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I took Vickie's advice!

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 9/13/2013 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
(Pre-emptive PS here):  I started a new thread to not hijack that other one, and also,...I enjoy constructive criticism, so never have to worry there!  It's how I learn things.  It's also part of why I like this forum...I'm not here to play patty-cake, but I'm here to learn from others, whether that's letting me vent, or drawing a firm picture.  It's all good!

Anyhoo, I called my back surgeon,-- AND I looked at the Rx he wrote for me re: my foot drop, and my wanting to get a "Walk Aide" stim system...  His note reads: "...has a long standing left sided severe foot drop....this has proceeded despite multiple rounds of P.T. and major lumbar surgery..."  So that was part of it...

So I called the doctor, left a voice mail of course.  His PA called me back, (and their office closes at 5pm but evidently they stop taking calls around quarter-to).  I returned her call and left a detailed message, (I "sandwiched" it) saying that in the moment of our visit, we were so pleased with the results I've achieved, and the appreciation that the L5/S1 in particular didn't show signs of further degeneration, that we never really got around to discussing the particulars of my limitations, and specifically with regards to,....blah, blah, blah.... And I brought up the hills, the 3 floors, the big dog who pulls....briefly noting what "I" notice my tolerances to be,...and finished off by thanking him for the Rx for the "Walk Aide" system Rx, that I'm due to be tested in 2 weeks to see if I'm a candidate.

I assume she'll call me back on Monday?  (Probably at 4:55pm?)

So thank you Vickie, for pointing that out.  You are most helpful, and as always, any advice and experience is so well appreciated!

Thank you sincerely,

Merrida

Posted 9/13/2013 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, as of 5:20, the PA actually did just call me back. She told me, "in these types of cases, you're not going to hurt yourself, it'll just be muscle pain....just do what you can do, and if it hurts, don't do it....if it feels too heavy, don't lift it...you're only going to feel 'sore'"

(sigh)

(retaining composure)

Reminding PA of pelvic floor pain and how prior to surgery I started to lose bowel control, and that surgeon was concerned over integrity of L5/S1, space is diminishing but so far, I'm holding my own,.....Yes, I understand it's hardware,....I know the fusion has well taken place.... But I have this hip (reminding her ever-so gingerly), from June, and my right thigh is 3" larger than my left one, and I still do not have the ability to extend my hip, so the swelling is still there, and when I ambulate, I compromise and compensate, and this further stresses my lumbo-sacral region.

She says, "Well as long as you're in physical therapy,....What do they say about it?"

(staying calm)

My concern is that even with the AFO brace for my foot drop, I have tripped. With my history, I cannot afford to trip. I cannot afford more stress fractures. I cannot afford a fall. I am a fall risk, and I want to preserve the great work the doctor has done.

She says, "Well then don't over-do it, I'd say, don't walk too far if you get fatigued. They'll address that in physical therapy."

(sigh)

How far is too far? I would really appreciate it if you could run it past the doctor. You see, I have a tendency to over-do things, and I've found PT helps to "rein me in," and sometimes, I do not have a good sense of internal-radar, and I end up paying for it later on... I'm just looking for some guidelines to follow....

She says, "Well (notice every sentence starts with that word),....well,...okay then, I'll run it by the doctor and see what he has to say, and I'll probably give you a call back on Monday, okay?"


.........................and thus is my journey to find "specifics" to guide me.



..........................................................................................................Merrida
Posted 9/13/2013 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you!

Your not alone with your dog walking, I actually thought of a patient when you talked about walking your dog. 4 weeks post 2 level fusion she's admitted with severe pain. When the Surgeon asked her what she was doing the day before she said normal stuff, light housekeeping, walking my dog. Surgeon looks at her, asks what kind of dog do you have? She says a gorgeous 4 year old great dane! Wonderful answer and she probably never gave a thought to how much he was pulling on her.

I know most of us consider our pets baby's and dont realize we need to consider them as physical activity post op.

Your on the right track and even if you end up having to file SSD all the inquiring and trying to find ways to get better reflects as someone who gave it their best shot, did everything possible to get better and still just can't.
Posted 9/13/2013 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Good point. Physical Therapy (PT) sends a good signal to a doctor, and to those deciding one's case for SSD. It was part of the judges ruling in my final approval for SSD, that fact that I have undergone 1 month of home PT (post surgery), 3 months of regular PT (not oncology specific) and was already 1 year into Oncology Rehab. Showed that I was helping myself of my own accord.

The part that amused me (kind of) was after I got turned down the second time, SS decided all on their own, that I could walk up to a mile, lift 70 lbs, stand on my feet for 1 hour, etc. This was all based on them never having laid eyes on me, nor talking to any of my doctors. It was amazing how they figure out those limits, without having any real time facts. At that time, I was still under strict doctor's orders not to lift over 10 lbs, and even then, not over and over again.

It's all part of the system, and again, why I advise anyone contemplating SSD, to grab the best contingency SSD attorney you can find, right from day 1, and save yourself a lot of trouble, and hopefully reduce the processing and approval time.

I was told that they can not talk directly to your doctors, because you and the doctor might be in it together to get you approved. Sure, like most doctors would risk their license and livelihood to help a patient out on a false claim.

