To Whom It May Concern,
I hope this letter finds you well.
I wanted to explain the pain situation I have been in for the last 2.5 years in a letter rather than just the form.
As I have added to the form, I have been suffering from general body pain, which is more persistent in the lower back area, but radiates to various areas of my body, usually affecting the right side of the body.
Every day since my condition started, I suffer from an intense constant lower back pain and milder but also constant pain and discomfort on my right shoulder, around the shoulder blade.
Due to this condition I don't sleep well. I go to bed at around 8;00pm (as often as possible) and most days, even if I am in bed for over 10 hours, I wake up not rested at all. When I finally fall asleep, I wake every time I change posture, due to the pain. This situation has caused considerable fatigue and I am exhausted throughout the day.
Apart from that constant pain, with the change of weather, my hands and knees get very stiff, and it is also painful, this makes it hard to use them, especially on cooler days, when this happens it is impossible for me to even to handwrite or type.
I have tried many different medications, such as pain relief or mussels relaxant, antidepressant, none of them worked. Therefore, there hasn’t been an improvement in my condition. I have appointments with a number of specialists. The rheumatologist couldn't justify the pain considering the results of my many scans or blood tests. Professor Kirk Levins from the pain clinic diagnosed me with a generalised pain disorder, also he did a rhizotomy to me that brought no improvement nor relief to my pain.
For the last two years, I have tried treatments such as physiotherapy, swimming, pilates, stretching exercises, neither of them helped. On the contrary, they have increased the pain while practicing, therefore I had to stop any physical activity or therapy.
I have also joined Chronic Pain Ireland, and follow a few of their seminars for learning how to live with chronic pain. This is the only thing that has helped, but not in a physical meaning, just for the anxiety and psychological impact that this physical condition has had on my life and my mind
Besides the generalised pain disorder, I also suffer from haemorrhoids (Since 2019), an anal fissure (for about a year), IBS and diverticulitis.
Those have also been unsuccessfully treated. I had an operation to remove the haemorrhoids in 2020, but the doctor only removed the bigger one (a golf ball sized), leaving the smaller one (the size of a gellybean, which still is very painful) as it would otherwise affect the elasticity of my anus.
I had injections to reduce it, which only worked partially. Fortunately, this condition can be treated with painkillers such as ibuprofen helping to mild down these symptoms. Unfortunately, I cannot be on this medication for long periods of time. I have tried many other treatments, such as various types of suppositories and ointments, but those have never worked.
On top of all I have mentioned above, due to the IBS condition, I often suffer from diarrhoea, which means that some days I cannot make it on time to the bathroom, and I need to take a shower and have a change of clothes handy. This can unfortunately happen in the middle of the day but thankfully not very often.
All those conditions, but especially the ones related to pain, have affected my capacity to focus on tasks, even simple ones, and have hugely restricted my physical activity, which for many days is up to nothing.
I can emphasise enough how important it is for me, and my family, to be able to access the disability allowances as unfortunately, I am losing hopes of improvement on my condition.
Kind regards, Marina Jorquera Rodriguez
Subject: Request for Consideration of Disability Allowance
To Whom It May Concern,
I hope this message finds you well.
I am writing to share my ongoing struggle with chronic pain, which has severely impacted my daily life for the past 2.5 years. While I have provided details in the attached form, I believe it is important to convey the full extent of my situation in this letter.
I experience persistent pain throughout my body, with the most intense discomfort located in my lower back. This pain radiates, particularly affecting the right side of my body. Each day, I endure constant lower back pain and milder, yet persistent, discomfort around my right shoulder and shoulder blade.
My condition has significantly disrupted my sleep. I strive to go to bed early, around 8:00 PM, but despite spending over 10 hours in bed, I consistently wake up feeling unrested. Each change in my sleeping position causes jolts of pain, leading to chronic fatigue that affects my ability to function throughout the day.
Additionally, changes in weather result in stiffness and pain in my hands and knees, making basic tasks difficult. On colder days, I find it almost impossible to write or type due to the pain in my joints.
I have explored various treatment options, including pain relief medications, muscle relaxants, and antidepressants, but unfortunately, none have alleviated my symptoms. Consultations with multiple specialists, including a rheumatologist, did not provide clarity or improvement in my condition. Professor Kirk Levins from the pain clinic diagnosed me with a generalized pain disorder and performed a rhizotomy, but this procedure also did not yield results.
Over the past two years, I have committed to physiotherapy, swimming, Pilates, and stretching exercises; however, these therapies have only exacerbated my pain, forcing me to cease all physical activity. I have sought support from Chronic Pain Ireland and attended seminars to help manage the psychological impact of living with chronic pain, which has been beneficial for my mental well-being but not for my physical condition.
In addition to my pain disorder, I suffer from hemorrhoids, an anal fissure, IBS, and diverticulitis, all of which remain inadequately treated despite various interventions. I underwent surgery to remove hemorrhoids in 2020, but only the larger one was addressed, leaving smaller ones that continue to cause significant discomfort. While I have received partial relief from injections, I cannot rely on certain pain medications due to potential long-term side effects.
Moreover, my IBS often leads to urgent diarrhea, requiring me to be continuously prepared for emergencies, which adds to my daily stress.
The culmination of these medical challenges has severely hindered my ability to focus on even simple tasks and has drastically limited my physical activity. My family and I are deeply concerned about my situation, and I feel a growing sense of hopelessness regarding any potential improvement in my condition.
Given the severity of my circumstances, I kindly request your consideration for disability allowances. Access to this support is crucial for me and my family as we navigate these challenges.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
Kind regards,
Marina Jorquera Rodriguez
