question on st disabilty and pain clinics

Forgot question on pain clinic. Has anyone heard of a pain clinic refusing to treat due to cause of pain?
Thanks agin

Hi, I can't answer you're question about the pain clinic, though I have a good friend from high-school with MS that I can contact on Facebook if no one else can answe that question, though it might take a week or two to get back on that, he has a terrible time using a computer these days.

Ok, on the disability, your dx will most likely disqualify you from eligibility for short term. Most insurance companies have a cap on the expected length of the illness, and life conditions are usually an automatic disqualification. The exception to that would be if you live in California, or one of the other few states that offers a full year of disability benefits, doesn't matter the dx, as long as you meet the residency and previous employment requirements.

I think in your case, you would benefit from the assistance of a good disability attorney. You implied that you will most likely not be returning to work at all? If so, you should probably also apply for Ssdi and Medicaid, or Medicare. There are advocacy groups for people with MS, I would start trying to find someone in your area about that, you may find some free services available, possibly even some financial assistance.

Regarding state assistance, you said you have a child to take care of, whoever told you you dont qualify is wrong, bring in your denial letter from your insurance company. If you are having to borrow money for groceries, than they need to know that you are in an emergency situation, and are unable to get groceries for your family right now. I would also let them know if you had trouble with, or are behind on rent.

Do you belong to any groups, or clubs, or something that can offer assistance? I've hears organizations like the Moose Lodge are very good at taking care of their members, local churches, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army also offer different types of assistance to help get you through. There is a lot of help available, but sometimes it's not easy to find.

One grlup online that I suggest you look at is www.nationalmssociety.org. they offer advacy and financial assistance, as well as an updated list of doctors for treatment. I'm sure there are other organizations that also offer help in some way.

Well, I hope that helps, and again, I believe you would greatly benefit from the assistance of a good disability attorney, when it's your family need to survive on the line, you really want to get this pushed through as quickly as possible, and an attorney will know how to file everything, including expedited hearings or reconsiderations, and will be able to get this thing fixed a lot faster than you would be able to on your own.

Hope this settles quickly for you, take care, and God bless.

2y4t,
Wow, thanks for the kind offer and for the advice.
I did explain financial situation to the folks at the aid office and was told i wouldnt qualify and that I wouldnt even be able to utilize the food bank bc of this. Seems ironic since up until two years ago I volunteered to help others. Unfortunately I am not a member of any organized group but will look into the groups you mentioned. I didnt even think about salvation army.

Fortunately i do have a great family for support but they cant afford to loan money on a continual basis.

I would like to be able to work but as of right now I struggle to walk and the pain is to the point of 7-8with the meds my gp scripts for me. Between that and fatigue everything is a complete uncertainity.


Thank you for your opinion on the lawyer as well, hate to do it but as you put it, this is my family. Looks like phone calls start in the morning.

On a side note, I did read your post re your son and the terrible twos/discipline. I think it is great you are willing to seek advice when you need to. I saw your son has an IEP and one group that is available where I live is MPACT. This is an org that offers great resources from discipline to educatinal needs. I am not sure where you are at but it may be worth doing a quick search on to see if something similiar is in your area.

Again, thank you for your time and advice.
Annie

Hi Annie, I have had some experience dealing with insurance companies on short term and long term disability and its always been a real pain and nothing but a headache for the patient.These companies do nothing but jack people around and there is little recourse in some ways.

This is a generalization for you to read and some may apply to you and some may not. It depends totally on what the language is in the policy. First thing, is usually you are given a booklet when you are hired and the booklets tells you how to file a claim and what is covered under the policy and what is not. It will also tell you the maximum amount of time you can draw benefits through that company.

Most short term policys are for 60 days of not being able to work, once the person has exhausted the 60 days then, if its available you kick over into long term disability. Some policys will require the person to file for Social Security Disability after being off of work for a period of 6 months, or some will say after being off one year. Again, it depends on what is in that particular policy. This information is in the booklet I was asking you about. Some policys will pay until the person turns 65 when they kick over into regular Social Security.

If you don't have a booklet then try going through human resources at your employment, they should be ale to help you get a booklet. Even if you seek an atty he will need to see one of these booklets. If they say they do not have a extra one, then ask to see what the one they have and try to get them to copy info from it that you need.

Also, with the new dx of MS, is the company saying they do not offer coverage for this illness? Look in the booklet for covered illnesses and ones not covered.

Yes, I can see a pain clinic refusing to see you and they probably did you a big favor by declining to take you on as a patient. Thats tells me they know nothing about MS. If this were me I would be looking for a dr that handles MS patients only, in other words a dr that specializes in MS. These drs really do exist. A friend of mine finally decided to see a dr that specializes in MS and it made a great improvement in her quality of life by switching.

Good luck.....Susie

MS is a well known cause of chronic pain. However many poorly informed pain docs feel they need to have an imaging study to prove that there is an abnormality to go along with pain. Won't your neurologist treat your pain?

You all are wonderful,
I have taking all advice to heart and am truly greatful. That being said I will try to answer what I was unclear on. It all made sense in my head but that dosen't count for much some days lol!

Susie, the company does cover this dx they just feel there was not enough evidence of inability to work (I thought uncontrolled pain and fatigue was sufficient silly me). Trying to get the full info from company on disabilty for research but their website does list covered illnesses. Thank you for sharing the info on te disabilty stuff. What you mentioned is very similiar and thanks for letting me know it is just not me that gets the runaround for these companies.
I didn't look at the pain clinic thing that way but it does make sense. The pain dr I will see actually lists ms as a speciality so I am hopeful he will be able to help, it will just be another long month.

Tina
I have no problem putting all my issues on the table if it means getting some relief lol! But thanks for the tip!

Recoveryme,
They based the aid denial on gross income for the year and broke it down over twelve months. I was $200 over for the year (still dumfounded as I was only asking for emergency help until disability got stright). Still working on this though. Hangin in has become the normand I am ok with that but this all came at once and threw me for a loop.

Gerasdoc,
What type of imaging would they require? Mri mid 2011 showed active process. Jan 2012 showed two new lesions and increase in size of existing lesion. March 2012 showed three new lesions from Jan. Would this be what they would.be looking for? MS neuro scripted cymbalta and I was ok with samples but my health ins will not cover it ($192 a month that I cant afford). I know a month is not long enough to tell if a med like this will work so I have a call into her to see if she can offer something similiar that is more feasible. I told her the standard nerve meds do not work and let her know my old neuro had tried most already. I let her know the hydrocodone I have been on for three years is becoming less effective and asked for suggestions. She replied she was not a fan of narcotics and scripted cymbalta. I let her know I would try whatever she wanted but that I am not a fan of sitting in pain everyday. My gp referred me to pain clinic after I explained neuro visit. She is a great doc and we had discussed the day would come when I had to go to a pain clinic, we were just holding off as long as possible.

RB,
Thanks for the advice, I good friend of mine came by today and gave me the name of his disability lawyer. So I will contact her tomorrow and see if she will do a free consult.

Sorry this turned into a bit of a novel but thank you all for replying with great info and help I truly appreciate it. You folks and this site is just one of many blessing I have been given
Hope all are doing well and having low pain days
Annie