Denied after SSDI after multiple fusions - Disabilities Message Board

bionicsherre · 08-15-2009, 01:08 AM

Ok I have a history of back surgery. While playing with my son I messed up the L5/S1 disc. They done and partial discectomy then in 1996. I fell down a flight of stairs with my 6 month old grandbaby and reinjured it. Leading to a micordiscectomy in 2002. The same year having bilateral Masectomy's and reconstruction for other reasons. I had to have L5/S1 fused in 2002. Then cervical anterior fusion at C5/C6 in 2004. New lumbar Fusion at L5/S1, L5/L4 in 2008. Then Jan. 2009 Cervical redo with C4/C5 included. Now scheduled for Posterior Cervical fusion of C4/c5 scheduled 9/10/2009. Ok someone posted they cut there hair half way up there head is this so? Is there an End to this and I am a Nurse who is afraid to go back to work related to everytime I do, I herniate another disc. My Nuerosurgeon has told me that I will be back in 6 months if I dont be very careful. getting really discouraged here. I have pain in my shoulders under the shoulder blades and it just gets tighter and tighter till i feel like I am going to pop. I have pain in the lower back area surgeon says the instrumentation is causing irritation in that area. I have pain in my both breast from contractures and disability has denied me. I hired a attorney and requested a hearing it has been almost a year now. Is this comon and I do have the diagnosis of DDD. In addition when they done the fusion in 2008 they found that the formen (sp) had a fractured area and they removed it. I am feeling very over whelmed at this point.

Can anyone give me some good news lol or hope?

broke as a joke · 08-15-2009, 09:46 AM

they say that different areas have different time frames. i wait 2 years almost exactly for a hearing after the first 2 denials. so i know exactly where your coming from

gayle4102 · 08-15-2009, 10:46 AM

Yes, the length of time you have to wait is different from state to state. I am counting my blessings, because my hearing was exactly 11 months after my attorney sent in a hearing request. Texas is supposed to be one of the faster states. I have read that in some states, the wait for a hearing can be almost four years. Your attorney should have a good idea of how long it takes in your state.

As you probably know by now, the process is very, very slow - and some states slower than others.

I can only offer words of encouragement, to hang in there and wait it out.

jennybyc · 08-15-2009, 05:52 PM

Hi. I am the one who posted about having my head shaved half way up the back of my head for a posterior fusion. It really depends on how high they have to go and what they plan to do. I am fused from C3 and my scar right at the base of my skull so I was shaved to about an inch or 2 above that and my air trimmed slightly above that level as well. And since you are in a high neck brace for a couple of months, it kept the hair out of the brace and made it much cooler and comfortable. Hair grows back, disks don't(unfortunately).

Kept hanging in there for the SSDI. I got mine on first try but not from the fusion....I almost died after surgery and ended up with brain damage. THAT did it! The brain damage has gone away for the most part but the neck problems continue but I have my SSDI and I'm hanging on to it. Finally got Medicare this summer and I am so happy. Now I can relax and take care of myself.

It's worth the wait and the attorney.

gentle hugs...............Jenny

bionicsherre · 08-16-2009, 12:02 AM

Thank You Jenny it is nice to hear from people who have similar situations. It just feels so depressing what if they dont qualify me? My Husband says well he will just have to get a second job. That is just crazy, but I cant even unload our dishwasher or dryer with out having so much pain I have to medicate.