Hi There Guys!

[snooks]

Hi There Guys.

Like many of you I arrived here by googling information on DSP in NSW and how hard or what conditions are required to get it.

I am aged 54, I have:

• Herniated Disc L5 S1
  
• Herniated Disc L4/L5
• Disc Degeneration
• Facet Joint Degeneration and arthritis
• Narrowing of certain parts where the spinal nerves go through and the Radiologist states he can see nerve impingment by the discs and also the narrowing
  
• Left knee reconstructed 18 months ago but still tender and showing arthritis
• Lower back pain
• Discogenic Pain
• Radial Pain

I have had the usual Cat Scans, MRI etc and it talks about nerves being impinged here and there.

I have the normal sciatica pain that many people seem to have, the buttock pains, pains in the calfs and thighs and this bloody never ending tingling and burning in my big toe that i swear is driving me insane. It all just started from early 2014.

I had a nerve block about 5 weeks ago that did very little at all , i have done pyhsio, water physio therapy etc. Physio didnt help much because im too sore to do 90% of the things you have to do. I have accupuncture 3 times per week which helps, but only for a very short time.

I have been on Newstart for 13 months now and we are just about to submit a DSP Application. Hopefully the Dr will give me the required 20 points under accute pain or even lower spine because if not, i will have to do 18 months with that Disability Employment Assistance Service. He indicated he will.

I know i am just crumbling now....i cant sit for 10 mins and i cant walk for 15 without immense pain, or being doped up on Panadeine Forte. I have diabetes which is causing very concerning issues for the kidneys, i have hypertension and high blood preassure. I sleep very little and spend much of my time beig foggy or dosed up.

Having been a truck driver doing physical hand unloading for the last 12-15 years there really is very little i can do. I cant sit at an office desk and take phone calls, i cant walk around a car yard all days selling cars.........Im pretty well washed up.

Lets just hope that i can get the DSP but reading the information on this forum and elsewhere via Google, i admit to not being very hopefull.

I have taken Voltaren, Celebrax, Mobic, Panadene Forte, Galumet, Liptor, Coversyl, and 3-4 others that i cant say or spell but they are not back related as such.

Just wanted to introduce myself, wish you all the best and give you some background in case i actually post.

Cheers

Snooks.

[Banjo]

Welcome to the forum Snooks.

As you say, you can only wait and see now, it certainly sounds like your future work capacity is extremely limited.
Keep us informed how you get on.

[snooks]

You have done a great job with the forum banjo

I have gained so much information and insight throough reading the threads and i am assuming many other people have also.

Well done Your efforts are truly appreciated.

[nomadic]

Welcome also snooks. It seems that driving is not good for the health as I also did the same for 17 years and many of my ex work mates are not so good these days either. Yes, Banjo is talented and even knows where the best coffee is. With what you say I cannot believe you wont be granted DSP in 5 minutes. But knowing what I now know they will no doubt put you on the dole which they say is automatic. Even a person who had both legs amputated and was still in hospital was put on the dole. That was until the media got onto it and Mr. Jongen immediately put them on DSP. Nice man that he is. So if they mess you about then maybe media also. I'm sad to say your health problems may be easy compared to dealing with Satan link. As has been said many times on the forum do not trust them at all and always try and get receipts, things in writing and even others to witness what they tell you. Good luck as all here on the forum know what you may now have to face.

[Deleted]

Welcome mate, I strongly suggest that you obtain medical reports from specialists to support your DSP application because a GP report is rarely considered enough evidence.

[murphy]

Welcome snooks.

Get together all the radiology reports, reports from any specialists and your GP, and ask that physio for a report, too.

It's all about the supporting medical documents at this stage.

Good luck. Keep us apprised.

[brent62]

Hi Snooks. Best of luck with it all. I wish I could say that your condition is an obvious case of being accepted, which it is by the facts you've detailed . But up against the political agenda, concerning all welfare, hard medical evidence doesn't seem to have much weight. But a will to fight it out, until all avenues are exhausted ,will help to get you across the line.

[snooks]

I have spent hours and hours reading the Apealant Results (on a link that i found).......a whole life can be ruined because of one word and how it is or isn't used, even when the persons illness is blatantly evident.

I never realised Centrelink were this bad It is disgraceful.

[krystal]

Welcome Snooks

Yes, I agree with the advice given above. Get all the medical reports and specialist reports you can.

If these reports can parrot back to Centrelink exactly what the Impairment Tables say a "Severe" (20 points) impairment functionality is - all the better.

It sounds like you may have impairments under more than one table too.
(Table 2 – Upper Limb Function
Table 3 – Lower Limb Function
Table 4 – Spinal Function)


And if they can mention somewhere in these reports that working or training would be limited to under 15 hours a week this would support the claim.

[snooks]

Thanks for the advice everyone and I am taking it all on board.

[Banjo]

Dec 5, 2016 22:47:07 GMT 7 snooks said:

I have spent hours and hours reading the Apealant Results (on a link that i found).......a whole life can be ruined because of one word and how it is or isn't used, even when the persons illness is blatantly evident.

I never realised Centrelink were this bad It is disgraceful.

Reading the AAT appeals at their website is a great idea.
Many appeals are lost through poor preparation and poor understanding of the Social Security Act.

Read the Impairment Tables as well, be honest with yourself with what you can and cannot do.

www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/AATA/

guides.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/guide_impairment_tables.pdf

[snooks]

Well i picked up my Dr's reports that go with every other scrap of paper that i have found possible. I do have some concerns or issues:

1. Main issue is lower spine as mentioned, he stated its diagnosed and supported by Specialist
2. He state it wont improve over 24 months and will actually get worse
3. My concern is that he thinks i need to see the specialist regarding surgery. I said im against it because of being overweight, diabetes and my general state of health. HE WROTE THAT DOWN........he actually put that on the form and that concerns me plus, i cant afford to go
4. Secondary issues are diabetes T2, left knee after reconstruction is still poor and unreliable, hypertension and morbid obiesity.

I know im fat but laughed when he said we need to put that down, because he was concerned it would hurt my feelings. I explained it wouldnt, fat is fat. Funny enough i see 20 people a day my size. Im 6'3" and 150kgs (360lbs) but he explained the more we put down, the better it will help.

I guess the important part is that he agrees it is easily rated at 20 for the spine and spinal pain. he also stated cannot stand more than 10 mins, walk more than 10 mins, lift more than 5kgs etc and listed via a printout all meds sice official onset, which was March 2014. Damn.....i cant believe how many we take, it shocked me.

Anyway, i will lodge the claims probably next Tuesday as CL are on strike this Friday and Monday i beleive.

I just dont feel hopefull.....I will get on it but i reckon they will make me do that 18 months crap first:(