Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Howdy, Everyone. I'm not sure if many of our members have gone through the effort of filing for disability with social security, but I thought I would briefly share my experiences with you all. I've had four cervical surgeries since 1997, spent a month in a trauma hospital...and came out of the surgeries with major, major pain in my entire back. The pain became so intense for me that I contemplated suicide...and was committed to a mental institution for suicide attempts/depression. I'm not ashamed to share this with our group. I just couldn't see any way out of escaping this searing, constant pain. Then the pain went also into my lower back...worse pain than the cervical pain. So now...I have my hearing last month with the ALJ having filed my disability way back in 1999. I won my disability case...and was astonished when I was in court to learn of what the two neurosurgeons said about my condition. They both said I had degenerative disc disease...in my lumbar region! Never told me...just said nothing could be done for me! So I nearly killed my self not knowing what was wrong with me. Anyhow...I won my case...after five years of appeals...and only because the Administrative Law Judge with social security emphathized with me because he also had had cervical surgery and knew what my pain must be like. Sadly, if I hadn't attempted suicide and landed in a mental hospital I wouldn't have won my disability...that's because social security doesn't care about your spine, or your pain suffering, they are scared as hell of mental stuff. Go figure? So now I can at least explore other options other than taking narcotics for the rest of my life. It's funny how money doesn't take away pain as some people seem to think it will. So, for me at least I no longer have to 'justify' my physical pain to other people nor take any more crap from doctors that are more concerned with litagation and liability issues...but there are still some times when I am so sad that my life changed so abruptly when I was hit by a drunk driver who was eluding police. All the same...I'm glad at least I survived and now have income and will go on with my life. I wish all of you here sincerest prayers that you not give up in your fight to be pain free. Love to all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 hi robert i just read ur post and im telling ya its just like reading my life just a small note to say that ...Larry On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 15:18:51 -0000 " Holden " <rholden@...> writes: > Howdy, Everyone. > > I'm not sure if many of our members have gone through the effort of > filing for disability with social security, but I thought I would > briefly share my experiences with you all. I've had four cervical > surgeries since 1997, spent a month in a trauma hospital...and came > out of the surgeries with major, major pain in my entire back. > > The pain became so intense for me that I contemplated suicide...and > was committed to a mental institution for suicide > attempts/depression. > I'm not ashamed to share this with our group. I just couldn't see > any > way out of escaping this searing, constant pain. > > Then the pain went also into my lower back...worse pain than the > cervical pain. So now...I have my hearing last month with the ALJ > having filed my disability way back in 1999. > > I won my disability case...and was astonished when I was in court > to > learn of what the two neurosurgeons said about my condition. They > both > said I had degenerative disc disease...in my lumbar region! Never > told > me...just said nothing could be done for me! So I nearly killed my > self not knowing what was wrong with me. > > Anyhow...I won my case...after five years of appeals...and only > because the Administrative Law Judge with social security > emphathized > with me because he also had had cervical surgery and knew what my > pain > must be like. > > Sadly, if I hadn't attempted suicide and landed in a mental hospital > I > wouldn't have won my disability...that's because social security > doesn't care about your spine, or your pain suffering, they are > scared > as hell of mental stuff. > > Go figure? So now I can at least explore other options other than > taking narcotics for the rest of my life. It's funny how money > doesn't > take away pain as some people seem to think it will. > > So, for me at least I no longer have to 'justify' my physical pain > to > other people nor take any more crap from doctors that are more > concerned with litagation and liability issues...but there are > still > some times when I am so sad that my life changed so abruptly when I > was hit by a drunk driver who was eluding police. > > All the same...I'm glad at least I survived and now have income and > will go on with my life. > > I wish all of you here sincerest prayers that you not give up in > your > fight to be pain free. > > Love to all, > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Thanks, for your post...and congratulations on winning finally after so many years or fighting it. Never be ashamed to admit that you are/were depressed...that comes with dealing with pain 24/7. I am waiting to hear when my first hearing will be, after filing for disability a year ago. I had lumbar surgery last year, that while it did help get me off narcotics, it didn't take away all the pain, and am currently undergoing treatment for neck issues. I hope that I don't have to wait as long as you did...maybe the therapist appointments I had will help? Take care...and thanks again for sharing! Viv in GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Good news, Laurie! Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@... Go figure! What a great way to start a week - got a call from 's original social security intake person, who asked me if we'd begun charging her rent yet?! When I said yes, we'd taken $225 out of her first check, he proceeded to input that into the computer system; told me her determination was now finalized at the $623 monthly number; and explained how future checks would reflect that increase as well as what I'll call 'backpay' to April when we started on this journey. I know most of you probably think I'm such a 'newb' as my 16-yr old son and his pals are always teasing one other with, but I can't help it -- I'm happy to have this step now behind us. And FYI, I did call last week to 'share feedback' on the independent psych eval; my contact was on vacation but I expect to speak with him today or tomorrow. Hopefully it will help prevent others from having the same experience we did. Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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