Lots of Appointments

I haven't heard anything from the DLA yet about my claim but as its the 1st of April today i am assuming that they are not going to appeal against my win as "both sides" only have 30 days after winning a tribunal to appeal and as my Tribunal was the 1st of March its over 30 days. (http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/gl24dwp.pdf) I know people who had tribunals in January who are still waiting for their back-pay money and confirmation letter.

I started seeing the Rhemotologist Physiotherapist about 5 weeks ago and have seen her twice now she assessed me the first time and gave me some exercises and and also assessed me for some specialist crutches as my old ones were damaging my hands.. orginally she thought about giving me gulley crutches; i tried them for a few minutes but could not stand up properally with them as it was difficult to balance( http://www.theindependencestore.co.uk/images/AA8176.jpg Photo of one). In the end the Physio ordered some specialist crutches with a moulded anatomical soft grip (http://westons.com/acatalog/pr30082-bl.jpg Photo of one) I have been finding them much better with walking although my previous crutches had half cuffs and the new ones have full cuffs and i am finding them a little more difficult to use, especially when i am trying to stand up from the floor when sitting down or when i have fallen over. I am tending to use the new ones for going outside and my old ones for when i am inside as i don't want to end up stuck on the floor when i am alone if i have fallen down.

I saw the Rhemotologist Occupational Therapist yesterday which took along time.. i find her very helpful she sent me on a course to learn some exercises for my hands and yesterday she remoulded my resting splints as one of them was too tight on one side and the other was too loose. She also added some foam padding to a set of cutlery that we brought along so that it will be easier for me to grip. I have one set at one but another set is a good idea; i might leave one set in my handbag for if i go out around someones house for food or go out to a cafe or something as i am fed up of struggling to eat when i am outside and i never remember to take cutlery with me. Previously the Rhemy OT had mentioned neoprene gloves which are supposed to help improve your joint movement when you wear them for "working activities" such as using computer.. painting etc i tried them on yesterday but didn't get on with them as they were too large on the fingers and seemed bulky. They did help with mobility a little but got in the way too much.. when i tried to type because of the gloves i ended up knocking other keys too. We agreed we would possibly discuss them again in the future but leave them for now.

One other thing we discussed was "working wrist splints" these are a little like the flesh coloured splints but they are made from a softer material (at least the ones i saw were) and they also included the thumb holding it in position. I tried using these whilst using these on a computer and found that they held my hands in the perfect position for typing; although my thumb doesn't work correctly they held my thumbs over the space key (which is the correct key when you touch type) which if my thumbs do improve would be very good. At the moment my thumbs when i type kinda lay there useless. When i type a lot for example at the moment i get a lot of pain with the working splints they would be held in a position that wouldn't cause pain. I also hope they would be good for painting etc. After measuring etc my Rhemy OT ordered me a pair i am looking forward to these arriving.

I am so glad i am getting help now its really starting to make a difference.. also i am on Vitamin D tablets 1x50,000ui for 12 weeks plus my normal vitamin D tablets daily people are starting to say i look better.. i don't really feel better.. i am not sleeping that good at the moment. I just had to get a new pressure relieving mattress a Promat3 as i was starting to get pressure sores i am still getting sore areas and only had one small sore which i think is almost healed now.. my hips are very sore at night-time and when i lay down i have taken to laying down laying on my back but i am worried about pressure sores again on my sacrum which is where the other one is.