My lawyer also pointed out, that the younger you are when you apply, the more that can work against you, and that it's easier for someone with a good, long work record of paying into the SS systems in their 50's when they apply, then it is for someone in their 20's or 30's. Of course this is a general remark, any severe disability case still trumps some of the games that are played in the process.

When I was finally approved, I was considered 100% vested with 42 years of steady paying into the system, and I was 59 when approved, but made retro-active to I was 56 or 57.

Also takes a lot of patients on the applicant, the lawyer said that SS counts on the fact that many people will simply give up after their first denial. So be persistent if you know and feel you have a solid case.

David
Posted 9/14/2013 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
I retained a firm that works on a contingency basis to help me with the filing. I know that's the best way because for one thing, I filed 2 years ago and just never followed up with it. This firm, although my first contact with them was in May, the papers I (finally) sent in a week or two ago (lost track).

It's worth the % they take, because they do the leg work, and I get too overwhelmed and could be my own worse enemy.

They've told me to expect a denial out of the gate, and that I've got up to three appeals before it would have to go to court, IF it goes that far. I am 50 but I haven't worked in over 5 years because of pain and the fear and avoidance of accepting I needed multiple surgeries. Once I started however, I never looked back.

I am hoping that given the extent of my surgeries, and the short period of time I had all three of them in, the possible permanent nature of the foot drop (surgeon isn't sure when or if that will return) and my fall risk,...and the fact that I have very consistently and aggressively maintained physical therapy throughout all of this, before and after surgeries,....that my PCP follows me very closely (because my blood work is wonky),...I'm hoping that gets taken into consideration.

I worry because I can certainly give the impression of being just fine and dandy for a short period of time. It's almost a default, sucking it in until I get home and can take my meds and slap on my TENS and ice packs and lay down,.... I can't help but wonder HOW these "independent doctors" are going to make their assessments of my condition.

I am thankful I hired a firm specializing in Disability, with a very good track record. For as much as I yap on here, I am much too timid around this subject, and not well enough informed, to stand up and make a case for myself.


Merrida
Posted 9/14/2013 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
I got hurt in September 98 at work, had my 1st knee repair a month later and was battling their WC carrier as they were of the impression that Nursing supervisor's shouldn't have been on the floor doing patient care. Mind you this was my 2nd job at a skilled nursing facility where I worked weekend and actually 3 ten hour shifts, they were fighting me on the ground that I got hurt working outside the scope of my job description which was bull and they knew it.

I had the 2nd knee surgery at 6 months out and had finally got my w/c to pay 2/3 of my base income. Long story short the knee ended up being scoped 2 more times in the next year and a half and I never returned to full duty.

At that time I applied to disability, sued W/C for the percentage loss of the knee. The next year I got 2 Sad denials, saw 2 of their Drs and ended up taking medical and $12,000 for the knee. I was desperate with 5 kids and had already lost my house and everything I had worked for.

My Attorney then turned his attention on my SSD claim going into the 2nd yr, 3 denial and appeal and I was finally on the waiting list for ALJ hearing. 6 months later still waiting I enlisted the help of Senator Mitch McConnell in filing for a hardship hearing date expediting my ALJ date and I was in court 32 days later. It took less then 5 minutes for the Judge to rule, I never spoke a word.

2 weeks later my file I had request from SS came and 2 days after my 1st backpay check went into the bank.

Here's the 2 really horrible points, both SS Drs deemed totally disabled, yet I was denied twice after that and still ended up in the hearing phase.

The 2nd and most frustrating was they counted credits from past 4/5 yrs and I drew 2/3 of base pay from my lowest paying job and nothing from my principal one for half of that time and W/C income isn't counted at all. What that meant for m e was a loss of about $800 a month in benefits, I draw $87 more then if I had never worked a day and received SSI.

So why if all my Drs, therapists,and their Drs say I was disabled did I still have to battle them for an xtra year? I was 41 when I got hurt 43 when they awarded me.
Posted 9/14/2013 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
I'm convinced they do this to weed out the people who either won't fight or are afraid to fight, or can't fight. I believe they figure, if they make enough hoops, make them high enough, and light them on fire, fewer people will follow through,...more people will just give up and give in. If it becomes such a bother, then they win.

What frustrates me is when I see people collecting, (and I know you know what I'm referring to), who are managing to suck the system dry, successfully, and often times, it's even generational.....while so many in real need have to fight tooth and nail and lose what we've worked our lives for.

Dearest Vickie, you have so much of my respect, and I thank you for the lessons I continue to learn from you.


Merrida
Posted 9/14/2013 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Merrida you are right. The percentage is very high of the people that never follow through after the first denial. SSD knows this and count on people not taking it any further. ....Susie
Posted 9/14/2013 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Which was one of my points in my post here, persistence.
Posted 9/14/2013 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you David, I did pick up on that. It's a good reminder to me that I made the right choice to not try and go it alone, and also knowing ahead of time how difficult they can make the process, what to expect.

I can be a chicken-little when it comes to some things, and I need others to help,...I need to be willing to ask for help,...and I also need the reminders and a kick-in-the-pants so I don't become my own worse enemy. (I'm good at that).


Merrida
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