Guest guest Posted April 23, 2002 Report Share Posted April 23, 2002 > Hi everyone, > > I have been diagnosed with chondromalacia by my doctors. > I have had this condition for over 6 months and it appears > that I will have to go on long term disability. Is long term > disability a common effect of chondromalacia. Are any of you > on long term disability? If so, how long have you been on long term > disability as a result of chondromalacia? Please provide feedback to > me. It would be very helpful. > > Thanks! The effects of CP on employment depends on the severity of CP and what you do for a living. If the CP is that disabling for you, you may need to find another line of work. Check out the vocational rehabilitation resources in your state to see what assistance is available in retraining. At the very least, the voc rehab folks can assist you in finding a field of work you're interested in that you can still do. In my case, I'm a clinical dietitian in Indiana, and I do a lot of walking (limping many days) on my job. Since the CP was connected to a job-related injury, the employer had to let me do my job in a wheelchair for a month after my scope, but I've muddled through since. I haven't been able to perform my " second " job as a certified nursing assistant, and the Army Reserve has made some adjustments to what I do to prove my cardiovascular fitness (bike instead of run) on the fitness test. Life's different, but . . . Speaking of work, it's time to make the money to pay for the donuts LOL). See, I can still laugh about things; if we didn't laugh, we'd cry. and laughing is healthier, I suppose. Hang in there, Joe B. the bolanbiker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2002 Report Share Posted May 5, 2002 It appears that I am going to be on long term disability for awhile. Also, like you, I was surprised to see that many people seem to be very active in spite of the effects of cp. The pain in my knees have become so severe that it has caused me to limp when I walk. I imagine that the pain and severity of cp vary amongst individuals. I want to thank everyone who replied to my inquiry about anyone going on long term disability as a result of chondromlacia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2002 Report Share Posted May 5, 2002 I have been on long term disability since 9/00. I've had 4 surgerys since then on my left knee, including a Cartilage Cell Implant (which failed) and I'm 3 weeks post-op from having a Total Knee Replacement. I had my first surgery on the right knee in February and it has the exact same diagnosis. I have been reading some of the posts to this site and wonder if I'm in the right place. because it seems to me that the people here are still able to a lot of activities I haven't been able to perform for 2 years. I'm 39 and have RA and OA. rdyoungtoo <rdyoung2@...> wrote: Hi everyone, I have been diagnosed with chondromalacia by my doctors. I have had this condition for over 6 months and it appears that I will have to go on long term disability. Is long term disability a common effect of chondromalacia. Are any of you on long term disability? If so, how long have you been on long term disability as a result of chondromalacia? Please provide feedback to me. It would be very helpful. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2002 Report Share Posted May 6, 2002 I do think CP severity differs among people. I also think it is all in your outlook and how you deal with the pain personally. I hurt pretty much all the time, but don't take a lot of notice to it since it is the norm for me. I am usually so busy at work that I don't notice until one of the docs asks me why I am limping. I am 26, and realize I cannot keep up this pace for much longer with my knees, but I refuse to give in! Unfortuneately, this is what I must deal with on a daily basis and I try my best not to be limited by it. I do see a lot of changes though, last year I could climb stairs with just a little pain, and now this year I avoid stairs since it hurts pretty bad to walk up them and I hold the hand rail like an old lady! :-) I do worry about how my knees will be when I am 30 or 40, but I can rest assured that God is truly in control and with Him, I can handle anything! Good luck! > It appears that I am going to be on long term disability for awhile. Also, > like you, I was surprised to see that many people seem to be very active in > spite of the effects of cp. The pain in my knees have become so severe that > it has caused me to limp when I walk. I imagine that the pain and severity of > cp vary amongst individuals. > > I want to thank everyone who replied to my inquiry about anyone going on long > term disability as a result of chondromlacia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 This is just in from the CFIDS Association of America....interesting! FINALLY.....Long-term disability claims are under scrutiny! The nation's largest disability insurer agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement on Nov. 18 that may impact some persons with CFIDS who have had claims denied. Unum-Provident will have to pay $15 million in fines and reconsider 200,000 denials