Hello .. advice welcome

           please accept my sympathy with your condition,I too have C/S but not to your extent and I was retired when mine started,but I am sure work played a big part in it,as my work entailed a good bit of phisical work.

  I know it is difficult balancing work and feeling fit and able to do it,I finished work ten years before retirement age due to illness,angina and arthritus,and as I say my job entailed a lot of phisical activity.

   As for claims,I can only say I would go into what you are entitled to from the benefits agency,and if you can manage on reduced income,go for it,when I was working I was getting worse and I didn't want to end up unable to get about.

  It certainly was a struggle,money wise and I had to start receiving my private pensions I had been paying into.

  Remember Sonia,health comes before any wealth and it is no use putting yourself through pain if it can be avoided.

  I must seem to be rambleing on but I hope it helps.

Going by what you describe,  I think it would probably be wise to start a claim,  whether PIP or ESA would depend on the severity and disability as you see it.  You'll definitely need some written backup from your GP or consultant to support your claim,  and be prepared,  it's not always easy to convince the testers of the merits of your case.  Although C/S is seen as a recognised condition for disability benefits,  they tend to see it as a fluctuating condition....so, decisions can go either way.  Might be best to persevere with job in the meantime,  until you know for sure whether you're eligible or not.  

Good luck

my pain has got really worse and is getting unbearable i work full time but struggling really bad with it, i have gabepentin and zormorph to try and ease pain but doesnt do much. i never knew that this condition could be so much pain i am thinking of going down the esa pip route as the pain is to bad across neck, shoulders down top of back and in hands, driving me mad been ongoing for over a year with chronic pain x