Hiya Lisa
Sorry I haven't responded sooner Lisa!
You appear to be traped in a vicious cicle, you are not alone, and when the Government gets started on it's cuts, it will become a whole lot worse!! You are not allowed treatment to make you better, and you can't get benefit to allow you to be ill!! SO UNFAIR!!!!
Your weight could be a problem, as I am sure, you don't need telling,
but, that should not (automatically) rule you out of a treatment that would allow you to exercise more and with less pain, and vastly improve the quality of you life. So don't let them block treatment for that reason.
After all, which came first, the chicken or the egg!!
In order for you to make an informed choice from available and suitable options, you need definitive and accurate MRI & (load bearing) X-ray scans and reports. I would reccomend that you invest in 'privately funded ones' from clinics that are as far away as you can tolerate to travel (in order to avoid professional bias) away from your Health Trust's area, and then take them to the next consultaion and insist that your Surgeon reviews and explains them with you.
LOOK UP:
Loadstone
BMI
Nuffield
Spire &
Bupa
Prices vary from around £200 up to £800.
Best wishes
SPINELF