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Posted 1/17/2011 8:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Having a real hard time w/hard hit neck/shoulder pain and seriously stiffness right now for the last month !! But this other aspect is new to me, of waking up with such bad knee pain out of the blue(no swelling,no injury )I could barely hop along... Anybody or bodies get this whacky stuff ?



Anyway, its double grief for me cause of R.A. flare going on too. Pity-pot here!
I'm so distraught that the Rheumy.appointment was cancelled last week due to blizzard of 2 feet in CT. They re-sheuduled me for March 13 !? Its a rheumy. clinic w/ hours only on Weds.'s

Has anyone been successful w/ a Disabilty hearing without the help of a lawyer?
I have no date set yet.

Any ideas welcome!!! God bless us all...
Posted 1/17/2011 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Spicey,

Sorry I cannot offer much about the knee pain being related to fibro. My knees hurt, but the rheumy is vague as to whether it is fibro, or another condition I have. He is good, the fibro dx is new and I'm still learning which questions to ask.

Far as the lawyer goes, in my state a disability lawyer takes no money from their client unless they win the case. Then they take a percentage, as per whatever agreement you sign. Maybe it is the same in CT.

Wish you were feeling better. My shoulders, neck and head hurt almost all the time, and most mornings I limp to the bathroom because of the knees. Take care. Hopefully you will get some relief.

Free Spirit
Posted 1/17/2011 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have knee pain too. It is due to meniscus tears. I have a menial and lateral tear in the left knee and a lateral tear in the right knee. I also have bursitis, arthritis and plumbers knee. If I take Mobic on a regular basis it usually helps keep the pain down to a small roar.

I had to go off the mobic three days ago because of the up coming surgery and I am feeling it already.

I don't think that I can blame any of that pain on the fibro, at least not in my case. I usually get that over all sore muscle kinda pain that just aches, a sometimes burning ache. The pain in my knees is sharper and it actually affects the movement ability of the knee. At any given time it goes out under me, this is from the tear catching when the knee bends.

My sister lives in Arkansas and it was the same for her. She hired the lawyer, he worked her case for free and when she finally won he took his share. It took her three years to win but she got a nice three year back up check and then went on monthly payments.

p.s. Mobic is a one a day released dose of ibuprophen. If you cannot get a doctor to give you mobic, 3 tablets of ibu from the pharmacy several times a day will help too
Posted 1/17/2011 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have gotten knee pain but it usually leaves in a few days.  I do use ibuprofen with food for my fibro and that is an anti inflammatory so that probably helped me a lot.  Your PCP could probably look at that and see it there is something going on besides fibro.  I use a board certified Internist for my fibro and everything else.  I've never been to a rheumatologist. 

 

I received disability without a lawyer but my husband had just passed on and I not only have fibro but also am legally deaf, have Crohn's disease, diabetic, etc.  All of that played into getting disability easily.  I wish you the best of luck in getting it.  There are several members on the forum that are seeking it too.

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/17/2011 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Spicey, the problems I have wiith my knees is degenerative arthritis so its really not related to the fibro, it is the only part of my body that the cortizone shots help with so that is how I know it is from the Arthritis and not the Fibro. Might want to talk to your dr. and ask him about e-rays on your knees.

As far as the disability claim have you already been denied twice by Social Security or are you still waiting to hear from them. You dont want to get a lawyer until you have been denied at least once. I have heard from so many people that they wish they had gotten a lawyer right after their first denial. Where I live the lawyers also dont take anything up front. They get a percentage of your settlement. Good luck with this.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 1/17/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for replies, freespirit, mscrowbar, sherrine and tiredoffibro and my prayers are for you all as well. This forum is so terrific and supportive and I've missed not being on for awhile.
Posted 1/17/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful with attorneys.  I signed a agreement to pay one third of the bulk amount of the settlement.  When it was done, I paid that.  The attorney then came back and told me I also had to pay him one third of every month's payment for as long as I would receive them.  Another atty totally disagreed with that, but couldn't do anything about it.  No one had ever heard of that happening before.  Be careful, don't get robbed by your atty.
Posted 1/18/2011 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
There are different kinds of disability.  For SSDI, the fee is fixed by the SSA and is something like $6000 max (may have gone up this year).  If you're at the hearing stage for SSDI, a lawyer or advocate firm (my ins. had me use Allsup for example) would probably be a good idea.  They are only paid if you win.  Maybe you shouldn't try it without representation of some sort unless you've got totally solid documentation from your Drs. - including Residual Functional Capacity forms and all of that.

There are other kinds of disability ins.  For private policies, the ins. carrier could be sued for damages.  I assume most lawyers like these cases.

For ERISA cases (what most people get thru their work), the laws are very complicated and slanted towards the carrier.

This is a specialty area and a lawyer should prob. be involved in the appeal.  Except for special circumstances, no new info can be introduced after the appeal is submitted.  It's my understanding that these cases are usually done on contingency - the lawyer takes the risk but a fee like 30% is typical.  It's also my understanding that it's for the duration of the payments from the carrier.   

Posted 1/18/2011 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Agmaar, It seems like you're very well versed in disability ins. I have no private disabilty policies thru work or other. And I'm seemingly at the mercy of just government social secuirty through my years of working.

