I'd like to get in contact with people that have it....
I was diagnosed with ddd about 4 years...I've been trying to get SSI or Disability since...without any luck...


Mandi

Pretty much the average person after the age of 30 has it. What are some of the problems that you have that might qualify you for SS or SSI?

Not to discount DDD.

Sorry to hear about your DDD... I am 31 and have moderate DDD with a L4-L5 disk hernation.... I have been unable to find any info on SSI/SSD for it, other than on the SS webpage, and it doesn't say much... if you have any luck please post as it will help many... and you might want to check out the disability healthboard... good luck Angelia

I have alot of pain and severe muscle weakness,
stiffness,I get tired from doing simple things

Dawn, it takes a lot to get disability with back problems especially if you haven't had surgery. Some of us try for a long, long time it seems. Does your specialist back you up and is he willing to go to bat for you? You have to have at least 1 spine specialist who says you cannot do any kind of work. Unfortunately, SSD doesn not consider pain as a reason not to work!

Do you have any discs that are completely degenerated...where you have basically bone on bone with nerves being pinched? What kind of pain do youhave and where is it? Have you had a recent MRI? I know, more questions than answers, but from the little you said, it is hard to give advise.

Good luck, and welcome to the board.

Carol

As Moonlight said, everyone over age thirty has DDD to some degree. DDD by itself does not qualify for Social Security disability. There has to be much more going on than that.

When you apply, you'll be able to indicate why your DDD is impairing your ability to work - you know, maybe you can't sit, stand, or walk for any significant length of time. Keep records of how much work you miss because of it. Is it causing depression? Just because we all get DDD doesn't mean your's isn't dibilitating and that's the hard part to prove.

My husband has severe DDD at age 45 throughout his entire lumbar and cervical regions and he recently had a 4 level lumbar fusion with laminectomies and foraminotomies. After 3 years and 3 denials, he has finally received an award for SSDI despite being in the young age category (18-44, with his date of onset). However, other factors have contributed to his claim such as severe osteoarthritis of both knees. Due to his age and upcoming surgeries (4 level cervical fusion and TKR), he'll be reviewed in a year. Guess the judge is expecting a better prognosis than his neuro is! The judge did go back pre-fusion by about a year which meant that his knees and a large herniation leading to a microdiscectomy were the real reasons that he received the award. Then the ALJ took into consideration that his fusion was so extensive and was able to put together a complete medical scenario.

I hope this helps shed a bit of light. Some people keep daily journals that track pain levels, times in bed, resting, medications, etc... Those things are taken into consideration, BTW.

the muscle weakness is the problem...I cant even do my own house cleaning like it should be done....I bathe every 7 to ten days...
from simple tasks I get tired and my musles get weaker...

I havent had much help from the doctors here....I havent had an MRi since about 4 years ago....I've been thru alot since then with the DDD and other health problems....I have muscle weaknesss asthma,a rapid heartbeat,osteoarthritis,scoliosis,hieta l hernia ,depression,and anxiety.
theres been times parts of my body dont move like they should.....the main one is my left foot..... when I think about making it move a certain way it doesnt move right...I think it has something to do with the nerves....I've had enough test...I wont go thru anymore....I went thru an operation....which I dont think I even needed to have....I though at the time I did though....
the doctors here are practically useless to me...
I can tell them more then they can tell me
Anyway the main problem is the muscles weakness that keeps me from doing things

It sounds like you need to get a new dr that will order another MRI. I can't imagine why they would not give you one. Maybe it's time to get aggressive, Dawn. I've been told that it takes 8-9 months for nerves to become permanently damaged and if you're experiencing problems like that, it isn't something to mess around with.

its been 4 years and its only gotten worse...the doctor that had me get the MRI wasnt any help to me at all....anyway I'm finished messing with the doctors in this town...
I tried therapy and that was more harmful then good for me...my muscles tightened up.....I had alot of chest pain ....I'm not doing the therapy thing again...
Right now I mainly concerned with trying to get SSI or Disability...
I know alot of people that do alot more then I can do ....and are on SSI
I'm getting a lawyer this time :)...