DDA Question

[Sparrowhawk]

Does anyone know if osteoarthritis is covered by the DDA ? I have degeneration (osteoarthritis) of my lumbar vertebrae , facet joints and sacroiliac joint . This was confirmed by X-rays. I was off for 3 months and am now back on rehab. I'm on very light duties and only work 4 hours a day, Monday to Friday in a mail centre. I went back to work on 12th Feb , and the rehab programme was supposed to be reviewed weekly , but this has not been done. Only last night , for the first time , did a line manager say he wanted to review my rehab. He then asked me to come in 10 minutes early to do this. I spoke to my union rep who said that the Shift manager should do the review , not a line manager. He also told me that the manager should not have asked me to go in early , this should be done during my working hours. I made an appointment this morning to see my doctor , regarding the above review , and She has told me that I must stay on light duties for the forseeable future, and has given me a letter stating this. I am on a very high level of painkillers (paracetomol, ibuprofen,dihydrocodeine and cyclizine , all at the maximum daily dose) , which I have to take every 4 hours. Without these painkillers , I am in extreme agony and can hardly walk. I am coping ok with 4 hours although I do start to feel sore towards the end of the shift. I have an appointment for a MRI scan on Wednesday next week , which is to find out if I have a slipped disc and if that's what is causing the amount of pain I am in. I am also going to speak to my chiropracter this afternoon , for his opinion on the review of my rehab. When I go to work tonight , I am going to have my union rep with me at the review , and will also take the doctor's letter and all of the painkillers I take.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

good news according to this site: http://drc.uat.rroom.net/the_law/drc_le ... asona.aspx

Employer fails to make reasonable adjustments to the position (assembly worker) of an employee with osteoarthritis and psoriasis - DRC011063.

Date DRC funding started: Code: 2001

Summary: The client required adjustments to his job to take into account his worsening disability. He was employed in an engineering works as an assembly worker and when he was deemed fit to return to work, following a period of sickness absence by his GP, his employer would not let him return to work for alleged health and safety reasons. By this stage, he had exhausted his contractual sick pay entitlement. As a result, the client only received statutory sick pay losing a significant amount of income. Employment Tribunal proceedings were commenced claiming disability discrimination and at the hearing for directions his employer conceded the client was disabled under the DDA definition.

Interest: There is a question of legal principle regarding the issue of the cessation of accrual of holiday entitlement during sickness or disability leave. This type of sickness policy is likely to be prevalent in low skill low paid areas of work with a poor record regarding the enforcement of equal opportunity legislation.

Outcome: Settlement was reached between the parties comprising the payment of £2200 to the client, including £500 for injury to feelings. The employer also agreed they would make reasonable adjustments after consultation with the client and the Access to Work scheme.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

and this site: http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Livingw ... thelawsays

Am I covered by the DDA?

The DDA defines a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Therefore not all people with arthritis will be covered by the DDA.

An example of an individual who would be covered by the law is someone with a significant mobility difficulty (such as problems using public transport or going down steps) as a result of arthritis, that is expected to last for at least 12 months. Someone with loss of function in their hands or chronic pain might also be covered.

[Sparrowhawk]

Thanks TBT .

[POSTMAN]

Try Diclofenac,ask your quack about it,it's very good and i use it for my osteoarthritis.
In fact it's good for most s**t.

[Sparrowhawk]

Thanks again TBT , and Postman. Diclofenac is a drug I cannot take as it makes me violently sick. Even on an empty stomach , it makes me constantly retch , not nice . I can't take Naproxen either. My doc gave me that to try in January as it's a longer acting drug than ibuprofen (12 hours rather than 4). I had to stop the ibuprofen 12 hours before taking Naproxen and the pain was excruciating. The first one was ok , but didn't relieve the pain as well as ibuprofen. After the second one , 12 hours later , I was in even more pain by the time it was time to take it. I also had a slightly sore stomach after taking it. The following morning after taking the third Naproxen , I was having quite severe stomach cramps. I stopped taking it and went back to ibuprofen ( after 12 hours and a lot of pain) , then told my doc next time I saw him. He said I was obviously sensitive to Naproxen especially as the stomach pain came on pretty soon after starting to take it. The meds I'm on now work best and it took a few weeks to get the dosage right. Even then , the dihydrocodeine makes me sick too so I have to take cyclizine to counteract that. I need to take my tablets every 4 hours , and when it works out that I take the dihydrocodeine and cyclizine at the same time , the combination makes me very drowsy within an hour. I can't manage without any one of the drugs , and they work best (most effective pain relief) when I take them at the same time. The most I have to take in one go is 6 .

[Sparrowhawk]

and this site: http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Livingw ... thelawsays

Am I covered by the DDA?

The DDA defines a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Therefore not all people with arthritis will be covered by the DDA.

An example of an individual who would be covered by the law is someone with a significant mobility difficulty (such as problems using public transport or going down steps) as a result of arthritis, that is expected to last for at least 12 months. Someone with loss of function in their hands or chronic pain might also be covered.

Well it looks like I AM covered then as I cannot use public transport at all , can only walk for short distances , I have difficulty going UP and down steps , and I cannot go to the supermarket on my own if I need more than a few items . And this is WITH the pain medication I have to take.