Chronic Pain

[Kathleen28]

I have just been turned down by SS Disability for the 2nd time. This time I am not only appealing but I have also just retained a lawyer to help me. I am just so frustrated at this point. I was injured on a job in 2003 which resulted in a workers comp case & back surgery. I had surgery on my L-3 & L-4 & also have herniated disks in Thoracic region. After I settled I had no choice but to go back to work. I went back to work  as soon as I recovered from my surgery. But before I settled I had them do another MRI because I was still having a lot of pain in my lumbar region. Turns out I still had herniated disks in that area. Since then the pain has only got worse. I have constant sciatica pain which is very painful. I do have a pain management Dr & I get plenty of pain meds. Though I have developed a dependency on them. Found that out one day when I could no longer get out of bed w/o taking a pill. I have always been a hard worker & there is no way I would have SSD asking me about every single aspect of my private life & the amount of tedious paperwork I have had to fill out over & over, such as who cooks for me , what I do all day  & on & on if I did not really need disability. If I was able to afford health insurance I would have had a CT Scan or another MRI which would show my injuries.Yet I know people who have got disability & there is really nothing wrong with them except they are just too lazy to work.  I have had no health insurance since the job I was hurt on. Disability sent me to one of their Dr's whom I had never met & he saw me for a total of 5 min. They then gave me an x-ray. They had ordered one for only the lumbar region not the thoracic. I am just so fed up I feel like giving up but that would be throwing away a year of my life. At this point I have no income of my own coming in. Thank god for my husband but the business he is in is going through some tough times. Since he is the only one bringing home the "bacon" we are just barely hanging on. If it wasn't for Mom we would probably have lost our house & everything. I have read where x-rays do not show  herniated disks. Is there anyone else going through the same thing & how much longer will I have to go before & if I get disability? If I could I would much rather be out there working. I am only 41 & I will not be getting a big check anyway as I did not work at all through my twenties because I was raising 3 kids. Since I was married at 20 I did not go to college &  the cost of daycare alone would have ate up my paycheck. Is there anyone else going through this? I am so desparate & extremely depressed.

[geminigirl1963]

I totally agree about the fentanyl patch - it really worked well for me too.  I would still have pain, but it was more bearable and even when it got to a point that I had to take something else, I was able to take a smaller dose of my breakthrough medication (vicodin).  I actually just went to the duragesic website (www.duragesic.com) to see what information on the financial assistance I might be able to find and was dismayed to discover they no longer do the patient assistance program.  However, they do have a link on their website where you can print out a $50 coupon to go towards the cost of the patch.  Apparently, you can print one out each time you fill a prescription, so that's nice - it's not just a one time thing.  It's a shame they don't have the patient assistance program anymore, but I'm wondering if maybe the reason is that now there is the generic form of the patch, which there wasn't when I first went on it (it came a short time later, but I still had to use the brand name because of the assistance).
PLEASE be very careful with the patches.  As I'm sure you're aware - they've had trouble with some of them having tiny pinholes in them that end up releasing the medication too fast and sometimes causing death.  What I used to do before I put mine on, is I would basically smoosh the medication all around the patch, paying careful attention to the edges to see if any of the medication was leaking.  I know, sounds paranoid, but when you're dealing with such a strong medication, I feel better safe than sorry.  I'm glad I did it too, because there was one patch that I had that indeed was leaking.  Fortunately, it was the only one in the box that was doing it, but even one is way too many when there's a risk of death!!  Also fortunately, I saved the defective patch and brought it to my doctor and pharmacist, so my doctor was able to give me my refill prescription a few days early (of course I was losing 3 days of pain control by not having that patch) and by taking it to the pharmacist along with the prescription, he was able to contact duragesic when he went to fill the med and explain to them what had happened and they had no trouble giving me the "refill" a few days early.  When my medicare prescription coverage kicked in, I had to switch to the generic form because duragesic would no longer cover me since now had some form of prescription coverage.  I had no trouble with the generic form and did not notice any difference in pain control.  Of course, I was no longer receiving the patches at no cost, but I am lucky enough to have a medicare prescription plan that has a very low co-pay and I receive the extra assistance so I don't have an annual deductible.
Best of luck!!

