Just weeks after suffering a disastrous fall that left her elbow in several pieces, West Ham MP Lyn Brown has vowed to return to normal working.

Speaking exclusively to the Recorder just days before her third operation on her arm, she revealed her joy at the fact that she was able to play her part in blocking the Government’s plans to sell off the nation’s forests.

The West Ham MP was taken by taxi to the Commons just after undergoing surgery on her arm.

She said: “It was great that I was able to be part of the pressure against it. I would have been gutted If I had not been a part of that. It was us that wanted the debate.”

The fall down the stairs on February 1 has meant Lyn has undergone two operations to fix her elbow and another was due on Monday (Feb 21) to try and repair possible nerve damage which means she cannot move her left wrist.

Being reduced to, effectively, the use of one arm is proving a challenge for Lyn who admitted, reluctantly, that she is not firing on all cylinders. She is taking regular painkillers.

A major challenge is getting dressed - not only doing it single handedly but finding the right clothes. They must be elasticated, have wide sleeves and be of a light enough material to not to weigh down the apparatus metal bolts inserted in her elbow. And they must be smart enough for the Commons.

Such is her determination to soldier on that Lyn has managed to take part in four important votes and is managing to discharge her Parliamentary duties with a mixture of working from home, travelling to Westminster and using her Stratford office - all with the help of her supportive staff. She has hundreds of letters a week to deal with.

She said: “I have gone in for the heavy votes and I see this as something temporary. I see myself back at work full-time as soon as possible.

“I have no deputy. I have no-one to vote for me or sign my letters and its not fair to put all the pressure or stress on them (her staff) so its either this nothing and the vote of West Ham doesn’t get cast. I am not complaining because the job is a huge privilege.”

Although the medical experts have said she may never regain the full use of her arm, Lyn is philosophical and readily admits that it could have been so much worse if she had injured her neck.

She is getting used to the pain and managing with one arm. She recalls watching her grandmother cope in exactly the same way.

She thanked everyone who has sent cards, messages of support and emails. She also paid tribute to the medical staff who looked after her.