Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: rclint
I have been having fighting neck problems for some time now, and I have several MRI's, and my doctor will also back me up as well as to the extent of my problems. My neck is pretty much shot from c3-c7 with spurs, stenosis, osteophytes, (one or more herniated disc) foraminal narrowing.. every one is effected on at least one of these, and several are effected on more than one, and one disc has all of the above. On top of that I'm one of the very very few people who was born with an extra rib in the neck, a cervical rib.. not a nub etc, a full rub that extends 3/4 in the x-ray that looks like something out of a horror movie. I also have stenosis down the rest of my back/thorasic spine. I'm 34 years old, and have two kids to raise... I have spent tons of money on doctors, and also have missed a lot of work because of my neck, my doctor also told me that he knew I had to be out, and I have a FMLA. BUT I also work on a production job, I love my job, and have been working with the company 17 years, but my work is very strenuous, and I can not complete my job task anymore. I have tried, and tried every way i know.. I'm on pain medication, and that's just a fact, yet my shift is a swing shift, and I can't set a schedule for my meds, yet I can't run out, nor can I alter more than I take as I signed a contract.. and I don't want to abuse any pain meds. I'm at my limit of the meds I take, I take strong meds, both long term slow release, and for what they call breakthrough which is when my neck is killing me, or to get through to the next long term pain med. My doctor told me to let him know when I have had enough, and a couple of days ago I did, but what can I do
My options disability, I would take this.. and I'm not trying in any way to work the system.. I have worked since I was 14 years old not off, and on, but regular work, I also worked during high school after turning 16 paying in ssi, and have worked ever since that time, if I could continue work I would.. but I can't..
My doctor asked me what i wanted to do, and I told him I wanted to get my neck fixed, he said he was going to send me to a neurosurgeon just to see if he could help me out any, but he didn't know what if anything it would help if I go right back to my job jerking, and on my feet which is not so bad walking 12 hours.. 8 hours would not be so bad.. but the shift is 12 hour swing.
I'm in a horrible situation, I can't loose my insurance, yet I can't complete a work week to say the least, I try to go in work as many hours as I can before either my neck starts hurting so bad, my neck, arm, shoulder etc goes into spasm that I have to go home.. My works has been so good to me, but I do also know that they can't keep on doing this as they need someone on this production job, and they are not even talking of anything of a job change to a lesser hour job, or a straight shift...
I don't want any sympathy at all, but I want some advice.. my time is over I can't do it anymore.. I have heard to get disability your looking at two years or more !! but I have two kids, and Christmas is not going to be much at all this year ( this kills me) I can't even cook for my kids anymore which my parents help out with that, and I would loose my house everything I own.. and I have no idea how I would provide for my kids in 2 years with no pay !!
If I get surgery, and as the doctor said go back to work doing the same thing, it will be the same story over again, and myself thinking it may even be worse after they perform surgery I would think it would make my neck weaker, the doctor said they may be able to do some cleaning up/out between the joints etc.. ( i forget the exact term)
Is there any options for someone 9single male) trying to raise two kids who has tried to fight as long as he can, but just can not go any more.. ? Any help would be appreciated, if you have gone through this, or know someone please let me know how long etc..
on edit I have been to a neurosurgeon 4 times to see about having surgery done, they wouldn't touch me... and told me that I had a pain management problem. The neurosurgeon was/is one of the best, and has written books etc on how to etc, and I was told that he is the one whom other doctors go to when they need surgery on the spine etc
Regardless of your condition and what your Dr's say plan on being denied on your 1st application with about a 95%+ guarantee. You can also pretty much bet on the fact you will only receive disability these days following an appeal of a denial. Almost no one gets approved, regardless of how seriously they are disabled, the 1st time. I would wager it will take you a minimum of a year and plan on 2+ years to get approved( and by this I mean the appeals process )unless you are lucky. There are always those who try and abuse the system and they should be stopped but SS has gone way over board and truly disabled people are being denied. It is a travesty.
