Medication

Hi, Does anyone know what view the DWP/or ATOS would take if you have been offered very strong pain relief tablets(by NHS Pain Clinic). But you decide not to take them due to the side affects etc. Would this go against you at a medical examination by ATOS. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Jeff1,
Ethically I don't think you can be critisised for not complying with a suggested treatment that actually makes you feel worse. Hippocrates said something on the lines of "First do no harm". If one aspect of your treatment causes you to become more ill then I think it is unreasonable to expect you to continue with that aspect of the treatment.

As for the ATOS interview, you need to state everything. Don't think they will pick up on things. If, just for example, you say you are anaemic you will need to state all of the symptoms that you suffer because of your anaemia like, tiredness, dizzines, extreme fatigue and sometimes even chest pain.

Some strong pain killers can make you feel nauseaus causing you to lose your appetite, or make you feel dizzy and you may be afraid of falling, which can cause you further problems with injury.
They can also cause severe constipation.
Hope this helps.

Jeff1 wrote:

Hi, Does anyone know what view the DWP/or ATOS would take if you have been offered very strong pain relief tablets(by NHS Pain Clinic). But you decide not to take them due to the side affects etc. Would this go against you at a medical examination by ATOS. Any help would be appreciated.

It should make no difference refusing to to take strong painkillers.

Claimants are allowed to refuse surgery if they wish, without it affecting their benefit ( usually in DLA claims), since there is no no guarantee that any proposed surgery will be successful.

Lots of Commissioners Decisions ( now called the Upper Tribunal) on this if you check out the the link on DLA/AA case law in DLA Resouces HERE

Hope this helps.

Pat

Thank you for your quick relpies, things are a lot clearer now. the tablets they mentioned to me were morphine based. I know they say not all people suffer side affects, but i just dont want to take that chance.

I and my husband both take morphine based tablets. I do not blame you for not wanting to use them as we suffer physically and mentally through taking this medication. I have been worse affected mentally. Nothing was said to me when i started to take these.

Hi
I take Tramadol for arthritis pain and they cause drowsiness and sometimes dizziness.I believe they are the nearest to morphine.