Advice on getting disability

[Guest guest]

Gretchen --

Thanks for the information!

What type of activities are important to note regarding why you cannot work any

longer? I mean, do any issues rank higher than others?

For example, a few issues for me (that I'm sure are very common for others with

CMT): extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating in afternoon (probably fatigue

related), hand pain preventing typing (critical to my virtual office job).

It's very hard to pinpoint the issues, isn't it? Are things such as increased

physical symptoms (pain, fasciculations, parasthesia) brought on by working even

considered? I mean, if I travel with work and/or go into an office for an

8-hour day, I'm physically laid up for the next couple of days until I can

recover. So, I can work the 8 hours but I'm suffering afterwards and losing work

time.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Reasons you are unable to work don't necessarily " rank higher " but by

all means, stick to physical limitations, like: cannot sit more than

1 hour at a time without needing a 1 hour break to rest hands (also

if you take medications for this and the meds have side effects, you

should mention); yes, fasculations, finger/hand/clawing problems,

cannot stand for more than 1/2 hour, and should not travel for work

related issues (include how you have to rest your feet/legs and

something about the stress this brings and how the stress aggravates

these symptoms.

Have you been documenting lost time from work? This could be very

important information that your doc should include in her/his letter

or report.

Since you are still working, I might suggest you talk to your Human

Resources people and see if 1) you could work some from home and 2)

and/or consider part-time work. I realize PT would not bring in the

same income however, but even if you tried PT work and had the same

problems, your disability may be approved faster, since your record

would show you tried to work PT. Try to go for my first suggestion -

if you type, see if your employer would let you have a 3 day work

week in the office, and 2 days at home. In those 2 days, just do the

work at home - email it in to the office if you can work this out.

As for the travel, I might suggest you talk to Human Resources and

asked to be excused from this job aspect - a backup doctor letter

stating your need to care for your neurological syndrome more is

needed, and travel stress causes your symptoms to worsen (you are

not 'blaming' your employer, just stating your needs. If your

employer or doctor need more CMT info, get the booklet from HNF-

cure.org

Hope this helps some. Basically before you start through the SSDI

maze, you want to have tried ALL ways of working; then when you file

and your application is reviewed and determined, it will be real

clear you are unable to work.

~ Gretchen