ESA AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

Hi,

I will try and keep this to the point.

My friend has cervical and lumbar sponylosis, a hemangomia and fibromyalgia and CRPS to boyh knees. (sorry for spelling mistakes). She went to see her consultant who offered her injections to her back and neck, but said that they will not help with the fabro or knee pain.

She explained that she had injections for her knees on many occasions which did not help at all and did not want to "mask" the problems of pain, but wanted to try medications etc to get long term benefits as these injections cannot be given to one "for life" and there was no guarantee of the outcome and furthermore, she clearly explained that the thought of injections to her back or neck were making her very nervous and she has high blood pressure and suffers from anxiety. However, if all failed, then she would give consideration to the injections.

He understood her concerns and agreed that medication would be the beast way forward.

However, yesterday she received a letter of the consoltation which was detailed and supportive, but it went onto stating that she had refused injections, but did not state she would consider them in the future and went on to state that with the medication she was coping "extremly well" which is not the case, he also does not state that the injections will have no bearing on the Fabro symptoms.

She would really like to use this letter when her ESA comes up as presently she is on IB, but is really worried that ATOS/DWP will twist and turn his statement to their advantage and will find her fit for work, as she refused treatment and is apparently coping well with the meds.

Her next appointment is not till October 2013, and she rally is panicking and does not know how best to deal with this.

Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Radhika.

radhika wrote: Hi,

I will try and keep this to the point.

My friend has cervical and lumbar sponylosis, a hemangomia and fibromyalgia and CRPS to boyh knees. (sorry for spelling mistakes). She went to see her consultant who offered her injections to her back and neck, but said that they will not help with the fabro or knee pain.

She explained that she had injections for her knees on many occasions which did not help at all and did not want to "mask" the problems of pain, but wanted to try medications etc to get long term benefits as these injections cannot be given to one "for life" and there was no guarantee of the outcome and furthermore, she clearly explained that the thought of injections to her back or neck were making her very nervous and she has high blood pressure and suffers from anxiety. However, if all failed, then she would give consideration to the injections.

He understood her concerns and agreed that medication would be the beast way forward.

However, yesterday she received a letter of the consoltation which was detailed and supportive, but it went onto stating that she had refused injections, but did not state she would consider them in the future and went on to state that with the medication she was coping "extremly well" which is not the case, he also does not state that the injections will have no bearing on the Fabro symptoms.

She would really like to use this letter when her ESA comes up as presently she is on IB, but is really worried that ATOS/DWP will twist and turn his statement to their advantage and will find her fit for work, as she refused treatment and is apparently coping well with the meds.

Her next appointment is not till October 2013, and she rally is panicking and does not know how best to deal with this.

Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Radhika.

Hi r,

Your only option, if you would like anything within the consultant's letter amending, would be to broach this with the consultant.

You could do this by e-mailing the consultant's secretary.

You would have to be very diplomatic, explaining the reasons behind any such request.

Failing that, you would have to make a decision on whether it would be beneficial, or not, to include the letter as evidence.

bro58