under the terms of the agreement. Read more at http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/long-term-disability.asp. THIS IS THE ARTICLE FROM THE SITE NOTED ABOVE: Unum-Provident Corp. Accepts Multi-Million Dollar Settlement On Nov. 18, 2004, Unum-Provident Corp., the nation’s largest disability carrier with 25 percent of the market nationwide, settled a multi-state investigation into claim denials. Unum will pay $15 million in fines and will be forced to re-examine 200,000 denied claims as part of the settlement. Attorneys general representing numerous states uncovered a corporate environment at Unum that encouraged looking “for every technical legal way to avoid paying a claim.” Persons with CFIDS (PWCs) may represent a sizable group within those improperly denied benefits. The investigation found that Unum relied solely on their in-house physicians and often failed to consider both physical and psychological conditions in determining whether to deny or terminate benefits. Scores of PWCs have reported these problems in their dealings with Unum and other insurers now owned by Unum. We’ve covered some of these stories in the CFIDS Chronicle over the years. Unum insures 25 million people, through individual and group policies written by: Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, the Revere Life Insurance Co., the Provident Life and Casualty Insurance Co., Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co., and the First Unum Life Insurance Co. If you have been denied benefits under a Unum-held policy, contact your disability attorney or visit http://www.unum.com/newsroom/news/corporate/11032004_settlement.aspx for details about the reconsideration process. The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives provides a network of attorneys specializing in disability law. You can reach their referral service at 800-431-2804. Good luck everyone!! With any luck, this will spill over to Standard Insurance, too!!! Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 "I'm up for a disability review for my LTD plan and I'm quietly freaking out." That is scary.I'm very surprised anyone would attempt this after so long. It is counter to usual policies.Do you have an employer-provided policy?Good luck.JB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 "I'm up for a disability review for my LTD plan and I'm quietly freaking out." That is scary.I'm very surprised anyone would attempt this after so long. It is counter to usual policies.Do you have an employer-provided policy?Good luck.JB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 Expect them to deny your claim at least twice. It is common practice to see who is really serious about it. Make photocopies of all forms you fill since they will ask you the same questions over and over again. Your doctor is KEY to your approval since he has to write the most important parts of the applications. He/she should have good records that show you have a lot of fatigue, functional capacity problems, pain, etcI sent an email to the group who had a meeting to relax the rules for HIV and will hear from them soon. http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/SSAHIVdisability/2010-FEB-11.aspxDo you have a private disability insurance also? If so, did the company provide you with a lawyer? Regards, Vergelpowerusa dot orgFrom: red4u48 <red4u48@...> Sent: Thu, May 13, 2010 11:38:50 AMSubject: long term disability I'm up for a disability review for my LTD plan and I'm quietly freaking out. After surviving several potentially lethal opportunistic infections, radiation and local chemo for KS and then 3 hip replacements, anal cancer, side effects from 30 years of HIV and 15 years of meds. My LTD is reviewing my case. If they just looked at labs they might think I'm OK, but I'm not. Joint pain and the general aches and pains of aging with HIV have taken a huge toll. My cognition probably can't handle the stress, even writing this is difficult (my brain is kinda freaky). The effects of time and meds have changed my appearance; I wonder how employable I am. My MD will be supportive, though I'm not sure how much weight that carries. Currently I don't have a big bang illness besides the effects of long term HIV and one of the hip revisions left me with daily pain and a limp. Certainly there are cognitive issues. I'm wondering if there's a new crackdown on HIVers. While this is a small amount of money it would have huge consequences. Apparently LTDs can require one to work at ANY job, outside of our last primary job. So, I'm worried about what to expect and how to maximize my chances for approval. Naturally this comes near my 60th B'day. Happy to be alive!