutlery, tap turners the list goes on.
My advice to anyone struggling in their home to contact their local adult services dept, they also have benefit advisor's who will advise on benefit entitlement and help with form filling.
Beth xxx
Yes Beth i have most of the things you said about just one more thing i have been Reg. Disabled since i was 21 i am now 73 it happened at work. The two Arthritus i have had this last 3 years
Chalky xxx
RA...When Will I Be Me Again? 
problems with work and have just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritus
Where will I be in another ten years?
AF and RD... Anyone have both? 