[skeetelmore65]

I want to say to the ones that I read that I understand how the process works..it is long and it is hard. I have been disabled since '04 and haven't been able to work since then. I got an attorney...but I moved and he said that if I would have stayed that I would have had it in 5 mos. , but I had to move to my mom's so I could get her to help me since I had a son that was 11 and I couldn't do anything. I was basically bedridden. Here now in the great state of ARKANSAS... Mom is taking good care of me and finally got to go before the Admisnistrative Law Judge..all of 30 min. like they some of yall said. It was hard for the way I felt, but got through it. I went in with a good attitutude and friendly..of course that is me. I did have to explain the time during in which I worked from '94 on and I did miss one job during that time..I hope that didn't go against me. It was just for 2 yrs. as a card dealer..yeah thought I'd give it try since I cocktailed for 5 yrs.and had my own clothing store for 2-3 yrs. and even told them @ the time I worked in Nashville,TN at the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland as an entertainer. Yeah, I wanted them to know that i loved to work and wanted to still work,but just couldn't anymore...due to my neck and back injuries that acquired during accident. I worked after acct for 8 yrs. but pain just got to much to bear that doc(NS) told me that I had to had an ACD & F discectomy spinal fusion..yeah a mouthful..now a bodyful..full of pain. I have it all nerve damage,chronic pain, Fibro,cerv. & lumbar DDD, Spinal Stenosis, and the list goes on and on. I am on a walker and have carpel tunnel in both hands. I am a fighter and love to work and can relate to the housework issues. It aggravates me so much that I can't do without paying for it. I want to be able to do anything,but those days I guess are over. I can't say that 'cause I haven't give up yet. Even though sometimes it sure feels like it.
I want to thank geminigirl1963 for her comment on the Duragesic Patch. I wear Fentanyl and I hate it,but the pain is constant and it is a blessing. I will check it out and thank you so much for you info and help.
About the determination, it has been since the 17th of Nov., I think. So, around 3 wks. or so. I hope I get it. I have been denied in MS., but that was w/out an att. and I got wener...and I hate to say it but he is a wener...lol...I am sorry Lord..He has the personality of a cold fish. He just seems so cold. I did strike a convo w/him finally...@ the pres...lol..I figured he'd be the political type..I didn't mean that in a bad sense..:-...no comment....
Well, I hope all is well out there in the world. If there is one wish that I could wish for is for everyone to get along and put aside their differences,but is that ever going to happen..maybe someday in that great place in the sky...here we just have to do our best to get along and pray that everything will work out for the best. We may not all be healthy, wealthy or wise, but strive to find that one path that leads us straight to THE Man above...:)
GOD BLESS ALL....Karen

[Kathleen28]

Tuck  How are you today.
Am very sorry to hear about the amount of pain. But you are a survivor. Congrats on your award. This is what SSD is all about. I can relate to about it being not what you can't do, it is what you can that causes extreme pain. Then hours or days of recuperation trying to get our pain manageable. I can do things just not for very long and not w/o consequences.

Thank You Tuck  you have been a lot of help
I will PM you

[geminigirl1963]

Hello!

I can understand your frustration about losing your extra help with prescriptions.  Prescriptions can definitely ruin you financially very quickly.  Do you have Medicare?  If you do, do you have the prescription coverage part?  That has greatly helped me - I pay $2.40 per prescription for generic and $6.00 per prescription for brand name.  there is also help for your fentanyl directly through the Duragesic website -- before I got the prescription coverage through medicare, I applied for and used their financial assistance and with it, I had absolutely NO cost for my fentanyl prescription.  The one issue you may run across with it, though, is that because the help is directly from Duragesic, you MUST use the brand name patch - they will not cover the generic equivalent.  Therefore, your doctor MUST write the prescription stating that you have to use the brand name.  If you explain to your doctor why you must have this, they should not have a problem with it.  Another suggestion is that, depending on your income from SSDI and the state, you may be eligible for some assitance through your local social services department.  Where I live I do not qualify for full medical coverage through them, but they do pay my monthly medicare premiums.  Also, if you have or will be getting the medicare prescription coverage, apply through medicare for their "extra help" where they pay the annual deductible for their prescription coverage (I think it is normally about $200).  If I can help further, please let me know.

