I've been out of work since the middle of 2000 due to several surgeries. The last two were done on my lower back L5S1. The surgeon put in plates,screws + cage. My body rejected the hardware and was removed only 5 months after the first surgery. I'm in a hard shell front and back brace. I will not be able to walk or sit for long periods of time. I'm now 50 yrs old and have worked since I was 16 yrs old. Can someone help me on this.
thanks, gege

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Hi Gege,

Contact your local SS office and get the ball rolling now. And expect to be turned down 2-3 times just as a matter of course. But don't let that discourage you...keep appealing. I appealed, I think, three times, then hired an attorney who specializes in SS cases. He gets a percentage of the final award, but if you can't get it done alone, it's well worth it.

File as soon as you can, because once they make a determination for benefits, you'll receive retroactive payments from the first day you filed. If I remember right, the entire process took me 6-8 months.

They'll require that you be examined by one of their doctors, and I think they'll want a report from your GP stating that you can't work.

At my hearing there was a representative there from Indiana's Vocational Rehabilitation Services who stated that I could not find gainful employment in a 50 mile radius, considering my limitations.

When you see their doctors, make sure you bring all the medical information, reports, and film that you can to support your case.

I wish you well,

Teri

thanks Teri, I ended up at the ER yesterday with pain in my left hip that I could not control. I think I am more likely to deserve SS than some who have been drawing just to keep from working. I thank you again for your reply and interest.
gege

Gege,

I'm sorry to hear about the pain you're in. I hope you were able to get some relief. That is no way to live.

I know what you mean about how some people can qualify for SSD and some can't. A friend of mine suffers from post-polio syndrome and can't draw, yet another friend of mine receives SSD for an ailment that seems, at least to me, minor compared to PPS.

But you'll never know until you try, right? I hope you're able to get a favorable decision. Hang tough!!

God Bless,

Teri

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Spina-bifida occulta; Congenital Scoliosis (dextrorotatory and 'S' curve, 42 and 57 degrees); Meningomyelocele (split cord @ L1); Diastematomyelia (re-sectioned at L2-3); tethered cord @ S-3; various developmental abnormalities of the spine.

Surgeries include, but not limited to:
Lumbar fusion-1968
Fusion with Herrington Rod instrumentation-1970
Femoral osteotomy-1971
Tethered cord release-1987
Rod removal-1987
Chiari-type pelvic osteotomy-1988
Trochanteric osteotomy-1989

it sounds like you should have no problem receiving disability...when you go and apply the SS office will contact your dr and get all necessary information about you..from there they (SS) will make their decision..sometimes they will send you to their dr's for a second opinion..should you get to this stage of the process make sure you keep that appt, otherwise you will be turned down automatically.

I think you deserve SSD, apply right away. I believe you can even apply online, or the phone.

Everyone is right, it could take 2-3 turndowns. Most people go thru that, my mother was in a wheelchair with MS and was turned down 3 times. I thought it was sad that the second time I had to take her 50 miles to see a doc they chose so they could decide. But she got pay from the first day we applied, I think she got like 9 mts of back pay.

Good Luck, I hope you feel better or at least have a good day.

Stickgirl

Gege,

As the others have said, you should be prepared to be turned down and have to appeal and request a hearing. I was turned down twice, then finally hired an attorney for my hearing. My best advice is to hire an attorney right off the bat. They will take a percentage of the lump sum benefits you receive going back to the beginning date of your disability (but there will be a cap on the $ amount they can take; mine was 20% or a max of $5k) Soooooooooo.........you attorney basically will cost you the same amount of money whether he/she is helping you for two months or two years. I wish I'd have gotten an attorney to start with. I would have still had to go through all the turn downs and appeals etc, but I would have known that I had someone on my side and keeping me encouraged. Since the attorneys who specialize in SSD always work on a contingency basis (they don't get paid unless you do receive benefits) You can be pretty certain that if an attorney decides to represent you that you WILL in fact (eventually) get the benefits.

Be prepared to do lots of paperwork!

love and prayers,

aj in Oregon

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~ 48 year old female; currently self-employed as an artist/designer/woodcrafter.
~ Previously worked in the restaurant biz for 27 years (not so good for someone with a bad back!)
~ Hereditary and congenital scoliosis, but it never caused any problems until I was 40+ years old.
~ 76 degree curvature had increased 2 degrees in two years 1999-2001; indicating surgery was necessary.
~ Surgery in March of 2001.
~ Fusion and insturmentation of C7 - T9.
~ Fourth rib removed; 5th and 6th rib cut back halfway; removed ribs were morselized and used for the grafting, plus additional bone harvested from hip.
~ After tthe hardware was attached, spine was straigntened 20+ degrees.
~ 2 weeks in the hospital.
~ Brace worn for five months. Bone growth stimulator device also worn several hours per day.
~ PT 5 mos. after surgery caused increased pain.
~ Follow-up surgery to remove hardware scheduled for Feb. 2002.
~ Round 2 of PT 2 mos. after hardware removal.
~ Medically released to return to full activity in July 2002.
~ Increased pain upon returning to regular work schedule.
~ Round 3 of PT in April/May 2003; continually increasing pain.

thanks for the info on the attorney and I do believe I deserve the benfits as well as the next one. I'm not lazy and never have been, could be why my back is the problem today. I'll keep everyone posted. thanks again so much. gege

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sound a lot like me...
I was a pipefitter 30 years blew out my back 2 surgeries blah blah WC crap....

Go to the ssa site and look at the Blue Book....
Make a copy of what is pertinent to you and take that to yer doc....and tell 'em this is EXACTLY the way his report needs to be worded.
Back that up with a couple RFC (residual function capacity) forms you can find different ones around the net.
If you are comfy doing all this yerself..go for it if not get a lawyer or other advocate.
Be nice to the SS people ( I know...fake it...)... the one you vent on just might be the one who could screw you up or help you along