Disability for Chronic Pain - Pain Management Message Board

RetiredDirector · 04-13-2004, 03:03 PM

In the past, I have read posts from individuals who were denied Social Security Disability claims associated with chronic pain conditions. I have heard for some time almost no one has their claim approved the first time they submit it.

I am a chronic pain patient and have been for about four years. I suffer from IBS, but also from reoccuring tumors in my lungs. I am on steroid therapy now to retard the growth of the tumors. About a year and a half ago, I had surgery on the top lobe of my left lung and they removed a non malignant tumor the size of an orange. That's good news, but I have been suffering from nerve pain ever since the surgery and the doctors say I will most likely be this way the rest of my life. Because of this, I can't work. Presently, I am on 180 mgs. of Methadone a day to control the pain. Some days it does and other days are not too good in the pain department.

My question is, how many of you that are on Social Security Disability had to file several times before your claim was approved. I just received notice about a month ago my claim had been accepted and I'm receiving full SS benefits on my first try. I was stunned, because I had always heard this almost never happened. I'm not sure what I did that was different from others, but I was all set to hire an attorney to help when I got the first rejection notice. It never came and I will be getting benefits for seven years before a review.

Those of you that have been reluctant to file because you think your claim will be rejected might give it a try. I did and mine went through.

Director

countrygal · 04-13-2004, 09:13 PM

Congradulations Director.... From what i have read you are one of the lucky lucky ones.. It makes me even afraid to even try from all i have read.... Maybe your story will encourage others to go for it!!!!

katkat · 04-13-2004, 10:34 PM

Having dealt with nerve pain I'd think you would want to find a doctor that knows how to treat your nerve pain rather than dope you up with methadone. Then you could possibly return to the work force. I would give anything if I could have my feet fixed and was able to go back to work.
But back to your nerve pain. Ask your doc about a drug called Neurontin. It works miracles on the nerve pain. I was having so much burning, slicing, stabbing type pain......I mean severe pain. I started on the Neurontin and within a few weeks I noticed a difference. Neurontin has side effects that will go away after the first two or three weeks and its best to start at 100mg per day and work your way up to about 300 mg x 3 per day. If you don't notice a difference/improvement you can go up a lot further. Your doc would have to guide you but it does help. There are other drugs besides Neurontin to treat nerve pain too but they have more side effects.
Good luck.

rlcowboy · 04-13-2004, 11:43 PM

I have to second what Kat just wrote. I take methadone for chronic back pain and I also take neurontin for nerve pain that goes down my left leg. The methadone does'nt really do very much for the nerve pain but the neurontin really helps. I cant believe a doctor has you taking so much methadone and not neurontin for nerve pain?

feelbad · 04-14-2004, 06:48 AM

A big congrats to you on getting it on your first try.I am currently in the "holding" pattern just waiting to hear ANYTHING from them.I filed about two months ago and still have heard nothing.

I am suffering with some rather significant damage to my sympathetic nervous system do to a surgery done inside of my spinal cord.I have central pain syndrome in the L arm and up through the shoulder and across both shoulder blades.I also have RSD in the R knee down into the foot.I am currently trying various methods to try and relieve this really intense spasticity i have in both of my legs.It is so tight sometimes that I have to walk on my toes as the muscles will not let go until i am up and walking for about a half an hour some days.I really really need the income from disability as my son also has many medical issues as well.Between the two of us, with hospital stays, therepy ,tests and meds,even with the really good insurance that we have(my son had a liver transplant in 2000,and we only ended up paying the 200.00 hosp co-pay on an almost 400,000.00 bill)we are not doing well financially.It really makes me so angry when you hear about some people just looking for a free ride and abusing the system.It just makes it that much more difficult for people like us who really need it.I am really hoping to hear something soon.This all makes me feel sooo depressed sometimes.I wanted so badly to go back to work.I was an medic/FF for almost fifteen years and soo miss that feeling of satisfaction i used to feel after helping someone through a very rough time.There is nothing that can possibly replace that feeling of accomplishment that I used to feel and just feeling needed,you know?please send out some positive energy for a quick and positive decision,maybe your luck will rub off,lol.

I am really happy for you.Take care, Marcia