------------------------------------Welcome to our group!If you received this email from someone who forwarded it to you and would like to join this group, send a blank email to -subscribe and you will get an email with instructions to follow.You can chose to receive single emails or a daily digest (collection of emails). You can post pictures, images, attach files and search by keyword old postings in the group.For those of you who are members already and want to switch from single emails to digest or vice versa, visit www., click on , then on "edit my membership" and go down to your selection. The list administrator does not process any requests, so this is a do-it-yourself easy process ! :)Thanks for joining. You will learn and share a lot in this group!NOTE: I moderate, approve or disapprove emails before they are posted. Please follow the guidelines shown in the homepage. I will not allow rudeness, sexually explicit material, attacks, and anyone who does not follow the rules. If you are not OK with this, please do not join the group. Forward this email to anyone who may benefit from this information! Thanks!In Health, Vergel (PoWeRTX@...)List Founder and Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 Expect them to deny your claim at least twice. It is common practice to see who is really serious about it. Make photocopies of all forms you fill since they will ask you the same questions over and over again. Your doctor is KEY to your approval since he has to write the most important parts of the applications. He/she should have good records that show you have a lot of fatigue, functional capacity problems, pain, etcI sent an email to the group who had a meeting to relax the rules for HIV and will hear from them soon. http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/SSAHIVdisability/2010-FEB-11.aspxDo you have a private disability insurance also? If so, did the company provide you with a lawyer? Regards, Vergelpowerusa dot orgFrom: red4u48 <red4u48@...> Sent: Thu, May 13, 2010 11:38:50 AMSubject: long term disability I'm up for a disability review for my LTD plan and I'm quietly freaking out. After surviving several potentially lethal opportunistic infections, radiation and local chemo for KS and then 3 hip replacements, anal cancer, side effects from 30 years of HIV and 15 years of meds. My LTD is reviewing my case. If they just looked at labs they might think I'm OK, but I'm not. Joint pain and the general aches and pains of aging with HIV have taken a huge toll. My cognition probably can't handle the stress, even writing this is difficult (my brain is kinda freaky). The effects of time and meds have changed my appearance; I wonder how employable I am. My MD will be supportive, though I'm not sure how much weight that carries. Currently I don't have a big bang illness besides the effects of long term HIV and one of the hip revisions left me with daily pain and a limp. Certainly there are cognitive issues. I'm wondering if there's a new crackdown on HIVers. While this is a small amount of money it would have huge consequences. Apparently LTDs can require one to work at ANY job, outside of our last primary job. So, I'm worried about what to expect and how to maximize my chances for approval. Naturally this comes near my 60th B'day. Happy to be alive!------------------------------------Welcome to our group!If you received this email from someone who forwarded it to you and would like to join this group, send a blank email to -subscribe and you will get an email with instructions to follow.You can chose to receive single emails or a daily digest (collection of emails). You can post pictures, images, attach files and search by keyword old postings in the group.For those of you who are members already and want to switch from single emails to digest or vice versa, visit www., click on , then on "edit my membership" and go down to your selection. The list administrator does not process any requests, so this is a do-it-yourself easy process ! :)Thanks for joining. You will learn and share a lot in this group!NOTE: I moderate, approve or disapprove emails before they are posted. Please follow the guidelines shown in the homepage. I will not allow rudeness, sexually explicit material, attacks, and anyone who does not follow the rules. If you are not OK with this, please do not join the group. Forward this email to anyone who may benefit from this information! Thanks!In Health, Vergel (PoWeRTX@...)List Founder and Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 ,Your pessimistic response seems to be for someone who is applying for SSDI. appears to be referring to a private LTD policy that he's had for a number of years. Private LTD insurers typically ask for recertification of disability every year. Usually it's just a form that the person's own doctor fills out. I've been having this kind of review each year for the last 15 years, and I've never had a problem being recertified. , what is involved in this review? Is this review a form to be filled out by your doctor, or is it an actual physical exam by a doctor chosen by the LTD insurer?AllanOn May 14, 2010, at 6:58 AM, Vergel wrote: Expect them to deny your claim at least twice. It is common practice to see who is really serious about it. Make photocopies of all forms you fill since they will ask you the same questions over and over again. Your doctor is KEY to your approval since he has to write the most important parts of the applications. He/she should have good records that show you have a lot of fatigue, functional capacity problems, pain, etcI sent an email to the group who had a meeting to relax the rules for HIV and will