Hi everyone, don't be put off , I had an esa medical by ATOS in february last year, I was and still suffering with severe back problems and due to have surgery this month. I suffer with spinal canal stenosis and scoliosis of the spine together with misplaced discs which gives severe back and leg pain with instances of pins and needles and numbness in legs, back, and groin. The medical was a farce, the doctor would not look at any off my medical notes from my doctor or neuro-surgeon, he just asked a few questions . he then asked me to lie on a couch and lift my bad leg which i couldn't without his help and also to squat down and then rise and i had to ask for his help because i was in agony. He ignored my request to put spinal stenosis on his report. He put backache and said it was easier to understand. Needless to say in may I received a letter from the esa saying my benefit would stop and was fit for work I appealed and asked for a copy of my medical report which scored me zero, and was full of conflicting evidence, missing out my symptoms, the tablets I was taking etc, he even said that he had done a thorough medical of my back. I didn't even take my sweater off because i wasnt examined. I sent the appeal back together with my notes on the medical report and lo and behold I was denied again and told if I wanted to take it further it would be a tribunal. So I did and game them the same medical evidence I had and was told the tribunal would be in november but eventually a date was given for february 9th this year. I passed this time with a score off 18, at the medical it was 0 and was told all extra money due to me from last year would be re-imbursed which is around £1000. So if you have any medical evidence whatsoever, from doctor, surgeon, physio etc send it in to the tribunal, ask your doctor as well to write a personal letter on your behalf and forward that to the tribunal as well. All I want now is my spinal operation and to recuperate and i now know the esa won't be on my " back" every few months. I will get regular reviews after the operation but the judge at the tribunal said it would be through my surgeon and doctor good luck everybody John