I have been to my second opinion appointment at Walton last week and have some great news to report.

I decided to go for a second appointment because my last NS wrote me off with physio and rehabilitation even though I still had progressive symptoms with regards to motor function in my hands and fingers, lots of pain in my upper spine, muscular pain in my back and neck and constant heavy fatigue, due to lack of sleep but also because everything that I did seemed so much harder to do.

I went to Walton and saw a great Registrar who wanted to carry out a full body MRI to rule out any issues further down my spine. (This had not been done previously......which I was slightly worried about)

He mentioned that there could be residual nerve tissue damage which could be causing the symptoms that I had now, perhaps some of this would subside if the damage was only "stunned" nerve tissue rather than permanently damaged.

Anyway, I had an MRI about 3 months post OP and my syrinx had shrunk in mass, but was still more or less the same length from c1 to c3. It was improving though!

So I went last week and saw on the MRI that my syrinx had shrunk dramatically in the last 6 months, it was now about 10% of what it was in November 2008 when I had my first.

I was pleasantly surprised, as I had started to feel the pain as less of a constant, and more only after exertion.

I have been back at work now for 3 weeks, and driving lots of miles, being on my feet all day has taken its toll on my energy levels. I know that most of my current pain and discomfort comes from using muscles that I havent used properly in ages and that my fatigue could be that I have lost a lot of general fitness from leading a rather sedentary lifestyle............. I have put on lots of weight in the last 6 months.

I have been losing weight over the last 3 weeks as I am more active, my fitness levels are improving and the work is getting easier day by day.

I did not think even 6 weeks ago that I would be feeling this positive about it all.

I have been referred to a pain clinic, not only to help control the pain, but also to see what they can do about the "odd sensations" that I still feel with regards to parts of my body that cannot feel pin pricks, yet feel soft things like cotton wool as a pain. I think that the level of nerve damage that I have sustained is going to be something that I have to live with and get over.

I think by having a positive attitude about returning to work has helped me, it was not an easy decision, but other factors like earning money again played their part too.

Ironically I was supposed to go to my DWP Tribunal hearing last Friday, after they declared me fit to return to work in July 2009. I had written to them informing them that I was not going to attend because the evidence that they had was out of date and that they would not be able to make a credible judgement. The last medical examination that I had was 8 weeks post surgery (my symptoms have changed dramatically since then - some worse, some much improved) I am still not physically on top of my game, in fact nowhere near it, but have gone back to give it my best shot.

Anyway, I got a letter today telling me that the Tribunal decision was awarded in my favour and that I had scored a total of 16 points..... meaning that they have now found me unfit to return to work.

This just proves what a farce the DWP really are, that they make decisions that keep you on the basic rate for ESA for as long as possible to save themselves money, whilst all along we are expected to struggle and run ourselves into debt by merely trying to exist.

I have been waiting 6 months for this............. at least I have validation now.