Primary Medical Cert Refusal help please

mamabearhug

My doctor and consultants recommend that I apply for a Primary Medical Cert.
I went in June and was refused. I can't drive a normal car because I have chronic pain from Fibromyalgia. Bursitis in both hips. Degenerative Disc Disease with ruptured discs all down my spine. I can't walk or sit without pain. I have spasms from driving for 5 minutes but nothing mattered. I have to use a stick or 2 crutches. lying down doesn't help either. I have anxiety and get panic attacks from my situation. Im not in a wheelchair.but I am appealing it. Any advice would help. I have 2 kids that need to get to school. 1 a special needs the other with a new diagnosis and needs an assessment. 3 consultant letters and even a letter about me attending a mental health day hospital for 10 years every month. Because I am depressed because of all the things I have.

FluffyAngel

as hard as it is too read ,them are the rules ..

you need to have no use of limb/s or missing ..

Arbie

Maybe your local councillors or TDs could help.

Gatling

Apply for disability

Dreannz

I know it's unfair but that's how the primary medical cert works. Have you gotten the blue disability badge? It seems like you would be eligible with your condition. You specifically have to wholly be without the use of the limb for a primary medical cert , as in a wheelchair. Therefore the car needs adaptions like Ramps, hand controls etc. Adaptions made to car must cost 10% of the cost of car.
I know they are very strict with it.
If you haven't yet got the blue badge apply for this your consultant can help you with that. This would help with parking when out driving as you can use disabled parking spaces closer to doors so you don't have to walk to far on you crutches or someone can pull up somewhere to drop you off collect you. They make a good bit of difference if your mobility is reduced.

Kristopherus

Arbie wrote: »

Maybe your local councillors or TDs could help.

A councillor or a TD cannot change a medical decision. That can only be changed by another Medico.

flutered

FluffyAngel wrote: »

as hard as it is too read ,them are the rules ..

you need to have no use of limb/s or missing ..

i know an ex buisness man who walks 7 miles twice daily for his health, he has got as primary cert, i am serious, i can supply his car reg to a mod so it can be checked out

cassid

You don't meet the criteria and appealing is unlikely to change the status.

Try a referral for a pain clinic or look at learning to deal with chronic pain for life with something like mindfulness. I have similiar health problems, drive an automatic, use crutches and have a child with CP and several problems since birth. It is just as important to treat your mental attitude as well as dealing with pain. Have you tried connecting with people who are in the same situation ? not feeling isolated is very important and having someone to talk , moan and laugh with can make a huge difference to your quality of life and help you face chronic pain.

flutered

mamabearhug wrote: »

My doctor and consultants recommend that I apply for a Primary Medical Cert.
I went in June and was refused. I can't drive a normal car because I have chronic pain from Fibromyalgia. Bursitis in both hips. Degenerative Disc Disease with ruptured discs all down my spine. I can't walk or sit without pain. I have spasms from driving for 5 minutes but nothing mattered. I have to use a stick or 2 crutches. lying down doesn't help either. I have anxiety and get panic attacks from my situation. Im not in a wheelchair.but I am appealing it. Any advice would help. I have 2 kids that need to get to school. 1 a special needs the other with a new diagnosis and needs an assessment. 3 consultant letters and even a letter about me attending a mental health day hospital for 10 years every month. Because I am depressed because of all the things I have.

i have the same complaits as you, plus i am fighting cancer, i have other illness as a result of radiotherapy treatment, also ostio arthritis on most of my joints, i have been refused twice

mickdw

All I can say is people must be applying the rules differently as I know at least 10 cases of people having this cert to avail of vrt and vat rebate etc on cars. NONE of them have complete loss of use of a limb.

Dreannz

mickdw wrote: »

All I can say is people must be applying the rules differently as I know at least 10 cases of people having this cert to avail of vrt and vat rebate etc on cars. NONE of them have complete loss of use of a limb.

Yes well they could be applying as a driver for a passenger then who is. Everyone is brought before the medical deciding officer and if no adaptations are required because of a situation they refuse it.
You might know a neighbour who has it but they could have it for their uncle and they apply as a driver and him as a passenger if he couldn't drive for example. It might not necessarily be a wheelchair car , but it could have a set they comes out of the car for transferring, that could be an expensive adaption for the neighbours uncle who could have anything wrong if say you never saw him.
They are very strict with it they stick to the rules. And how do you clearly know when someone has it.
From my own experience I have a progressive condition I wasn't given it before when I applied and I had crutches . Not until my condition progressed so much and I was in a power chair and needed a van with a ramp and someone to drive me and my son around now then I got one. But having to be able to not walk first.
I had a perfectly good car 09 which I'd to trade in for a wheelchair car with adaptions, second hand Same year and still cost me €4,000 so now I've a loan on top if it.
They've taken away the mobility grant which is ridiculous it's costing people who need to adapt cars or get to hospital appointments etc.

Dreannz

Everyone with disabilities could apply for mobility grant before and they scrapped it.

*you can always appeal the decision and if you can get your consultant to write a letter writing out the exact adaptations you need in your car and how restricted your mobility is that might be helpful too.

Arbie

Kristopherus wrote: »

A councillor or a TD cannot change a medical decision. That can only be changed by another Medico.

Correct, but public representatives/their staff deal with this sort of thing regularly and can usually give information or point you in the right direction.

mickdw

Kristopherus wrote: »

A councillor or a TD cannot change a medical decision. That can only be changed by another Medico.

This is Ireland.
They may not make or change the medical decision themselves but they sure as hell know a man that will.