[Tuckamore]

In answer to your question I can do very little without extreme pain. I am not comfortable listing all my restrictions here, If you are interested in knowing more you may send me a PM and I will rely with more detail.  

I can talk about housework. It is a huge challenge. Indeed things like vacuuming, laundry, sweeping, mopping, meal preparation, even emptying the dishwasher increases my pain greatly. It's not even so much what I can't do it's what happens if I do it. I pay the price and the price can be 24-48 hours or more of barely being able to walk, stand or sit.

I do have a huge amount of documentation from the original injury that kept me hospitalized for the better part of six months. My injuries were considered nonsurvivable. Indeed my survival has been called a miracle by multiple physicians. I had numerous  surgeries for almost 3 years following the MVA but worked between times, refusing to give up or give in. I maintained employment against medical advice for over 15 years. So again there is much documentation.

I have also seen my PCP every 1-3 weeks for the last 6-7 years. I was just awarded SSDI 10 months ago. I had several MRI's, CT Scans and speciality consults with a few unsuccessful treatments in the 3 years prior to the application. So who knows what actually triggered the quick award. My physician said I just have been (and still am) so obviously disabled for such an extended period of time that she was not surprised when the award came so quickly. I on the other hand was very surprised. I expected years of denials and legal arguments.

[Kathleen28]

My mother was also awarded the 1st time at the age of 54.She applied and won w/o an attorney.I am a bit younger than her 13 years to be exact and  most of  my medical records go back to when I was injured. I was injured fairly young and wanted to still work. I did for another 7 years. Have not had an MRI or CT scan since. I had Cobra for a year after I settled. But no longer. I can't afford any new ones which would show the chronic pain.

I have a chronic pain management Dr. who is great. That helps a bit. I read online that it is not so much the actual disease or injury that gets you awarded it is function. What can you do?  Better yet what can't you do.

If it were not for my husband I would have no income coming in. Me not working has hurt us financially.A few months before I had to quit working I purchased a new car. I had to get a car anyway so we went new. Things were going well at the time. Now it has become a struggle to make the car payments every month. I may even lose it before all is said and done. I would love to go back to work if I could but I can't. That is where my frustration level rises. As a people person I find myself spending more and more time alone not nearly as social and getting very depressed Some days I do not even get out of my pj's

I have been denied, thus the attorney. I will no longer do this alone. Been doing a lot of reading online about it. I like to keep myself informed. And the internet is a great place for information. Much better than the libraries I frequented when I was a little girl.

Thanks for all the posts
Kathleen

[Tuckamore]

Mollyrae there are programs to help with the payment of medications. If it comes to it please let me know and I maybe able to help.

Yes a good attorney is the key if you are initially denied as you were. However for others I would suggest waiting for the first denial decision before I hired an attorney. Every case is different but you have two posters here that were awarded SSDI in less than four months without an attorney.

Best of luck.

[Mollyrae]

Even though I have received SSDI, I also get two separate payments from the State. I worked as a School Bus Driver for the School District itself and with that I was automatically enrolled in the short and long term insurance plans., The first is The Wisconsin Education Association and the other Aetna State Life Ins. both of which (and even thought I was found disabled by the Government) I have to re-qualify every year. So I am constantly having to have my Doctor fill out these forms, one of which is lengthy.

I guess I am never considered disabled with the State even though the Government deems me that way.  

Now one of my insurance companies want to take away my extra help I get in paying for my prescriptions. If they succeed, I will be in trouble financially with my prescriptions. One of them..The Fentanyl alone costs me 516.00 per month and the rest come to a total of 326.00.  I cannot afford that at all and will be in serious consideration of loosing one of the only medications that actually work.

Take care and thanks for listening,
Molly

[geminigirl1963]

Hello!

