Disabled

Throughout the years as a Social Worker I have assumed the role as a Case Manager and helped hundreds of my patients/clients apply and be accepted for Social Security Disability.  Back in the early 2000's it started out as a paper application, 15 or more pages we would do together (I would do for them, as many were too sick to do themselves). As years progressed, it has now become an online version of the application.  I never wanted to have to apply for Social Security Disability, let me just get that out there to clarify.  The way it works is this... I am on a Long Term Disability Policy through my previous employer for two years.  They require me to apply for Social Security.  If I am denied, they have lawyers that help the appeal process.  If I am approved, Social Security becomes the first payor and Long Term Disability picks up the remainder of what SSD doesn't pay for the rest of the two year term of the LTD contract.  So, upon this agreement Long Term Disability (about 6 months in) started requesting I apply for SSD, they suggested I use their lawyers to assist me in the process (who then take a portion of the SSD backpay).  I thought to myself, NOWAY!  I have done this for over 15 years for my own patients/clients, I will do it for myself. I do not want anyone taking a portion of something I am confident I can do!    So, I started the process back in Nov 2017.  They sent me an item to complete in Nov 2017 which had to do with my financial information due to my self employment, I never returned it.  When you aren't feeling good, some things aren't a priority.  Anyways, I never heard from them again until January 2018, I received a letter from DES/Disability Determination Doctor, it was a questionnaire regarding activities I can/can not do. Most of you that know me well, know that I do not leave my home on most days unless I have an appointment. I also struggle to drive, but often have no choice.   Most activities of daily living are difficult for me.  Bathing is the hardest task.  I rely solely on my spouse for assistance with almost everything.  I have lost my independence at 45.  I can not do housework, we have a housekeeper.  I can do some grocery shopping if I have an electric cart, but struggle getting the groceries inside and pay a high price for moving around.  Phil does the laundry.  Phil makes the meals and we have a meal delivery service.  I often do not eat during the day because I can not stand long enough to make myself something.  I am not telling you this for pity or sympathy, I am telling you the straight facts of what they were asking.  I often struggle to get dressed, my husband having to help me with my shoes and undress at the end of the day.  I sent this questionnaire back right away.  Once again, I heard nothing.  Fast forward to April 2018,  we were having an issue with our Paypal account, I asked my husband for help with it, I joked that maybe there was "no money" in our bank account and asked him to login.  When he did, he was astonished and replied "that definitely was not the problem, in fact, there had been a large sum deposit pending for April 2nd from Social Security Administration.  I had never been notified by mail of my approval as of that day.  I was in complete shock.  I has been approved!  Never any contact from them, no interview, no questions.  I had filled out the application in such detail, in fact, I never even submitted my medical records.  They have a list of approved conditions, I had 10 of their approved conditions.  to me, this is just sad, it shows how my life has changed, as 3 years ago, as I had none.  My documentation matched my imaging, as well as my Physicians documentation and they had one look at it and understood.  Understood what I was  experiencing.  I had also been a hard worker.  Working 2 jobs at a time most of my life.  Even up to the time I went out of work in 2016, at that point, I was actually working 3.  This has been the biggest blessing of my whole entire tragedy.  So unreal to call it a blessing.  Nobody wants to be "disabled".  But let me tell you what a rough road this process could have been. 
For anyone needing help with this process, I am willing to help.  Please keep in mind SSD has a list of "Approved Conditions" your condition must me on this list, and you must currently be seeking treatment under Physicians for these conditions.  Your imaging must show/prove all of the conditions through CT's, MRI's, Myelograms, Bone Scans and Xrays, etc.  I would have to guess mine included over 30 of a combination off all of these. 
  Here were the conditions that I listed:
Arachnoiditis, Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Pain (Pudendal Neuralgia, Pelvic Pain, Non-Union of Fracture)  Back Pain(Bertolottis Syndrome)  Cauda Equina Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Arthritis.  All of which I see specialists for and I take ongoing medications for, some with unwanted side effects.
They chose to back date the approval from when I first went out of work which was Oct 2016, which means I will have Medicare the end of this year.  I truly wish things were different for me, but they are not.  I have had to chose to accept my conditions and those that seem to be the biggest struggle for me.  I hope to help those I know who need the help advocating for themselves with SSD because I miss what I do professionally and I can do that from where I sit today.  List of Approved Conditions

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lean on Me

I have very much appreciated everyone in my life.  Words that constantly ring in my ears are "call if you need anything".  Those are such precious words to me.  The song Lean on Me plays over and over in my head some days.  I often hear it and become tearful.  Why?  I will tell you why... When you become chronically ill, isolation just happens, you become more vulnerable for abuse, and depression, and you grieve.  Leaning on friends during this time is so important. But, where are they?  They go on with their lives, that's where they go. Most do not understand what it's like to be chronically ill.  If you try to educate them, lets say post about it on facebook, then you often get called out for "trying to get attention".  If you post about how you are feeling, you get called out for "complaining".  It's a lost battle.  People expect you to be able to do the same things you once could do.  There are very few people who und...
Read more

Who's responsibility?

My goal is to write, and not just for me, but for others, who need to be educated about these rare diseases, because believe me, they are becoming more prevalent.  With more and more Failed Back Surgery Syndromes and the NUMBER ONE cause of Arachnoiditis is Epidural Steroid Injections into the spine. Epidurals are not FDA approved for injections into the spine. It is on the label that it can cause neurological injury (Arachnoiditis). Doctors (especially pain doctors know this) and should not be offering such injections.  You, as the patient have every right to refuse these injections.  I, only want to educate you. That is my goal, if I can prevent any one of you from getting this condition, then I have done my duty, I have accomplished my goal.  You do not want this.  I did not get Arachnoiditis from an Epidural, mine was from spinal trauma, but Epidurals are the number one cause and please think twice before getting one.  Here is the link to the FDA websit...
Read more

Friendships

Throughout the past few years I have been blessed with some very helpful, compassionate, understanding friends.  I have also had to bear the hurt, rejection, and sometimes betrayal of those once closest to me.  About a year into my ordeal, I would come to understand just how chronic illness would impact friendships and become peaceful a year or so later with learning to be alone.  I was always a social person, the first to create an extravagant event at my home, invite 60-80 guests and make "special treats" homemade.  This, I could no longer do.  I had a history of being "fun", "life of the party", I used to enjoy the occasional bottle or two of wine, and the crazy events that arose from them.  Lots of memories had been made over the years within my group of friends.  My health no longer allowed me to be this person, the pain put a stop to the fun, no doubt.  One thing I could still do was give.  When I was invited places, I still offered to...
Read more