Could I claim PIP for Migraine?

Sonic_Robert

I'm sorry, I'm just wondering if it's possible to claim PIP for migraines. I've had migraines since I was about 12 years old, and over the years they've gotten worse. Now, I can't go out, socialize, or work because light activity, such as just moving around in the house and walking, triggers the aura, which gives me blurred vision, dizziness, and unsteadiness. It's more like double vision since my eyes aren't aligning (overlapping).

It affects me daily. When I have a bath for 6 to 30 minutes, my legs and feet start having a funny feeling, like they're wobbly and going numb. Then I have to try to get out of the bath, holding onto each side somehow, but that's just the aura. Sometimes I get that wobbly feeling when walking. It just depends on the aura and migraine. The pain scale is between 5 and 10, based on the symptoms and pain.

When my migraine is about to come, my feet become wobbly, depending on the pain scale. Then, when my migraine comes, I get head pressure that increases the pain when I tilt my head upwards. It comes with the same symptoms as the aura, but I struggle to see when I walk, and it comes with all sorts of symptoms. My migraines usually last for about 2 to 3 hours, sometimes longer. I can get more than one migraine per day.

I'm receiving Botox every 3 months, but I don't think that has an effect.

Just over a month ago, when I had constant migraine attacks in a row, my GP called and said, 'You haven't had a blood test for a while; could you book one?' When I booked a blood test and received my results, they said I have a very low B12 deficiency; it was 140 when it should've been well over 210. I couldn't even tell what symptoms I was getting with B12 deficiency, and I conflicted it with my migraine symptoms.

chiarieds

Hi @Sonic_Robert - & welcome to the community. You're certainly having an awful time with your migraines & then problems with vitamin B12 deficiency. I hope your GP may find the cause of the latter & that there's some treatment that may help.

With PIP you need to have had problems for at least 3 months, & expect them to last 9 months or more, so firstly seeing if there's any help for the vitB12 deficiency would be good, tho obviously you've had problems with migraines for longer but some of your symptoms may be due to the vitB12 problem.

Then, PIP isn't actually about the disorder(s) you have, but how they affect you looking at some daily living activities & your mobility. You need to get 8 points or more to get the standard rate, & 12 points or more for the enhanced. You can see them, with the points that may be awarded for each here: https://assets.ctfassets.net/vms0u05139aw/pip_descriptors.pdf/93820be60dcc6420191292ed56e2c95f/pip_descriptors.pdf

I hope some of the above helps, but please come back if you have any questions.

Sonic_Robert

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033085#Comment_1033085

Thank you, this would help. Even before the B12 deficiency, I still experienced the same migraine symptoms. When I used to walk long distances, I would struggle to feel my feet, and then they would become numb. I haven't walked long distances in years. This also happened when I was in school during PE lessons when doing lots of activities. Over the years, my migraines have gotten worse. I can't do much because I start to feel my aura symptoms.

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033091#Comment_1033091

You are bad with your migraines. @chiarieds post is excellent. All you can do is apply, detailing your disability and how it affects you day to day against the descriptors.

Santosha12

Hi @Sonic_Robert, Sorry you suffer so badly with migraines. I was diagnosed with basilar (brain stem migraine) in the 1990s but never had problems for years until after catching Covid and being very unwell in 2020.

Then in 2022 was diagnosed with ocular migraine and I have them often (c weekly but was every few days a year ago) usually lasting around 40mins or so but they're horrid. I think they call it 'kaleidoscope' vision and it's like I can see my eye and everything I'm looking at is cracked/fragmented. Its almost fascinating what things look like but a bit scary.

I'm waiting to go on a waiting list for corneal transplant as I have corneal dystrophy too, and cataracts. So blurred vision a lot. Mostly can't drive because of it but also other health conditions that make me mostly housebound but can't bring myself to get rid of my car (done 38 miles since c November and my mechanic did about half of that!). Not in a hurry tbh for surgery as don't want my eyes messed with because of the risks and lengthy healing time and I'm on my own/no help.

I use a large magnifying glass and wear vari vocals so I try not to stress my eyes (I started a book c March reading 100 pages and still haven't been able to read the second half yet, it's very frustrating!!) If you apply for PIP do include what helps you/any aids etc. Im sure you will, sorry to state the obvious! 🙄. I'm thinking of buying an ultra large magnifying lamp/light as I love reading but don't think I can afford one yet, need to research it!

My PIP assessment was Dec 2022 and Tribunal March 2024 when I was awarded standard for daily living. I can't remember if I put migraine on application, I'm sure I did although it wasn't as bad then as it is now. I feel quite unwell after a migraine for several hours, couldn't read or watch tv or do anything. I just have to go to bed and lay still/quiet as moving around makes it a lot worse.

Take good care and all the very best to you. Good luck too with your PIP application: give every example you can think of of how it affects your daily life and mobility.

lil12