I sustained a work injury last year and had a PLIF L3-S1 with laminectomy and instrumentation April 30, 2007. I still do not have control of my left knee and have definite muscle waisting of my left leg. I work in a branch of law enforcement and am not able to return to work for at least 1 year. I also have OA of both knees and it appears that I have done substancial damage to my left knee when I was not feeling any pain. I have an appt. with an orthopedic next week. I am still job attached at this time (by contract they cannot terminate me for 12 months). I am still early in my recovery from surgery, but I am definately in worse shape after. I cannot sit for 30 min. or stand for more than 20. I cannot walk more than 4 blocks and still have to use a quad cane. I just received a letter from my employer that I now have to pay my own insurace which amounts to approx. 1/2 of my work comp pay. I am 45 and have a 15 yo son.

Would it be worth my time to file for SSD? :confused: It sounds like everyone is having such a time getting through the process, I really don't know what to do. I have only been out of work 3 months. I do not know if Montana is any quicker at processing because of our small population. Just looking for imput from others. Thanks :)

Hi!

I would say to go ahead and file, for you have nothing to lose. There's no way for anyone to know if SSD will rule favorably, of course, but being that you have been told you can't work for a year is helpful. SSD states you must expect to be disabled for at least a year, so, why not give it a try? You can file online or call SSD and they will send you paperwork. The process isn't fun, BUT, if you win, then it was worth it.

Char :wave:

Char,

Thanks so much for the reply. That is kind of how I feel and hopefully, I will have the pleasure of telling them "By the way, I am all better!" :D Although, I keep hearing I may return in 1 or 2 years if at all. I think because I love my job, my neuro is trying to break it to me gentlely.

bwitht,
I had the same surgery as you in feb. the 26th to be exact. I also have terrible pain and possible nerve damage and it hurts to sit or stand and I can only walk for 20 minutes before I need to sit down. So I know what you are going thru. I was also told it could take up to a year to 18 months to heal and know if the surgery is "FAILED BACK". I know the pain you are in. Try to apply online you can save your application so if it takes longer then you can sit, you can save your work and come back later. They respond quicker to online applications. It was less than a week from the time I finished and submitted and the phone interview. Good Luck and know you are not alone.
-Gizmosmom

Char,

Thanks so much for the reply. That is kind of how I feel and hopefully, I will have the pleasure of telling them "By the way, I am all better!" :D Although, I keep hearing I may return in 1 or 2 years if at all. I think because I love my job, my neuro is trying to break it to me gentlely.

Hi!

You're most welcome! There was one thing I forgot to mention in my post - besides the "disability being expected to last at least a year", there is one other thing they may come at you with, which is, if you can do other work instead of the job you have currently. This would mean "sedentary" work, their definition being basically a desk job. I'm not trying to worry you, but you may hear about it from them and I just wanted you to be prepared in the event this becomes an issue. Therefore, make sure they understand that ANY walking (meaning getting to and from a job) would be very difficult at best, and be certain to underscore the fact that you can neither sit nor stand for long periods. When you see the orthopedic doc, ask his opinion on the possibility of your doing sedentary work. Tell him what you told us about standing and sitting. He may say (and hopefully include in your med. file!) that you can't work at all, and that would certainly make your case with SSD much stronger! Good luck!!

Char :wave:

Thanks again Char, you have been very helpful. I just checked the statistics on SSD approval in Montana and they suck. We have about the 4th lowest approval rates in the country. I am not going to let that detour me though. If I do not get SSD, it will not be from lack of trying. I don't want to be in a spot later and say, "Oh dang, I should have applied!"

I say do it! I should have filed a long time ago but kept thinking this will all be past me soon. HA! I was injured at work May 2005. I work in a high school health office. A student fell hit her head, had several seizures and the nurse demanded I help move her to a cot. My mistake was refusing a 4th time instead of caving in. The student collapsed and the nurse let go. I tore wrist ligaments and tendons and herniated L4-L5 discs. Workmanscomp took 10 months to approve the wrist surgery and now I have been told I have localized RSD. I had one epidural in my back but since it didn't work, the following two were denied and I was told to look into chronic pain management. Okaaaaay. After numerous appeals I was sent to a surgeon last August and surgery was recommended. After alot of frustration I just received approval to go see the surgeon at the end of August, which means I probably won't have surgery until Oct? I have been informed, the surgeon may not want to operate and possibly spread the RSD. I have exhausted my w/c and my sick time. If I can't have the surgery I can't work and there are no guarantees on the success of the surgery and my recovery. I just filed for SSD and it will take 3-4 months and that is without an denial. I never thought I would be in this position. If I had been able to use my own insurance I would have had surgery 18 months ago and been back to work hopefully. Now I worry about the nerve damage as my legs hurt so much. Good luck

Hi Mel, :wave:

I am so sorry to hear you have had such a horrible time with your injury & work comp. I am one of the very lucky ones in that work comp has been very helpful to me. Approvals take a little time, but everything has been approved so far.

I started filling out my online application for SSD today. Wow, is this going to take some time.

Good luck on your case, I hope you receive a fully favorable soon. You really need something to go your way quickly.