Hi, my name is Matthew_Doncaster! At what point am I classed as being disabled?

Matthew_Doncaster
Matthew_Doncaster Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited February 2021 in Everyday life
Back in 2004, I had three discs partially removed as they were applying pressure on the nerves. All was well until September 2018 when my now ex-wife forced her way into the house and attacked me. Now me been a bloke never lashed out or struck her back. A few days later I started to get some lower back pain so started taking ibuprofen to take the pain away. Over the course of the next few months, the pain started getting worse. Although I was in pain I could cope with it.

Then in June 2020, my ex-wife forced her way into my 80-year-old parent's house where I had to restrain her at the door till the police came to arrest her for breach of a restraining order.

The next morning I went to get up out of bed and was in agony, left it a few days to see if the pain went away but it hasn't at and has been getting slowly worse. I went to see my GP and was prescribed  Codeine Phosphate / Paracetamol 30mg / 500mg tablets and Naproxen 250mg, a few weeks later was also prescribed Duloxetine 30mg. I went to see a specialist in the local hospital in January 2021 and he had me moving around to the point I was sick in the consultation room. He suggested I try and reduce the amount of medication I am taking, I cut back on everything for a week but found I was in so much pain and struggling to shower and get dressed.

At what point am I or will I be classed as disabled as this has had a major impact on my life. It now takes me around 1 hour to get showered and dressed. I have had to change the car to a Suv so it's easier to get in and out of. It's limited my ability to walk and work. 

Thanks Matthew

Comments

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,464 Championing
    Hi @Matthew_Doncaster :) Welcome to the community! It's great to have you here. I'm sorry to hear that you've been experiencing a lot of pain. 

    Regarding your question about at what point you'll be classed as disabled, I was just wondering to what end you were asking this question? Is there a service or benefit or something similar you'd like to be able to access that you're not able to at the moment? 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited February 2021
    If it is benefits you are interested in you may wish to look at  https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-badge-can-i-get-one/can-i-get-a-blue-badge
    There may be other relevant benefits.

    As Tori has indicated it is difficult to respond to the question without knowing what sort of information you are seeking.
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,797 Championing
    edited February 2021
    Hi @Matthew_Doncaster - & welcome to the community. A disability is anything that literally dis-ables you, & the cause doesn't matter. It's if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, & long term affect such that it impacts negatively on the usual activities of daily living. So for example, the fact that it takes you a long time to shower & get dressed again is 'substantial' in that the affect on yourself isn't minor, or trivial. A long term affect is one that is likely to affect a person for 12 months or so. However, this is just as regards the Equality Act 2010, & people no longer register as disabled.
    If you're considering looking at a benefit such as the Personal Independence Payment, you need to have had difficulty with acts of daily living &/mobility which have lasted 3 months, & be expected to last for at least a further 9 months.
    If you need help with work, then any disability can be discussed with your employer to see if they can help you stay in work, perhaps with some adjustments put into place. Does any of this help?
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi @Matthew_Doncaster

    Welcome I am sorry to hear what you have been through and just wanted to say hi from another member in doncaster too 

    You have been given some great advice there 

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