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Posted 8/18/2012 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Intro first... I'm 41 (tomorrow!) and my CP problems began (officially) six years ago. I have DDD with very "messy" C5-6 & C6-7. My second MRI, just done in June used the word "obliterates" in reference to C6-7, among other descriptors... This one is actually herniated, C5-6 is still hanging on, I reckon, although it doesn't look much better.

Anyway, the short version is that I have been with my (first!) PM doc since '06 trying the myriad of 'tools' he has to offer in an attempt to learn to live with this pain. Currently, I am on Fentanyl patches w/ Oxycodone, Neurontin, Robaxin, Topomax (weaning off); I use a topical cream w/ ketamine, ketoprofin (sp) and some others in it, can't remember at the moment, I have a TENS but I mostle feel more sore when I use it. In the six years, I have tried ESIs, facet joint injections, trigger point injections... My doc is wonderful with always suggesting options and working with me, I consider myself lucky, especially since he was the first, and only, PM doc I've been to.

I've been lurking here for a couple of months and decided to take the plunge! I must apologize for typos... I'm using an on-screen keyboard and I find it makes me appear much more illiterate than I really am, so I ask for forgiveness in advance!

The disability question... I am a teacher. This is sort of my second career, after being fortunate enough to stay home for a couple of years when I had my third child (I have three kids - ages 13, 11 & 9). Since the CP issues have gotten worse, my days, naturally, get worse. Last year was particularly awful. I had to come home every day, during the day, to have my husband put the topical on my back (we only had one car then and still, financial reasons). I don't get *that* much relief from the topical, but enough to take the edge off for a few minutes!

Well, this year has started back and it is even worse! To sum it up, I spend my day consumed with the pain! How effective can I be in the classroom when I am in that state? This leads to me coming home, going straight to bed on the heating pad (the Robaxin makes me too sleepy to take during work), which leaves absolutely nothing of me left for my own kids! I find myself becoming resentful in many ways and I just don't like it!

My PM doc has referred me to a neuro surgeon. He made the referral early summer, as the pain is simpky getting worse and radiating. However, after getting the MRI report, he felt that he could address the pain with injections (it didn't work). He still wants me to get the surgeon's opinion... I want to talk more with my PM doc before I see the surgeon (I have PM appt on the 10th), since I haven't gotten to talk with him since the results of the MRI (I saw him, but it was for injections).

Anyway, I do have disibility insurance that I have purchased thru my work, but I don't know how it all works. Do I look into short term disability now (some days, I struggle to get out of bed, thinking that I JUST CAN NOT do this right now!). Do I ask my doc if he will "disable" me? Do I just stop working, then submit the papers and hope? I am the only income right now. My husband is currently out of work and trying to find something.

Sorry this turned into a long novel! It is just all so scary!! Oh, and thank you all for being so supportive to each other! I offer the same 'feel good, light pain' thoughts :-)
Posted 8/18/2012 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
This all depends on how long you'd want to stay off work, what state you're teaching in, and what kind of disability insurance you purchased. Generally, you have to be declared disabled before applying. Also, if you're looking at short term disability, you would also want to apply for SDI. If you did plan on going back to work, you need to read your teaching contract very carefully, generally, there's a minimum number of days that you have to teach, or your contract can be paid out and canceled, or worse, just canceled. In my state, contracts are renewed annually, and a terminated contract is not eligible for automatic renew, even with tenure.

The other question would be if you're private disability insurance is long term or short term, or both, if its long term, the general eligibility rule, is that there is a set number of days on the policy that you have to be disabled, before it will take effect. If it's short term, it will only cover you for so many days or weeks, until you exhaust it for that claim.

Your job should be protected by FMLA for 12 weeks, after that, it's whatever is written into your contract, or written into a collective bargaining agreement with your district and union.

A doctor has to declare you disabled before you are eligible to aplly for any form of disability benefits. So your first step would be to talk to your doctor about it. But depending on your intentions of whether or not to return to work, you should really investigate what your teaching contract is, and how long you'd still have a job for.

If for some reason this is workers compensation, you'd have a totally different way you'd have to do all this, and will need a work comp attorney. But if not, then check out your contracts, and talk to your doctor. If you just stop reporting for work, you would only be using sick time, the doctor has to pull you off work with most insurance policies, and some require that your sick time be exhausted before applying. So you need to read your policy too.

Hope that helps a little. Take care, and good luck.
Posted 8/18/2012 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I should have also noted, that depending on your state, and how long you've been teaching, you may be eligible for a medical retirement, and that can be forced on you, if you stay on disability long enough. But all that depends on what state you're in, and how long you've been teaching. I believe here in California, they can force you onto stirs, if you've been teaching for 20 years or more, and are out for more than 18 months, but dont quote me on that, it's just a hypothetical example from my very shot memory lol
Posted 8/18/2012 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hey SNToBSNT :)

Welcome.... glad you decided to join in :) And Happy Birthday, by the way :)

I'm sorry that you are dealing w/ so many stressful issues caused by having chronic pain.

Anyway... look forward to getting to know you better.... Matt gave you good information (and, like him, I'm in CA...).

Again, welcome :) --Tina
Posted 8/18/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SicNTired and welcome to the forum. So glad to read that you have a good PM doc because that is half of the battle right there I think. I honestly cannot fathom what it would be like to have to deal with CP and not like my doc that is taking care of me. I too, have been very fortunate to have had docs that I liked.