I'm sorry for all the trouble you've been going through trying to get your SSDI approved.  It, too, had to go through a long and arduous process to get mine approved.  The first time I applied I was denied, and I immediately called Binder and Binder (they're based in NY, but will take cases all over - I lived in PA at the time).  They were a great help to me and even though it was still a long process, I was finally awarded my SSDI, along with an award of benefits back to the date of my original application (not sure if this is a "normal" thing or not, but was very happy that it happened in my case).  One of the good things about Binder and Binder is that you do not have to pay them upfront to take on your case.  Their fees are deducted from your award from Soc. Security.  The first check that you would receive from Social Security typically goes to Binder and Binder directly and they deduct their fees (they do provide you with an itemized list of all charges/time spent on case) and they send you the rest.  As with any attorney, their fees are not small, but it is a definite plus that you don't have that initial outlay of cash from your own pocket.

Another thing that I believe definitely helped my case was that I was able to get a form filled out by my doctor that stated that she had notified me that I was no longer able to work and was "permanently" disabled (there is a difference with SS as to a permanent disability or a temporary one - a permanent one has to be expected to last for more than 12 months and there is not much chance, if any, of a change of condition to the better.)  I don't remember for sure, but I believe I got the form my doctor filled out from the local Social Services office (assistance office).  There may also be this type of form somewhere on the Social Security website.  binder and Binder could also help you find the appropriate forms/letters if you decide to go with them.

How soon after you had to stop working did you make your first application?  According to SS laws, you MUST be unable to work for a minimum of six months before they will even consider your application for SSDI, which I personally think is horrible.  After all, they did not wait a minimum of six months to deduct the Social Security from our paychecks when we were able to work, did they?  However, that is the rule, so if your application was in a shorter amount of time, you definitely should reapply.

also keep in mind that if you are awarded the SSDI, you must be on it two years before Medicare will kick in for medical coverage.  Therefore, if you currently have insurance through a spouse or your own coverage, please continue to keep it so that you are not without any coverage.

I wish you the best of luck with your application - hang in there and please consider calling Binder and Binder - they definitely helped me.

[Kathleen28]

Wow guys! Thank you all so much! I never expected all the responses I have received. You have all been so much help in telling me your individual experiences. I will keep everyone updated on my progress with SSDI. I knew it would be an uphill battle. I am prepared to fight to the end as I said before.

Everyone Have a Great Thanksgiving!
Kathleen

[stampris]

I won't go on and on with my medical story suffice to say if you take on SSI NEVER EVER GIVE UP.  It took me 6 years and my attorney had already quit. Of course he showed back up again with his hand out once DC ordered my judge to hear my case again after I filed the final appeal myself.  I suspect the judge in my case was ordered to grant my case but they left it to her to disallow all my back pay as punishment for never giving up.  In the end I BEAT them because I never gave up.  I filled out every ridiculous form, went to every doctors appointment where their own experts told them to grant my case multiple times for multiple illnesses and still this judge continued to deny me.  

There is no rhyme or reason to this system, the individual judges are given a free hand (just like our justice system) and they are allowed to make the most outrageous decisions without consequence.   Many people get SSDI in a matter of weeks for little reason or with single morbidities while folks like me with multiple morbidities (all which qualify) take many many years.  

Get a GOOD attorney (that may have been my mistake if any)  and just never give up, follow the process through as there are built in appeals even though they take forever.  I, for one, hope there is a special place in hell for judges like mine and for those folks who have gamed the system and don't deserve benefits but have them therein making it all the more difficult for legitimate cases to get our due.  

JMHO,  
Stampris

[concerned621]

Me again. I was actually offended but when I was approved I saw on there that depression was part of the diagnosis.  SO whatever it takes. Of course we are depressed, we are in pain.  So make sure you document and mention to your docs that you are applying for disability so to please document your conversations.  Don't go over board but make sure they are writing down your symptoms.  Best of luck.  Keep in touch with all of us.