hear from them soon. http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/SSAHIVdisability/2010-FEB-11.aspxDo you have a private disability insurance also? If so, did the company provide you with a lawyer? Regards, Vergelpowerusa dot orgFrom: red4u48 <red4u48 > Sent: Thu, May 13, 2010 11:38:50 AMSubject: long term disability I'm up for a disability review for my LTD plan and I'm quietly freaking out. After surviving several potentially lethal opportunistic infections, radiation and local chemo for KS and then 3 hip replacements, anal cancer, side effects from 30 years of HIV and 15 years of meds. My LTD is reviewing my case. If they just looked at labs they might think I'm OK, but I'm not. Joint pain and the general aches and pains of aging with HIV have taken a huge toll. My cognition probably can't handle the stress, even writing this is difficult (my brain is kinda freaky). The effects of time and meds have changed my appearance; I wonder how employable I am. My MD will be supportive, though I'm not sure how much weight that carries. Currently I don't have a big bang illness besides the effects of long term HIV and one of the hip revisions left me with daily pain and a limp. Certainly there are cognitive issues. I'm wondering if there's a new crackdown on HIVers. While this is a small amount of money it would have huge consequences. Apparently LTDs can require one to work at ANY job, outside of our last primary job. So, I'm worried about what to expect and how to maximize my chances for approval. Naturally this comes near my 60th B'day. Happy to be alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 ,Your pessimistic response seems to be for someone who is applying for SSDI. appears to be referring to a private LTD policy that he's had for a number of years. Private LTD insurers typically ask for recertification of disability every year. Usually it's just a form that the person's own doctor fills out. I've been having this kind of review each year for the last 15 years, and I've never had a problem being recertified. , what is involved in this review? Is this review a form to be filled out by your doctor, or is it an actual physical exam by a doctor chosen by the LTD insurer?AllanOn May 14, 2010, at 6:58 AM, Vergel wrote: Expect them to deny your claim at least twice. It is common practice to see who is really serious about it. Make photocopies of all forms you fill since they will ask you the same questions over and over again. Your doctor is KEY to your approval since he has to write the most important parts of the applications. He/she should have good records that show you have a lot of fatigue, functional capacity problems, pain, etcI sent an email to the group who had a meeting to relax the rules for HIV and will hear from them soon. http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/SSAHIVdisability/2010-FEB-11.aspxDo you have a private disability insurance also? If so, did the company provide you with a lawyer? Regards, Vergelpowerusa dot orgFrom: red4u48 <red4u48 > Sent: Thu, May 13, 2010 11:38:50 AMSubject: long term disability I'm up for a disability review for my LTD plan and I'm quietly freaking out. After surviving several potentially lethal opportunistic infections, radiation and local chemo for KS and then 3 hip replacements, anal cancer, side effects from 30 years of HIV and 15 years of meds. My LTD is reviewing my case. If they just looked at labs they might think I'm OK, but I'm not. Joint pain and the general aches and pains of aging with HIV have taken a huge toll. My cognition probably can't handle the stress, even writing this is difficult (my brain is kinda freaky). The effects of time and meds have changed my appearance; I wonder how employable I am. My MD will be supportive, though I'm not sure how much weight that carries. Currently I don't have a big bang illness besides the effects of long term HIV and one of the hip revisions left me with daily pain and a limp. Certainly there are cognitive issues. I'm wondering if there's a new crackdown on HIVers. While this is a small amount of money it would have huge consequences. Apparently LTDs can require one to work at ANY job, outside of our last primary job. So, I'm worried about what to expect and how to maximize my chances for approval. Naturally this comes near my 60th B'day. Happy to be alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 , My former partner went through disability review for his private LTD plan 2-3 years ago. It freaked him out as well. Here are some experiences of my own, his, and advice from advocates for us: * Great that you have a supportive MD! What I do for mine is I help her/him be a good advocate for me by recapping things for him on a quarterly basis. (This is what I've had; this is how it affects my functioning.) Those quarterly reports also form something for me to work from more easily when I undergo an annual or other periodic review. * I've had cognitive issues as well. They've actually been some of the most helpful in terms of advocating for my disability. A " quantitative electroencephalogram " (QEEG) a decade ago showed that, indeed, I *was* having some brain difficulty. I