Do you know what an actual hearing is like ? Or rather what really happens there? I feel like I know so little about the process. I simply follow their (ss) instructions but know now in my gut that's not enough to get me what is needed for me and my son.

I was denied at least once then completed more medical documentation requests and they again apparently were not satisfied. And i was told I'll need a hearing.

It's hard for me to trust most attorneys and their $$$ hunger!! Its a hopeless coping game with chronic diseases that keep impacting each other making me feel its almost far too much trouble to be alive. Just struggling to exist sometimes with so many added outside stresses( substandard medical care,etc..) Forget about the thought of any " quality" of life.

Its true I'm not probably going to be dead as a result of theses conditions in the next twelve months or so. At least as far I can imagine. But I'm not God ! I went all off on this tangent....Unreal! Sorry ....
Posted 1/18/2011 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Spicey, A soc sec hearing, at least like the one I was in, was nothing more than 3-4 people in a room sitting around a large table.  The judge sat at one end with someone documenting everything being said.  At the other end was myself and the attorney.  The judge asked questions and I answered them.  Pretty low key.  Good luck.

 

Posted 1/18/2011 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Get a lawyer. Odds of getting ssd or ssi increase significantly.
Posted 1/19/2011 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for some much needed info. Also wondering if anyone here has information about how SSI feels about chiropractic care medical documentation included in application paperwork? I've been for this for evaluation and treatment of spinal misalignment w/ associated muscle, soft tissue involvement with great short term relief. (hx.of DJD of two cervical discs and hx.of scoliosis)

With SSI I don't know how its determined the $ amount an individual will be recieving from them monthly once the financial help begins?

thanks in advance ! Michelle
Posted 1/19/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Michelle,  I am on SSA Disability now for 3 yrs.  I advise you to get an Attorney, most only take a fee if you are awarded your case.  The Attys. know just what SSA want to see in your paperwork and won't even take your case if they think you don't have a chance to be awarded.  They help you so much.  about Fibromyalgia, they said for me not to mention it in my case but all the other ailments that can be associated with your case.  In my case I also fought major depression, so they focused in on that.  The Fibro made it 10X worse.  All I can say is to obtain an Atty.  That's my best advice to you.  All my best to you.  God Bless!

~Kathy

WHEW!  I thought I would never finish this note to you.

Posted 1/19/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
 Hi Michelle,

yeah

I just wanted to let you know that I am disabled for a year and a half. I too suffer from depression as well, which anyone who has this constant pain probably feels the same way. I did not hire an attorney. They had their physciatrist interview me and he found I had mental issues and should have been on meds for 20 years. Disability is done by levels being 1) possible to return to work within 18 months 2) Disability lasting at least 2 years. 3) Not expecting any improvement. I was labeled the 3rd, and do not have an interview to see how things are going for 7 years. It just depends cause I also had all my medical records and sent those in as well. Good luck to you! And in reference to achies all over and your knee hurting like crazy, I am having these troubles right now. I really believe it has to do alot with the weather. Weather changes always put me into a flare. I haven't been out the house much at all in the last month my self...it is really frustrating trust me I would love to work again.

Wishing you the best,

helpmerhonda

 

Posted 1/20/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Funny/Not! I find it hard sometimes to compose/think and type an email ! Arrgggg...
How do the SSI Judges view the dx. of F.M. as we know how much of the

medical community thinks about it ? Or maybe Kathy anwered that...

I do have significant difficulty w/ anxiety, causing me to get depressed and

isolate. I take so many meds., I know all the pharm.techs' and many

pharmacists by first name. How sad is that ?
Posted 3/10/2011 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
My Atty. told me not to mention Fibro. She guided the Judge to focus on my mental state. Major depression....my Psych. Dr. told them that I cannot handle any stress. I wish for only the best for you.
Kathy
Posted 3/10/2011 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in the process too! Just waiting on decision and in the meantime, trying to figure out how to live until then. It's such a hard decision. Can't work but need the money to survive. Such a vicious cycle. Hope everyone that is trying to get it can get it.

As far as the kness, they have been KILLING me! I can't take all this. And on top of all this, I was just told I'm premenopausal to boot! What a world! I'm only 38! Geez!
Posted 3/10/2011 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
What is Cubital Tunnel ?
Posted 3/11/2011 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Spicey, it's similar to Carpal Tunnel but in the elbow. It's much worse then Carpal Tunnel! I've had both arms operated on within the last 10 years. I have six inch scars on both elbows! So not pretty! Most patients never really recover from it. Symptoms only lessen a little bit!
Posted 3/11/2011 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Medically Maligned, the lawyer was breaking the law and you should tell your judge that he did that to you. They are only supposed to take 25% or $6,000, whichever is less.

You should also turn the #&&**^ into the state bar association and get him disbarred.

Post Edited (bwfm) : 3/11/2011 4:35:29 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/11/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
How can you tell if the attorney is working on your case enough ? I had my appmnt. w/ her the end of January. I recevied a letter from SS that they have received my request for a hearing and everything and that I'll be getting another letter several weeks in advance letting me know the date and time of my hearing. Anyone ?
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