[Tuckamore]

I hate to say anything negative but goggle the percentage approval with the Appeal for Reconsideration process. It is extremely small. What is happening is they are taking the same information they gathered on your case and another SSD claims processor (for lack of a better description) is reviewing it. This means that the processor has to see something that the first one didn't see. They all use the same legal guidelines.  

Maintaining a journal is an excellent suggestion for the SSD and LTD. In my experience it may not matter much in the SSDI decision process. But that is only based on my experience. It took me 2 days less than 4 months to obtain SSDI. I did not consult with an attorney.  

I am told that the younger and more educated you are the more difficult it is to obtain. I was on pins and needles during the entire process. I do understand your frustration. This community has been such great support and comfort for me also.

Hang in there and please keep in touch.

[Kathleen28]

Thanks for all your responses. All have been so informative. I do have other problems such as depression, severe panic & anxiety attacks, sleep disorder, otheoarthritis, constant sciatica pain & degenerative disk disease. I would probably have had more surgeries if I had any kind of health insurance. But the last time I had insurance was the job i was injured on.And the surgery I had did not help in any way whatsoever. I am in more pain than before the surgery. I am definitly not giving up. I have not been able to work in over a year & I filed about a month after I quit my job because I could no longer work due to the chronic pain. I would never be going through this if I did not have the problems i do. I also look good from the outside on my good days. No one except my husband sees me on my bad days. I would make more money working than I will from disability. I knew this was not going to be easy but I had to try it on my own first. You can't get an attorney until you have been turned down. My attorney sent me a letter about a week after our first meeting that said I was on Appeal for Reconsideration. He stated that it could take from 3 to 6 months before I know anything. So I am just playing the waiting game which ***** but what can you do. I am lucky my husband works though because of the economy business has been really, really slow. So we are struggling financially at this time since I can no longer help.    Thank You All So Much!  I am finding more & more out each day & this forum has been a godsend. Having people who have been through what I am going through tell me their stories has given me even more hope.   Take Care

[NoMoMeth4me]

I learned quite a bit about Labor & Industries and Social Security when I attended a PMP program for the whole month of March of this year.

L&I as a rule 'DOES NOT' consider pain as a reason for disablity, Social Security 'DOES'

That alone does not mean that if you have pain you will get approved, but Social Security also consider depression which usually goes hand in hand with chronic pain.

It is good to keep a diary of your pain and challenges going forward, it will be difficult at best next year to remember specifics from this year.

The more diagnosis and documented condition you have should help with SS claim.
Arthritis
Spinal stenosis
Depression
Sleep disorder
Scoliosis
Spondylolisthesis

Etc,etc....I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.

[concerned621]

I'm am very sorry you went through this. Unfortunately it's very common.  Based on what you are saying you were injured in an accident.  You got a settlement.  As far as everyone is concerned they expect you to recover and return to work. Often times that does not happen.  I had 7 surgeries on my back/neck. 5 of the surgeries in 2 years.  I was completely unable to work.  MRI, CT, Xray's showed not only disc ruptures, disc degeneration, but arthritis in my neck and back and severe stenosis.  You mentioned none of the "buzz" words or diagnosis disability looks for such as "stenosis", or "arthritiis" in your spine. Have ruptured disc's and having them repaired and unless a doctor or team of docs will say something went wrong it will be very difficult for disability to approve you.  What you want to do is keep applying.  But don't just keep applying, talk to your doctors. Explain what you are trying to do so they will document your file as best they can. Often they don't write what you tell them because they are busy.  But if the films don't show what you need them to that's a problem.    At this point xrays do you no good. You need MRI's and possibly CT scans especially if you are fused and have metal in your back.  Explain your symptoms in detail, keep a journal of your symptoms and pain.  Not having health insurance or a pay check is not their problem and you do not get disability based on those needs.  They base it on a diagnosis.  And even then disability will send you for independent medical exams to their own docs who will say you are fine.   Get on the internet and read up on disability and their diagnosis.  
In addition I can tell you it's a process that sounds like once you have disability you are set.  It's not true.  If you can get in to a pool therapy program and see if that alleviates any of the pain.  It's good that you have an attorney.  I didn't retain an attorney for my disability until my 4th application being denied. Again I had 7 surgeries, stenosis, arthritis in my back and neck, Fibromyalgia, severe migraines and I was denied 4 times.  I lost my job, my health insurance, it was awful.  It took almost 5 years.  So as you can see it takes a lot to get awarded. The good thing is it will be retro active to the first time you applied.  Please try to get yourself out of this cycle of feeling so bad, it will only making healing and pain worse.  

