Should I make a claim?

Okay he's what is going on...

Diagnosed with Nerve damage in right arm, really bad burning pain followed by numbness.

Fibromyalia/chronic fatigue syndrome.. Diagnosed 2 years ago, but suffered for ages

prolapsed Disc/ sciatica happened approx 8 years ago

Osteoarthritis in hands, painful most days..

Okay walking is a nightmare, walk with a limp and lean to the left which has caused burstis

Also due to medication have chronic itching skin, which needs oilatum baths each night along with aqueous and oilatum creams applied 2 times a day. have to use special shampoo 2 times a week also..

With this medication it is impossible to get in/out of slippy baths, and use creams

Specialists involved in care:

reumotologist (sp)

psychologist

Pain management clinic

Neurologist

Primary care nurse

CPN.

Medication

Paracetamol 4 times daily
Ibroprofen double strength 4 times daily, gel for hands when required
Dihydrocodiene 60mg 4 times daily
Nefropam 60mg 4 times daily
Gabapentine 900mg 3 times per day
Ranatidine daily
Quetiapine 200mg nightly
Trazadone 150mg nightly
Hydroxyzine 20mg daily
Oilatum additive each night in the bath, oilatum cream all over body twice daily and tegel for my hair

Should I claim DLA

We don't give advice on individual claims. However, your entitlement wouldn't be based on your diagnoses or medications, but on your care and mobility needs.

For example, if you can't get out of the bath by yourself, you might need help with that, and therefore have a care need. Likewise, if you're having trouble walking, you may have a mobility need.

Take a look at the guides in the Help for Claimants section, where they will take you through step by step what needs are relevant to entitlement to DLA, and that will enable you to form an opinion of whether it is worth applying.

Hear so many horror stories regarding DLA, not sure what to do to be fair..

JC+ advisor told me to claim it last time I went to see a disability advisor, I never bothered. Just don't want to get into a fight with them.

Not sure I could deal with these ATOS people

It's possible to get DLA without a medical. If having read the guides on here you thought you'd be entitled, you could bung in a claim, with as much supporting evidence as possible, and then wait and see if you get called for a medical. You might get it without one, and if you don't, you've still got your options open.

I find filling in DLA forms very stressful, which is why I subscribed to Benefits and Work in the first place, so as to have guides that explain how the forms work and what sort of things they want to know about. I know that as a moderator, I'm biased, but the guides really helped me, and I was able to give the DWP decision maker enough information and evidence to enable them to make a decision without a medical.

I will have a think about it.... I have very little patience and if a nurse or whatever tries to tell me how I feel I will be very annoyed.

I'll have a think

I will have a think about it.... I have very little patience and if a nurse or whatever tries to tell me how I feel I will be very annoyed.

I'll have a think