It sounds like you have done the whole gambit treatment with your neck. I am glad to hear that you are going to have a consult with a neurosurgeon. It sure can't hurt for him to do an evaluation to see what he thinks.

You asked about short & long term disability. Generally if a person has short term they make your file short term first, then when its exhausted file for the long term. Many long term disability policies require the person to file for SSD too. You can look at your booklet to see what you need to do.

Since you have this upcoming appt with your doc perhaps now is the time to have a heart to heart with him and tell him what is going on with you. I would tell him just what you told us an how bad the pain is interfering with you having any quality life.

Anyway, I wanted to pop on and say hello an welcome aboard. Take care.......Susie
Posted 8/18/2012 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, all for the welcomes! I already know what a warm and welcoming group this is from lurking... Now, it's nice to 'feel' it :-)

Wow, Matt! You are a regular ole' wikipedia! Thank you for pointing out things I need to dig in to. Our new contract has just recently been posted online, so I need to go find it and scour thru all the fine print. Here's what I do know... Since I entered into teaching late in life (I've just completed my 7th year), I'll likely be screwed. With having various treatments and doc appts (I do my best to scheduke outside the school day), not to mention days I simoly hurt too much to bear to go in, I probably have around 8 - 9 weeks of sick / personal time. Of course, I don't want to eat it all up because when (if?) I come back, I'll def want some of it 'in the bank' , so to speak.

Also, regarding forced retirement, which as much as I hate to say it, some days doesn't sound so bad :-( , I believe I have to have taught (been employeed) for 10 years before I'm vested to get my retirement. Should I have to look at long-term or perm disability, do I just have to forfeit all of my retirement? Walk away from it? Does the time I'm disabled on my work's disability still count towards my employment time?

I realize that you guys are not my HR dept, but last year, when my doc first mentioned even considering surgery consult, I tossed a couple of questions by way of my, normally very helpful HR person, and what I got were very short, curt one word replies. Mostly summed up telling me I have to contact the company who handles the disability insurance!

It isn't workman's comp... I changed districts 5 years ago... Was I asking her the wrong stuff? Am I doing wrong by asking questions first? I just need to know that my life will be secure!
Posted 8/18/2012 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Forgot to add... I'm in Oklahoma (ugh - no worker's rights... although, I'm prob at a slight advantage, being a State employee). My policy is both long and short term, what I read the other day said it pays until I'm 65 (!?!?).

What is SDI? This may sound like a dumb question (I always tell my students the proverbial "there are no dumb questions..." ha!), but with regard to my short term disability ins thru work, will it pay simply on my doc's word that I can't work, or do these claims have to go thru the same hoops that other's have?

Thanjs, again!!! I hope to be able to give back and offer help, as you guys have already been so nice and helpful to me!
Posted 8/18/2012 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again. SDI is state disability insurance. I tried looking it up for you and found nothing about it for Oklahoma. I was able to find your TRS rules, they do require 10 years of service for a medical retirement. I only scanned across it, but it almost looked like you might be able to roll your retirement into an IRA. I'm not positive about that though, there was more info on the PERS than TRS.

Your HR department generally would not be a good source about disability insurance benefits, they only sell it, the insurance company would be administrating the claims. You will need to get a claim form from your IC as soon as you decide you want to be pulled off work, generally, private disability insurance companies don't give you half the flac about disability that Social Security or work comp will give you, but be prepared for anything, they have a right to contest your claim, and have you evaluated by one of their doctors, shouldn't be a big deal, just a massive migraine lol.

Yes, they in essence will just take your doctors word for it, but there may be transfers of records and reports and stuff to prove it, but this would usually happen behind the scenes without your involvement. But make sure your doctor gets a letter from you stating that you want a copy of everything he sends to the insurance company. Make sure you get copies, you never know what a disability attorney might need if you had to go that route.

I know its really hard, but might be in your best interest if you can continue working until you find out what a surgeon can do for you. My mom works as a school psychologist, which also means she's a BICM, she had a double cervical fusion, and was able to go back 2to weeks after surgery, she felt that much better. And I'm sure you can imagine the work load for a single psychologist in a district that should have 4. Of course, I don't blame you if you cant keep working, I certainly couldn't.

Another thing I found for Oklahoma was the Office of Disability Concerns. Looked like it's a government ran office that helps any worker with a disability. You should investigate that, they might get you some help in your classroom.

I hope you're able to find some resolution to this soon. It just seems awful to have to worry about your own health adding the concern of 30 kids on top of that, I dont know how you do it but I commend you for it.

Good luck, and God bless.
Posted 8/19/2012 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, again, Matt. I've downloaded the entire TRS document (I did find out that that I can buy a year since I subbed while I was getting certified... Good news, depending on cost :-P ).

I did figure I'd try to hold off until I at least had the consult with the surgeon. It's easy to say, on a Saturday night, after a day spent doing absolutely nothing (kids are at their Dad's). Problem rears it's ugly head come Monday when I try my best to hide the tears from my students, spend my day up and down, trying to find a comfortable position because it hurts to sit and it hurts to stand. I teach Special Ed, so I have the benefit of small classrooms. I am very upfront with my kids... We get to know each other very closely very early in the year (nature of the beast). When they ask why I fidget, I tell them... High school kids are usually so wrapped up in themselves that they mostly pay my problems only lip service. However, they are all very sweet kids and I try to foster respectful relationships, so they are all very quick to 'help' out where they can (running errands, passing out papers, etc...).

Again, thanks! I have a lot to look into and even more to think about / talk with my doc. Someday, I hope to return the informational & supportive favor :-)
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