'A Patient Voice' Community

Hi Everyone,

When I went through the process to apply for SSDI, I was told everyone is automatically refused.

There is a lot of paperwork, invasive questions, and patience required. It is a long process. And it is worth it.

Ohguys, I'm getting ready to see my Dr. tomorrow and to apply for disability Fri. My attorney set up an appt. where they are supposed to call me to get all the info over the phone. I was looking at the questions and my brain is so foggy and unclear and I can't seem to remember anything that I'm just ending up in tears and cursing. How am I supposed to answer all these questions when I can't remember and keep anything straight in my mind? Dates, keeping things in orders, etc? I just want to scream! I used to be able to remember everything. Now - nothing? Are you all having problems like this? I'm trying to write everything down but I can't get everything covered and written down due to pain, etc.

Hi Emmie- In private with the doors and windows shut, scream at the top of your lungs- get it out of your system. The lawyer and Doctor are to help you- who knows how many times they have helped other people? It has been a long time since I applied. Would it be possible for you to sign a waiver for your Doctor to deal directly with the Lawyer to help with dates, tests, etc.? If possible, financially, physically, and emotionally- after the appointment and phone call is over- celebrate- buy a cup of coffee- a token to congratulate yourself on getting through this ordeal. You Can Do It!

Hi, I have 1 more huge burden and worry that's weighing heavily on my mind. I lose my Cobra insurance at the end of this month and I have to find some insurance but I'm afraid I'll get caught in some of these scammer's sites or sites where the prices are going to be sky high. Anybody know of safe and good places I could go to to find insurance. I take a huge amt. of meds, etc and I seem to get caught between a rock and a hard place - we can't afford anything yet they usually say we make too much to qualify for anything. Half the stuff in TN you can qualify once you have been without insurance for 6 months. How much sense does that make? We can't afford to be without care for 6 months. Pray for me please and any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Emmie

Tiredpain:I've been in pain for the last 15 years. At first, after my 1989 SCI, I didn't hurt and was able to return to work. When I got a Medtronic pump filled with Baclofen I got less spastic; when I started hurting they added morphine, then Fentanyl, and then finally Dilaudid (hydromorphone). All worked well for a while until my system got inured to it.
Then in 2008, a recently-replaced pump separated from its catheter and pumped the drug directly into my flesh, nearly killing me in a 3-week coma. The pump had to come out, and now I've gone two years without one, in no more pain than when I had one. I still hurt, almost all the time, but I find I can keep it bay with 1 or 2 Percocets a day.

HI EMMIE. MY NAME IS TAMMY AND IVE HAD 3 BACK SURGEYS AND 1 NECK SURGEY. I WAS INJURIED ON MY JOB IN 1995. I RECIEVED WORKERS COMP FOR 2 YEARS AND THE DRS SAID THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO FOR YOU. I WAS PUT ON A PAIN PUMP THAT WAS JUST TERRIBLE. THE PUMP MADE ME VERY SICK. I WAS JUST APPROVED FOR DISSABILITY 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. ITS NOT MUCH BUT IT BUYS THE GROCERYS. SO MY POINT IS HAVE YOU TRIED FOR DISSABILITY OR WENT AFTER YOUR WORK PLACE FOR WORKERS COMP? SEE IN YOU PAY CHECK YOU PAY INTO WORKERS COMP. ALSO IF YOU GET HURT ON THE JOB AND THE DRS SAY WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THEN YOUR JOB SHOULD OF BEEN PAYING YOU WORKERS COMP ALL THESE YEARS. THEN WHEN THE DRS SAY THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU. THEN YOU GET AN ATTORNEY AND SETTLE FOR A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT STATE YOUR IN BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A NAME OF MY DR IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK WHO IS EXCELLENT. WHEN HE DID MY NECK I WAS GIVEN A 25% CHANCE OF WALKING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. I WALKED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. I HAVE A LIMP WHEN I WALK FROM MY BACK AND MY NECK HURTS A LITTLE STILL BUT ITS ONLY BEEN 16MONTHS SINCE I HAD. BACK SURGERY ON SEPT30,2008 AND ON OCT01,2008 MY NECK WAS DONE. SORRY ITS BEEN ALMOST 2YEARS AND I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD STILL HAVE PAIN,BUT IT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING LIKE IT WAS BEFORE. SO I DON'T HAVE THE PAIN NOTHING LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE SURGERY.

Hello tired pain,
that is a great user name............

1. you have to get a lawyer who only does Social Security/disability. Plus you will get all the money and benefits from the 1st time you appied. Hope you still have denial letter, or your lawyer can get it.

2. Go to your local Human Services - soical services and you want to apply for welfare, food stamps, and medicade.
In the mean time go to your county hosptial or if you have a Universty hosptial and ask to get on paying scale program. Sometimes large hosp. have a - indgent program. No, No, I am not saying your indgent, but you need to tap into all the resorces your county has.
What happened w/the law-suit ??? If you do not mind me asking. I was rear-ended 3 times in Denver, Co. where I reside, but in Colo. if someone rear -ends you they have pay till you are all better. Did they send you thier Dr's????
You must have some kind of pain Dr. if you have the pump.
( by the way a big class action suit is going on w/ the pain pumps) Me I never choose it, and did all sorts of PAIN-FUL procurdure's, and I am going into major back surgery Nov. 4, 2010, I am starting to get very nervous now...
Many yrs ago I was also denied from Social surcurity, and found a SSI laywer and got me back pay from the time I was denied, and lawyer took some money out of back pay, and they had to go back 2 yrs and pay for medcial.
Belive me I have been in your shoes, and I was not able to get any services because my son was disablied. which then had to prove I was Mother 1st, and care-taker second, and that is another way my back became more painful from lifting my son when he had seizure's, more. ( it will my son's 7yr anniversary Thanksgiving the night he passed from his seizure's, he was 15 1/2 yr of age) which that stress, depression made me more fral.
I can not walk much anymore, prisoner in my apt. have a care-taker, more
Appeal, and appeal everything.
Not sure what state, city you live in, but if you reply I maybe able to help some.
I have been an adcate for people w/ disabities almost 20 yrs.

I hope I was some help, and you are in my thoughts.
Never mind about the question I asked re: lawsuit. You might be able to get a personal injury lawyer to re-open case???
I have lost alot of freinds too, and a G/F of mine is in the same boat. Maybe, while I recovering from surgery you two can e-mail one another it would be helpful for both of you.
but I will be checking mine befrore I go in for my big day of surgery....
Kelly