[NoMoMeth4me]

Wow, your words ring true to me also. I also have STD and LTD through my employer and have missed a ton of time in the last 5 years. I believe that these insurance companies are actually harder to deal with than SS. Their REPEATED requests for dat from EVERY Dr's appt ahs caused friction between my PCP and I and he has said flat out to me before, "Brian, I simply don't have the time to fill out a book every time you have an appt". Of course this is by design by the insurance company to either get you so frustrated and either drop it or go back back to work early before your ready.

The hard part is they (uNum Provident in my case) WON"T release your check until they have all the paperwork they require from your Dr.

1. This put's undue stress on you/me worrying if you'll get a check to pay your bills.
2. Wastes Dr's valueable time.
3. Potentially strains the Dr/Patient relationship.

I could go on and on.

If I was to get SSDI I'd have partial payment from SS and partial payment from uNum. Nightmare scenario for me.
For those of you curious, google uNum insurance complaints and see what comes up!!

[babyde]

Hang in there girl, I also understand your fustration, Even tho I was awared SSDI only after 3 months of my application, I am still going through trying to prove my disability to insurance compaines in which I purchased long term disabilty through many years of my employment. Even tho the government says I am disabled these insuance companies want more and I always need to be re-certifide. It is truley a bothersome to my doctors to have to keep filling out these documents when they all have already. Your so correct about the long personel questions asked, so do insurance companies. I have 2 at the moment. One is through my employment that I purchased as a benifit and the other is paying my new car that the bank made me purchase before they would loan me the money for the car. It is so fustrating. I would rather be working and not feel like a prisoner and afaird of being filmed with everything I do and everytime I step out the door but I comply because I need the money. SSDI doesn't cover all my expenses, thats why I always purchased short term and long term benifits from my employment, just in case this ever happened and sure enough it did and my life has changed and will never be the same. I don't look sick and people stare at me when I use the handicap space even tho I walk with a cane now, I don't look sick, I've even been told that from people that know nothing about my days and all the issues I deal with health wise.
Has anyone ever had to have a Funcional Capacity test, where they check your limitations and your functional capacity? If so please let me know. My long term insurance is making me take one that will last 2 days of 4 hours. I have been recieving LTD for 9 months and now I need to get re-certifide to continue inspite of my doctors documenting AGAIN that I cannot work. Anyone know????
I also uesd Binder and Binder and they were very successful in 3 months.
Some small advise but important " Obtain all your medical records and keep them and keep a diary / journel of your daily symptoms so that nothing gets forgotten.
Take care and I wish you the best of luck

[NoMoMeth4me]

Wow, I wish you the best and my words will be few here!! I can feel your pain and frustration in reading your words.

SSDI, another difficult aspect of living life with life long irretractable chronic pain...Fight for your rights, I know you will win in the long run!

My prayers are with you.

Warmest regards.

-Brian.

[Kathleen28]

