Should I apply or not? - Disabilities Message Board

NavyMom0512 · 12-19-2006, 02:14 PM

I am 50 years old and suffered a stroke at the age of 49. I had 100% blockage of my right carotid artery and 85% blockage of my left. I have since had a stent placed in my left carotid to open it and keep it open. I have re-gained partial use of my left side after months of therapy. My left hand is weak and zippers and buttons are difficult but I manage.

I suffer from severe nerve pain in my entire left side, basically left side neuropathy caused by my stroke. My doctors have been trying me on different medications and combinations of such for a year, trying to come up with something that is bearable. Most of the time I feel like I'm in a fog from the medications. My skin feels burned and someone is rubbing a SOS pad on it 24 hours a day. It hurts to put on clothing. Even my scalp hurts when I shower.

I have also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and just recently sciatica. I had an MRI and it looks like the sciatica is a side effect from the nerve damage.

I went back to work 2 months after my stroke, basically to shake the depression and my doctor said i could. I am a legal secretary for a county probation department. I no longer type 80 words per minute, I have to hunt and peck with my left hand. I have limited feeling in my left side. It is getting harder and harder to get up and drag myself to work every day. I can't file for disability while I'm still working, i.e, "if you're working, how can you be disabled?" I could go on temporary disability through my work for 30 months. If I do this and apply for disability what happens if I get denied? My husband and I have worked very hard up to this point saving for retirement, etc. I don't want to see our future go down the drain because of this.

I guess my question is, am I disabled or not? I am working now, but working in chronic pain and limited mobillity. I don't want a hand out, I just want to enjoy my life.

Any advice would be welcome at this point. Thanks.

Deb

shawley · 12-19-2006, 05:10 PM

Deb , I don't know what to tell you , I feel bad for you. If you can't work go on disability. From what I read you better file soon as possible because it takes forever to be approved , good luck.

Have a merry x-mass

Mz Migraine · 12-19-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

am I disabled or not?

Since you are CURRENTLY working then the answer is no.
After you stop working, your doctor(s) AND SSD will determine if you are disabled.
I strongly suggest that you visit the Social Security Disability website for their defination of "disability" in order to qualify for benifits.

[url]http://www.ssa.gov/disability/[/url]

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If you are denied after filing the initial application, then you can file a RECONCIDERATION. If you are denied again you can appeal & apply for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
Most people hire an attorney at this stage of the game. If you do, make sure you hire one that ONLY handles Social Security Disability cases. Check your local Yellow Pages for one. DO NOT HIRE ONE THAT ADVERTISES ON TV.

WARNING: Some states have a backlog. Meaning from initial application, denials, appeals, to approval (if you win) can take months to years -up to 4 years.

Good luck!