Plan on being told you can still work, and even at your current job, even if it is impossible. Plan on them basing the decision on only part of the Dr's reports they receive as well while conventiently not using the ones from the Dr's who actually treat you for the condition and affirm you are disabled. They will use every trick in the book to deny you.
I applied not long ago due to Multiple Sclerosis. My lines of work were carpentry/remodeling as well as some web design work. The MS has made me very weak( chronic fatigue - I wake up as tired and worn out as I was when I went to bed - have to take a couple naps each day and need 10-12 hours sleep at night just to barely function )although thankfully I am not crippled at this time, has made me intolerant of activity in heat( even just warm weather - I actually had to be rushed to the ER this summer when I over did it on a hot humid day ), and has also effected my vision( loss of some vision as well as extreme light sensitivity ). I don't have the strength to do a physical job like the carpentry work anymore and I can't anyway as I suffer from heat intolerance. Also, due to vision issues I can not safely use power tools nor do the fine detail work that is needed. Prolonged use of computers causes severe migraine like head aches as well so I am limited to about 2 hours max of computer use a day and even that causes some pain. My former line of work( auto parts )requires too much standing and too much computer work so I can't do that either. I couldn't even be a darn delivery driver anymore.
I was denied benefits and told I could still do either job which is complete and utter rubbish. They did not even consult my Neurologist who treats me for the MS. Instead they contacted the MRI Lab who just has technicians running the machines and the eye exam place that originally saw me for eye pain and sent me to a Neurolgist. THAT is how they operate. They stay away from the people who wiill tell them yes you are disabled and talk to people who have no basis offering even an opinion.
I am 43 years old, sick, and unable to work. Paid SS since I was 14( started working in High School ). The system is not set up to help people who really need it and paid for it. It is set up to help illegals and scum bags who never have worked a day in their life. Those people can get disability and other benefits with ease but god forbid someone who is really disabled and has paid towards the benefits get it without a bloody fight.
Mu oldest Sister( 58 )has been disabled by diabetes. She has so many problems it is not even funny due to the diabetes( vision, joints, tons of general health problems, etc... )including a severe pain issue with her legs and feet that make it almost impossible for her to walk. SS denied her too and told her she could still work no sweat despite statement after statement by her DR's she has one of the worst cases of neuropathy in her legs they have ever seen with a person still able to walk plus all the other issues she has as a result of the diabetes. It took her 18 months and a SS disability specialist( lawyer )to get her benefits on appeal( where the judge/arbitrator ripped SS a new one for denying her initial claim btw ).
I wish you the best of luck. Like you I don't want sympathy. I got sick and I will deal with it. What elese can you do? It infuriates me to no end however that programs designed to help me now that I am sick and not able to work, that I have paid into all this time, are being denied to me yet people who have never workd and are not even citizens of the country can get benefits with ease. Just not right.
I dont know how you or others have went about trying to get your disability but I cant stress enough that if ANYONE is trying to get disability,get an attorney/representative from the very start,dont wait until you are denied to do this.
When you get an atty/rep from the start,they will help you fill out paperwork and do it in a way that Soc. Sec. will have a harder time useing there tricks to deny you.The atty/rep will file the paperwork for you,you wont even have to go to the Soc. Sec. office.
The atty/rep will make sure that your medical information is submitted on time and when it is supposed to be.Many dont know that Soc. Sec. will only allow medical information to be submitted at certain times during the process and if it isnt done right,it isnt considered.
It is much better to get an atty/rep from the very start,they dont get ANY money unless,and if,you win your case and then it is ONLY 25% of any back pay that you get,it is not for the duration of you disability.
If you get your disability in a year and say you get $12,000.00 in back pay,the atty/rep would get a fee of $3,000.00 and that must be approved by Soc. Sec.
Again,if you dont win,you dont pay them anything.
Some may say that this is a lot to give someone but you have to look at it from the long term side,you have your disability and will have one less thing to worry about.
