US disability & some frustration

[Guest guest]

In a short time (couple of years?) I went from having a family

(parents) that acts as though everything is in my head with my joint

problems to having both my parents and my husband thinking that I

should try to get disability.

I've checked on it on the Social Security website and I don't think I

am " bad off " enough. I don't know if I even have enough documentation

of problems I am having. I've never been given any pain medication

(not that I haven't really needed help) and half the time I don't go

to the dr when I am having a problem as they really aren't going to

do anything for me anyway. It is making me all wonder if maybe I am

not really as bad as I think I am and that maybe I am just milking it

some and that I should be able to get a job.

I had my last job for 8 years, as an office manager for a very small

video production company. I was the everything person. A lot of

what I did was just being a warm body there in case someone came in

or had questions or something. I did the accounts receivable &

payable, phone answering, ordering of lunch. I got paid okay, not

tremendous but it was what you could call a cake job. Not too

strenuous. They knew my limitations as most of them developed while

I was working there. But I had problems when I had to type a lot.

And when I had to do repetitive tasks with my hands - like when we

sent out promotional mailings. I used to hand address the company

Christmas cards but I can't write much anymore.

But now I don't know what I can do. I know what I can't do.

I can't stand for long, or walk distances because of my hips.

I can't type for long periods (no more data entry, like when I worked

to convert the card catalogs to computer for the Library of Congress).

Can't do library work as I used to because I can't repeatedly grasp

books for shelving or do the squatting & stepstool climbing for it

either. Can't pick up anything heavy because of both hips and wrists.

And it is not just because things are worse for me now that I am

pregnant. THey've become much worse since last fall. In fact, I am

considering getting a handicap parking tag just so I can get to the

store more easily. I've printed the application, I just need to see

if my physician will sign it for me. I have started to have my leg

give way again and have caught myself from falling 4 times lately.

THe more I walk, the more I feel as though I will fall. Don't need

to be falling while pregnant.

My mother's neighbor is 49. She had knee surgery last year and is

now on disability. The rest of her is fine. She does very strenuous

yard work and anything she really wants to do. I can't do that or

even vacuum without being out of commission. I can't even walk around

the mall. And when I was at the Social Security office getting my

information changed on my card, there was a young guy applying for

disability - he is unable to keep a job because of anger problems.

So I don't know what I can do. There is not much to be done when you

have limited use of your hands and if your hips aren't dependable. I

am not ready to have my wrists fused and I don't know that would do

any real good beyond making the wrists not sublux.

Sorry to go on so much. Feeling very frustrated and kind of useless

since I am having trouble even doing the things I need for my family.

We need an extra income besides just my husband's job and I can't do

anything to help out.

Thanks for listening to me and letting me vent.

Joy