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Pain Management - Medicinal Cannabis - relevance & approach to PIP Review Form
- Adam
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1 year 3 weeks ago #284904 by Adam
Pain Management - Medicinal Cannabis - relevance & approach to PIP Review Form was created by Adam
Hello
I was awarded PIP at Tribunal following appeal in 2022.
At this time I was requiring high levels of Codeine to manage my pain.
Since this time I have stopped taking the Codeine etc and this has been replaced by medicinal canabis pain management.
Does anybody have any advice or experience on how to approach this as part of my PIP review>
I know this is still relatively rare treatment in the UK and is subject to much taboo etc, it being those reasons.I am unsure of how to proceed, and whether I mention this at all in the form.
Many thanks in advance
I was awarded PIP at Tribunal following appeal in 2022.
At this time I was requiring high levels of Codeine to manage my pain.
Since this time I have stopped taking the Codeine etc and this has been replaced by medicinal canabis pain management.
Does anybody have any advice or experience on how to approach this as part of my PIP review>
I know this is still relatively rare treatment in the UK and is subject to much taboo etc, it being those reasons.I am unsure of how to proceed, and whether I mention this at all in the form.
Many thanks in advance
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- BIS
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1 year 3 weeks ago #284912 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Pain Management - Medicinal Cannabis - relevance & approach to PIP Review Form
Hi Adam
If you have a condition that continues to cause you long-term pain and you're hoping to maintain your current level of award - I have no doubt that any reviewer will look at your medication. It's a bit of an obsession with assessors over the type and dosage of medicine claimants take. If the DWP was aware in 2022 that you managed your pain with Codeine and you tell them that you have stopped taking it without telling them the reasons why and what you have replaced it with - they are likely to query it, or they will assume your condition has improved.
If you imply that you are still taking the Codeine - that isn't true, and it could come back to bite you - ie, you shouldn't lie on the form.
I understand your hesitation to mention it, and it's entirely your choice, but you may harm your case by not doing so.
BIS
If you have a condition that continues to cause you long-term pain and you're hoping to maintain your current level of award - I have no doubt that any reviewer will look at your medication. It's a bit of an obsession with assessors over the type and dosage of medicine claimants take. If the DWP was aware in 2022 that you managed your pain with Codeine and you tell them that you have stopped taking it without telling them the reasons why and what you have replaced it with - they are likely to query it, or they will assume your condition has improved.
If you imply that you are still taking the Codeine - that isn't true, and it could come back to bite you - ie, you shouldn't lie on the form.
I understand your hesitation to mention it, and it's entirely your choice, but you may harm your case by not doing so.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- LL26
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1 year 3 weeks ago #284922 by LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by LL26 on topic Pain Management - Medicinal Cannabis - relevance & approach to PIP Review Form
Hi Adam,
To add to BIS' reply. Is the cannabis prescribed by your GP/Consultant? If so, I dont see the problem. Presumably your pain was not under control and the doctors wanted to try something else, albeit something without proven credentials. If this is the case, explain why the doctors have decided to use this.
I do however understand if this is an avenue you have pursued yourself. But, as per BIS if you don't explain, DWP will always assume improvements as this leads to little or no benefits!
I hope this helps.
LL26
To add to BIS' reply. Is the cannabis prescribed by your GP/Consultant? If so, I dont see the problem. Presumably your pain was not under control and the doctors wanted to try something else, albeit something without proven credentials. If this is the case, explain why the doctors have decided to use this.
I do however understand if this is an avenue you have pursued yourself. But, as per BIS if you don't explain, DWP will always assume improvements as this leads to little or no benefits!
I hope this helps.
LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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1 year 3 weeks ago #284951 by Porridge
“There isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.” – Dalai Lama
Replied by Porridge on topic Pain Management - Medicinal Cannabis - relevance & approach to PIP Review Form
Hello Adam, I hope you are well. I too have got a serious chronic pain condition, so I hear you and I feel for you. I have also been prescribed with medical cannabis, it really, really works for me and deletes all pain for a few hours like magic. Probably like you, I have been prescribed with long-term opioids by a hospital consultant, but I have slowly found it inefficient because I can only take that type of pain relief for one week every month to avoid becoming addicted. In my PIP application I included the same letter from the the Pain Consultant who prescribed the cannabis medication to me, who is doctor on the General Medical Council’ Special Register, wrote to my GP. If you do not have a statement from the Specialist Consultant who prescribed the cannabis, go back to her or him and request a letter stating that you have been prescribed cannabis for pain or contact a cannabis clinic and get a consultation with a pain specialist on the GMC Register to get a medical report is my advice. I also explained to the DWP in my PIP application about the severe side effects of the cannabis pain medication because while it completely eradicates pain it does leave you unable to move about safely (as I am sure you are aware), and definitely you cannot drive or use any kind of vehicle. I wish you all the very best for your PIP application and for your pain treatment.
“There isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.” – Dalai Lama
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- Adam
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11 months 3 weeks ago #285864 by Adam
Replied by Adam on topic Pain Management - Medicinal Cannabis - relevance & approach to PIP Review Form
Thank you all for your advice. I have included this in my report with the supporting evidence of the prescription and letters etc.
Will report back my experience on this.
Will report back my experience on this.
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