Back Pain & Disability

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

countrygirl - 01 Aug 2006 03:51 GMT

Hi, I'm new to this site and am glad I ran across it. I have /had
degenerative disk disease since 2003, just started hurting one day and had to
have surgery 6 months later. Nothing worked to help the pain. I had a
diskectomy, laminectomy with fusion of L4&5 with Bone Morphogenic Protein.
After the surgery I did fairly well then started hurting really bad again.
Doc thought I might had another bad disc but I didin't, the pain continued
and worsened. He went in and did another surgery and removed the hardware
and did another laminectomy. I am still hurting!!! He says he can't
understand why but that there are a lot of things they still don't know in
the medical field. I am now scheduled to go to a Pain Clinic next week.

I filed for my SSD in January of 2006, was denied in May, I have hired an
attorney and am appealing. I am unable to sit or stand for any extended
periods of time. We have been forced to file bankruptcy and now I have more
medical bills to pay. What a shame it takes so long for people who need help!

I have been told my problem is hard to prove to get disability. Can anyone
give me the average length of time it takes if you are approved? I hate
going thru this. It took me a while to accept that I was going to have to
file for it. Guess I should have done it sooner.

Reply to this Message

Fire Chief - 01 Aug 2006 05:35 GMT

> I filed for my SSD in January of 2006, was denied in May, I have hired an
> attorney and am appealing.
> I have been told my problem is hard to prove to get disability. Can anyone
> give me the average length of time it takes if you are approved?

It took 18 months, 2 appeals, and a federal court order for
me to get SSDI. I made the mistake on my application of
adding that I could type and the bitch in the local welfare
office - where claims in Californa are reviewed - said I
could take a clerical job. That, after even the SSA'S
doctor said I was disabled, couldn't lift or carry more
than 10 pounds, and couldn't continue in any occupation
for which I had education and/or experience.

... Despair - de-spar (n): And extra tire in de truck.

Reply to this Message

Nann Bell - 01 Aug 2006 20:04 GMT

back problems are difficult to convince others of, especially when the
doctors can't explain the pain. Hiring an attorney was a good move - with
back problems you need all the help you can get. It's a shame that it is a
type of claim that is abused by so many people.

Are you doing any stretches and/or do you have access to any kind of massage?
(even a hand-held massager, if nothing else or a family member who will
masage the area.) My stepdaughter had an L4-5 discectomy after an fall about
a decade ago. She continued to have pain after the surgery, though not as
severe as yours sounds. Anyway, she's found that lots of stretches and some
concentrated massage work on the muscles around the surgical area has really
helped control her pain. It probably wouldn't help you as much as your
trouble sounds much worse, but it might at least take a bit of the edge off.

Hang in there, if you have a good disability lawyer, you should win out in
the end.

Signature

Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare

Reply to this Message

DeeTee and Bob Taggart - 01 Aug 2006 23:10 GMT

Welcome. I applied and was denied and will be reapplying soon. (At the time
I didn't appeal because I was thinking of trying to go back to work anyway.
I've decided I just can't do it!)

DeeTee

> Hi, I'm new to this site and am glad I ran across it. I have /had
> degenerative disk disease since 2003, just started hurting one day and had
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> going thru this. It took me a while to accept that I was going to have to
> file for it. Guess I should have done it sooner.

Reply to this Message

debbie m - 02 Aug 2006 23:27 GMT

Countrygirl,

Don't give up. Yes it takes a long time, but it will be in your benefit
to keep going. It took me two denials and then I had to go before a
judge. I said if I could ever get before the judge I would win. I
did. It took a bout a year for the whole process. I got a lawyer
after the first time I was turned down.

I'm sorry for all your going through. If you have depression with this
then be sure and tell them. Of course they will want to see that you
are being treated for it. It might help.
Good luck and keep us posted.

debbie m.

> Hi, I'm new to this site and am glad I ran across it. I have /had
> degenerative disk disease since 2003, just started hurting one day and had to
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> going thru this. It took me a while to accept that I was going to have to
> file for it. Guess I should have done it sooner.

Reply to this Message

Ann - 03 Aug 2006 02:29 GMT

Countrygirl: I was one of the lucky ones who was approved right away,
but most people I understand are denied at least once. It's probably
best to have an attorney right from the beginning. Please don't give
up. Let your lawyer handle all the paperwork, etc and by all means get
treated for depression too if possible. Sometimes it takes a few
different diagnosis for SSA to see you are disabled.

Ann

Reply to this Message