Thanks to both of you for your support & answers to my questions. I was just feeling very frustrated when I wrote that there are people on SSDI that do not deserve it. Like myself, just because someone does not look as if they have anything wrong with them, does not mean that they don't. As I said I was feeling very agitated & frustrated. I have been off of work for a year. Due to my injury & chronic pain I went from working full-time to a 4 day week. But when I asked to go to 3 days as understanding as my boss was she just could not do that. She needed someone to be on my shift (2nd) for at least 4 days preferably 5. She did not want to lose me as I was a very good employee & she a good boss. I would have to say the best I have ever had. She was very understanding to my pain & the days I missed (though I tried not to miss too many) because of my pain. Anyway I went to my PO Box last night after I posted & there was a letter from my attorney. At first I thought, oh this can't be good because I just saw him the week prior. But it was good news. At least the best since I started down this road. At this time I am currently on Appeal for Reconsideration. The letter stated it could take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. I just wish I had some new MRI's or CT Scans. And since I have no health insurance I certainly can't afford one on my own. I did settle with workers comp. So I do not think they will be of much help. At the time I had to settle as they had cut off my payments because they were getting ready to settle my claim. My husband at the time had passed away suddenly 7 months earlier & I was completely dependent on those payments as they were my only source of income. Shortly after that I settled. I had my surgery a year before & they wanted the case settled. I have since learned more about workers comp but at the time I was completely dependent on my attorney. He was ok, not the best just ok.   I do not feel nearly as frustrated as I did yesterday when I posted, thanks to the letter from my attorney & everyone on here. I will be fighting this until I get it.. BTW my SSDI attorney has a very good reputation & has been doing this for many years, so hopefully I will only have to wait another few months. I also have a great PM Dr who has been  keeping me as pain free as possible. Thanks to all who answered my questions. You have all helped me a lot. This is a very good forum & I will continue to post.  

[Tuckamore]

Hi Kathleen,

I understand your frustration with SSDI. I was just awarded SSDI this year. This is what I found thought the process. Yes the questions are long and the forms can be overwhelming. I don't know anyone that receives SSDI that does not qualify for it. I think it is a misconception that there are many on it that don't deserve it or don't qualify. None of us know what some one else's pain or disability is like, how one looks can be very deceiving.

As soon as you are not able to work and are advised that you are disable by your physician you should apply for SSDI. You must be off 6 months before you are eligible for benefits but that does not mean that you cannot apply.

I did not have an attorney. I did all the long tedious and repetitious forms myself. I was awarded SSDI in about four months from application. I was ready for the long fight and appeal process. Most attorneys will not take your case until you have been denied. Once you start the process and are denied the first time do not reapply. They will have all the same questions and concerns and unless their has been a major change the outcome will most likely be the same. Follow through with appeals. Unfortunately it is not unusual for the process to take several years.  

Unfortunately if you settle with WC it will be very difficult if not impossible to go back on them for any payments or assistance with medical costs.

Best of luck to you. Hang in there and be determined. Please let us know how you are doing. We are here to support you.

Take Care,
Tuck

[Ghilly]

When I was told by my doctors that I wouldn't be able to work, I decided not to mess around trying to get SSD on my own.  I had been seeing television commercials for Binder and Binder, so I called them and set up an appointment to go talk to them to see if it would be possible for me to hire them to fight it out for me.  

It took 18 months of them fighting for me, during which time I was STILL turned down three times, then I had to go to a hearing, during which I was questioned by the judge as to what my limitations were, what I could do for enjoyment (as opposed to what I used to be able to do), he really asked me all sorts of questions.  It lasted about 30 minutes.

Three weeks later I received a phone call from Binder and Binder that I had been awarded SSD, and that they were sending my check FedEx overnight for me.

In retrospect, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.  Using the attorneys right from the get-go was the best thing I could have done!

Ghilly

[Kathleen28]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I will look into what curious said about revisiting my settlement from the job I was injured on. Also to Molly I have been off of work for a year. Yes I do agree that there are people that have problems that are on SSDI that i may not even know about. I guess I was just venting my frustrations. Again thanks for the insight & info in a very frustrating time in my life.                                    God Bless You Both  

[Mollyrae]

Hi Kathleen:

I understand your frustration as well. I was finally awarded SSDI after I hired an attorney but in my case, I had a total of 5 back surgeries and one on the way before I was granted. Backs are the toughest injury to get SSDI. They will give a manic depressant or chronic alcoholic SSDI before they award you. Go figure.

I think that curiouswisard had a great idea in telling your attorney the new findings of your MRI...you never know, it may help. Your attorney can be the judge of that.

I also think that you have to be off of work due to your back for 12 months before they will even consider it. With todays economy and the government, it's getting harder and harder to obtain SSDI.

Good luck and warmest regards,
Mollyrae