CS/CSR/CSM

Cervical spondylosis cervical radiculopathy cervical myelopathy

Hi ALL

I’ve been suffering with CS for the last 20 years and had to give up my driving job as I could no longer cope with the pain, discomfort, fatigue, stiffness and spasms.I can only describe it as having a broken neck . I do have good and bad days like some on this site, flare ups lasting weeks and the inability to have a good night sleep as I can’t lie down in bed and having to try and sleep in a chair and avoid any small amount of drafts.

Had an MRI last year showing disc osteophyte bars within the cervical spine at c4/5 and 5/6 levels, at c4/5 there is a left paracentral disc protrusion with soft disc component indicating an acute disc protrusion this indents the left side of the theca and the left side of the cord. It also encroaches into the left lateral recess. There is bilateral mild L5 foraminal narrowing at this level.

At c5/6 there is left paracentral protrusion that indents and flattens the left ventral theca .

There is bilateral c6 foraminal narrowing that is moderate to severe bilaterally. At c6/7 there is bilateral c7 foraminal narrowing that is mild a little more so on the right.

A Neurosurgical opinion regarding the c4/5 left postero lateral acute disc protrusion is advised.

In a nutshell Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Been for the WCA test and received no points .Had to wait 7 months for my appeal and I explained to the tribunal my condition and that the difficulty of managing these symptoms while working, and the way in which the stress and exertion of work can exacerbate these symptoms to the extent of waking up in bed and unable to move my head off the pillow due to the pain

I was basically told no points no prizes mate and the law is 15 points, you can bend with your back straight and pick up an empty box and hold a pen .Like the man in his fifties I have no CSE’S JSE’S O-LEVELS ONLY DDD’S

.

Anyway I was thinking what if I turned up for WCA test on my bad day and did not take my pain killers on that day, as like they say it’s my aid to get me through and manage the day like walking sticks is for some people to get them around I’ll end up having more than 15 points.

link below People with MS are having the same problems with the WCA

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/downloads/WCA_review_MS_Society_evidence__FINAL.c33b3bdb.pdf

One man in his fifties with MS who has spent his life driving trucks has recently

reluctantly accepted that he is no longer able to do so because of his problems

with vision, movement in his hands and fatigue. While his MS prevents him from

taking on any physical work, his low literacy levels and lack of experience in an

office-based role mean that he may find it almost impossible to find other work.

ATOS healthcare professionals often fail to understand the fluctuating and/or

degenerative nature of MS, and how this affects an individual’s ability to work. They fail

to ask probing questions to discover whether activities could be carried out reliably and

repeatedly, and to find out how the condition affects an individual on good and bad

days.

Fatigue and pain are two very common

symptoms of MS which can provide major barriers to work. The difficulty of managing

these symptoms while working, and the way in which the stress and exertion of work

can exacerbate these symptoms is often cited as significant reasons for people with

MS to give up work

The cumulative effect of a number of lower-level problems should also be recognised

by the WCA.

The following symptoms of MS are characteristics which can present a barrier to work

which we feel should be acknowledged in the WCA:

- Musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain ✓ CS

- Muscle weakness, stiffness and spasms ✓ CS

- Problems with walking, bending and kneeling ✓ CS

- Problems with use of hands and arms ✓ CS

- Problems with eyesight, including blurring of vision and double vision ✓ CS

- Loss of balance, coordination and dizziness ✓ CS

- Problems with memory and concentration ✓ CS

- Problems with speech, including slurring and ‘word blindness’

- Difficulty swallowing

- Bladder and bowel problems, including incontinence ✓ CS

- Depression ✓ CS

The MS Society believes that a number of these, particularly fatigue, cognitive

problems and pain, are not given adequate weight in the current WCA.

Poor recognition of fluctuating conditions

The questionnaire, descriptors and guidance are poorly worded to recognise the impact

of fluctuating conditions on an individual’s capacity for work

[color=orange:ddf3559a34]Patient UK comment: the link to the MS Society was not working so has been edited. If it is not the correct link please contact EMIS Moderator (1). We have removed the link to the forum you included as not relevant to this subject.[/color:ddf3559a34]