keep mine online as a resource for others at http://www.officerwes.com/coolsite/qeeg.htm * Getting a " single photon emission computed tomograph " (SPECT) scan years ago was also helpful. It showed I wasn't quite /right/. * My sister is an attorney. She said she had encountered cases where the disability company used parking-ticket-taker as the job standard; as in the company could assert almost anybody could do that. However, knowing that possible approach, we can again help our doctors help us. I regularly keep him/her informed about problems sitting / problems standing / difficulty with heat / difficulty with cold / brain aphasia (fading in and out) / extreme fatigue requiring bed rest, etc. / arm neuropathy / leg neuropathy / sound sensitivity / light sensitivity / fume sensitivity, etc. * When my ex was undergoing review, I sought out an experienced lawyer. The best I personally knew was Mitch Katine from my years in Houston, as he'd regularly given talks on HIV & the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and was also experienced with ERISA. More info @ KATINE & NECHMAN L.L.P, www.lawkn.com (See " Practice Areas / Long-Term Disability Claims). Since we were now states apart (I'm in California), he suggested I find an experienced attorney here and I also took him on as a consulting attorney. * The insurance company requested some testing with a sleazebag in L.A. (We're 90 miles away in San Diego.) At the time I thought " Oh, we need to go to L.A. (which always wipes us out for days) " Then I realized: They should provide a reasonable accommodation. Just because the insurance company has a list of doctors they usually deal with does not mean they must stick with them. If their request is unreasonable, I'll inform them in writing and suggest an accommodation that works for me. This might sound daunting at first, but it's actually pretty manageable: I get a good doctor-attorney team and arm them with lots of information. Then they advocate. Good luck with your review. -Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2010 Report Share Posted May 15, 2010 Been following the thread and have some thoughts, nuthin much original tho... I've been on disability for 17 years (yeah, the gummint and i thot i'd be dead looonnnggg ago). My luck was in working with OPM (office of personnel management). Your doctor is most important. He writes the letter that gets you on disability and keeps you there. If you don't trust your doc, switch (altho this helps only if you are not yet applying). Everytime your ear itches or ANYTHING, tell him, the documentation is vital to your " history. " You can't suddenly develop a problem and say it's been there for years without " history. " Lawyer is extremely important. If you can't afford, try to find a group that will " probono " you. My 20 page application would have worthless without those two. Workin with a pr dept behind the back of your homophobic fundamentalist boss (much more rare in the coast guard now) was a real pain. Hopefullly, we can change the law or find a policy that will forbid reviews after a certain age. I went out on disability at age 50 and the gummint rules say no reviews after age 59 (66 now, still above ground, whew). Whats also nice is i could do some work up to a certain limit without triggering a review. I was able to work at consulting for about 20 hrs a month, started a few years after retiring. good luck... San Francisco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 Your doctor is most important. He writes the letter that gets you on disability and keeps you there. If you don't trust your doc, switch (altho this helps only if you are not yet applying). Everytime your ear itches or ANYTHING, tell him, the documentation is vital to your "history." You can't suddenly develop a problem and say it's been there for years without "history."This is true whether it concerns SSDI or private disability insurance....Hopefullly, we can change the law or find a policy that will forbid reviews after a certain age. I went out on disability at age 50 and the gummint rules say no reviews after age 59 (66 now, still above ground, whew). Whats also nice is i could do some work up to a certain limit without triggering a review. I was able to work at consulting for about 20 hrs a month, started a few years after retiring. Based on a message posted on 9/24/09 referring to an article at <http://positivelyaware.com/2009/09_05/financial_fallout_of_hiv.shtml> which states: Most people do not know that SSA has a rule prohibiting the review of any SSDI benefit where HIV is even part of the reason for disability (SSA-POMS:DI 28003.005).It would seem that you already have the "gummint rules" you desire, but of course this applies to SSDI only, and does not likely apply to the original message writer's plight. But good luck to him nonetheless. Would that the "gummint rules" applied to private insurance as well. ...Regards,Nick-- Nick 6811 Old Canton Road, Apt. 1008 Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-991-1164 thenick@... http://nicknicholas.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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