does anyone know if SNF is a reason for disability? - Neuropathy Message Board

daisymaegrl · 01-22-2009, 02:12 AM

Hello, I am new to your healthboard but have been reading it for sometime now. I am impressed by the support you give each other!
I have been diagnosed with RA, pre-diabetes and SFN. The burning and electricity- like pain in both my feet are keeping me up another sleepless night!
My question is: is SFN enough of a diagnosis for a disability pension? I live in Canada. All of the pain and medications with their side effects have left me unable to work, My husband was able to take care of us financially until recently when his job hours were cut. I am not able to stand for long or walk for very far. I am unable to control my hands and drop things without knowing it. I am currently on Cymbalta which has worked for about 10% of the pain. None of the other usual meds helped. I tried Lyrica but was too loopy to think straight or drive. This is the med that my Neuro insists will help me the most but I certainly couldn't take it and work!
I appreciate any of your comments!

daisymaegrl · 01-22-2009, 02:32 AM

oops I meant SFN in my tag line fingers don't work too well!

captinsane1 · 01-22-2009, 03:29 PM

Hello Daisy, sorry to hear of your plight. I assume your a U.S. citizen and are talking about Social Security Disability. If you are the answer is yes. If you go to the S.S. website they have a list of things that they will recognize for disabilty and neuropathy is one of them. You need to hurry and get the process started because it can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years, hopefully that will change soon. I do recomend you find a social security lawyer as it will go much faster. They only charge if they win the case and then its only a set amount out of your award. Let me know if you have any other questions.

daisymaegrl · 01-22-2009, 09:04 PM

Thanks so much for your reply. I appreciate the help!

Freddie123 · 01-23-2009, 05:25 PM

I am new to this board, but have been asking myself this same question and glad to see the answer. I have worked in the medical/insurance field but did not know the regulations or whether they were dependent on state regs.

Anyway, I have not received the official dx of SFN but have researched my symptoms to the point that I feel it's what I have. My torment in the feet is so horrible that I cannot get through my day at work which is sitting auditing records and writing very detailed reports. My threshhold for pain is pretty high, but with nerve pain, I am losing the battle. I've seen 2 ortho surgeons, podiatrist, PCP, and neurologist. I was hoping for a pinched nerve that could be located somewhere but am feeling that's not the case.

When I found this board it was like a lifeline. I sit most days and try to control my tears from the pain while I work. I hate getting up in the morning and facing what I know will be felt.

In my case, I got up one day with what felt like Morton's neuroma (thus, the ortho surgeon route) in one foot which then spread to the other foot and became an icey pain in both soles of my feet. You know the pain. I don't need to describe it. The only difference I have from what I read (now) is that I can sleep. When I wake in the night, they don't feel so icey painful, but swollen, though they are not. The podiatrist gave me exercises but after a few good days, the pain set in again when I went to work. I'm becoming crazy over it and wondering if hormones also influence it.

I'll stop. My panic is setting in as I write about it. And when I read your experiences, I get scared. I'm 54, so I've lived my life and I know, I truly know, I could have something worse.

I see another neruologist next week and will continue the journey and hopefully learn the real diagnosis before the year's end. The board is most helpful and the information is greatly appreciated. Today was such a bad day, and this board was the rope I needed to hang on. Thank you.