Hi Everybody!:wave:

I am looking for some help with this subject. I filed for Permanent Disability three years ago and I'm going in for the second part of my hearing Wednesday. My medical chart is complicated and the judge had to continue my hearing because after being in session two hours, we hadn't even gone through half my chart. What I need to know is how does chronic pain and having to go to PM affect my chances? My attorney told me that my main problem is that I'm too young, meaning I was 40 when I had surgery and filed for benefits - would have been easier to get had I been closer to 50. The clerk who took my application said that I had 4-5 disabling conditions and the only way I would lose is if I gave up. My attorney asked if I could afford not to work because it was going to take time. Boy, he didn't lie!!

Here I am four years later, my health worse than when I started, the pain is worse. Each time they declined me, they said I could work as a receptionist. How is that possible when I can't sit long? I haven't worked in four years and now I have to go through Hearing A and Hearing B. What a joke!:jester:

What I need to know is how will having to go to PM affect my case. I'm already taking two others meds I wasn't taking the last time I was there. Should I make a copy of the prescription for PM and give it to them? Has anybody had this experience?

Being in pain is very depressing. Your life revolves around the pain. I know that I'm not taking as many meds as many of you, not yet anyway, but I know I need stronger medication. My pride has been such a major stumbling block for me, pushing myself to do things I shouldn't do like damp mopping the floor. Believe me I know better. Believe me when I say I'm very angry! It's nobody fault that I'm in the condition I'm in, but it would be easier to handle if I did have somebody or something to blame. My blessing was finding the boards with so many knowledgeable people.

Thank you for your time. I'm open to suggestions about the disability hearing. Also, would like to know what many of you do to pass the time. I can tell you that I can't go for a nice long walk.

Luv to you all, Rosa:wave:

Rosa-
I know this has to be frustrating for you. I don't know anything about the disability end of it, but do know how depressing the long term pain is- especially when the people around you can't understand.

The only suggestion I have is to get copies of all of your medical records and have them ready when you face the board. Get your doctors to write a letter on your behalf about your situation, and if they feel you can't work even as a receptionist, ask them to state that as well. Anything that will help support your case.

Maybe if you post in the insurance section someone who has dealt with this kind of thing can tell you more. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Good Luck!
Lezlee

Hey Rosie
I fought with SSD for over 3 years. Had my hearing in May and just got my approval letter in the mail. I have Degenerative Disc Disease in my low back adn have been out of work for a little over 4 years. It's a long drawn out battle that can almost make you crazy:dizzy: I too can't sit for long (or stand/walk, etc).

A couple of the things that helped me the most was having an FCE and VE - Functional Capacity Eval and a Vocational Eval. The FCE involves how much you can lift, carry, that type of thing. The VE is done by a Vocational Expert and tells what type of jobs you would be able to hold or if you would not be able to work at all. Judges seem to put a lot of weight on these. You might want to discuss this with your attorney and/or your doctors. I don't know if you would have enough time to have one or both of these done before your hearing, but if you get denied again (keeping my fingers crossed that you'll be approved!;) ) I would definately recommend having them done and submitting them as evidence for your appeal.

As far as your new meds, etc. since your last hearing. Your attorney should be asking for updated records from your doctor. The judge is going to want to see your medical chart up to date and this would have your new meds included. Make sure your attorney has requested them and submitted them as evidence. Mine sent me a list of items that were being submitted as evidence so I could look it over and make sure there was nothing else that I knew of that should be included - you can ask for a copy of yours.

Hope this helps some, if you have any other questions or I can help at all, let me know.

Good luck - will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers
Dee

I too was told it would be difficult to get disability due to my age(28 at the time) I am now 42. It took me three years to finally get it and what helped for me was my family doctor I have had for 15 years now wrote a letter stating that due to my lower back problems and neuropathy that I could not sit stand walk twist or bend for more than a few minutes at a time. That is why I won my case. the judge said my long term family doctor could not be disputed, so do not give up just make sure your medical records are up to date and it would not hurt to have letters or notes from your doctor that states you are not able to work.
good luck and dont give up!

I know being in constant pain is very depressing...and then not to be able to even take a nice walk or sit for a while is so frustrating....I have not been able to work now for over 2 1/2 years and then I had only worked for about 4 months prior after being out of STD for 15 weeks....can't walk, sit, drive very far..there are some days were I feel like I have "ants in the pants"....even to be on the computer for any length of time is hard...what I have found that has helped me is to find things that only take alittle time at a time to do....I have designed a way to do some of the crafts things that I was able to do before to do in bed or sitting in a chair now...I know it is hard but you need to adjust things that you did before so you have something to do now....there are many things that of course are out of the question but just to do like my husband calls "puddering around" can keep your mind occuppied...You would not believe how many projects I have sitting around waiting to get finished.
Now with going to a PM..I know that I went to one prior to my approval for SSDI...Now their reports played a BIG part in my approval...when it was written that surgery was not an option, injections did not work, condition had no expectation of improvement, all their reports just reinforced other drs reports....They (SS) feel that you have not used all options to elevate your pain or improve your condition, that is how my husbands attorney put it...they (PM's) are incline to do more pain eliminating procedures...thus allowing you to do some kind of work.

Hello Everybody,

Thank you so much for the responses. They were so helpful. What I have learned is that one must adjust their lifestyles to their medical condition. Lord knows I'm learning how to do just that. I didn't understand cp, now that I'm in that tree I can see the color of the leaves.

The SSDI process is very difficult and slow. Many doctors will not write the letter the patient needs. I have not worked in four years but getting one of my doctors to write a letter is like pulling teeth. I have five doctors and not one of them will write that letter, so I keep trying to keep my medical file up to date.

In the meantime, I have to learn about the different classes of medication that everyone, but me, seems to know about and understand.

Luv to all, Rosa

Rosa:
Forgot to add that I'm in my mid 30's and it was expected that my battle for SSD would be extremely difficult because of my age.

I understand what you are saying about many doctors not being willing to write a letter. My doctor is wonderful and has given me the best care possible, but he has a long standing rule that he will not get involved in determining if a patient can work or not. He decided when he went into practice that he didn't feel like he could make an honest assesment as to how much someone can lift, carry, etc. and refers all his disability patients to FCE's and VE's. I was upset about this at first, but then realized that he was trying to be fair to all of his patients. This may be the case with your doctors too. That's why I recommended seeking an FCE and/or VE for you. The judges take them very seriously and they carry a lot of weight.
Hope things go well for you!