New and need some advice!

I'm new here. I have just been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in my neck and now I'm going to have an MRI to check the soft tissue. I have a vertabre in my neck that moves out of line when I look down, which I do at work and have done so for 39 yrs. (30 with the same employer) I am 63 and have been out of work on FMLA for over a month now. My employer is trying to get me to come back to work but the pain in my neck while there is just too much for me to concentrate on my work.    also have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I am thinking about just leaving my job and start collecting SS which will be reduced benefits as I don't qualify for full benefits until age 66. Someone told me to try for disability as I would receive full benefits. Has anyone here done this? How difficult is it to get? I am now on Trammadol, Mobic and Lyrica and seem to have to catnap several times a day which I can't do at work. I am stressed just thinking about going back to work and that pain! I have 454 days til medicare and am willing to live with no health benefits for that length of time. Sorry to ramble on so but I believe I am foggy from meds. Please...can someone tell me their experience with trying to get disability? I have no other income and that extra bit I could get will certainly help me to survive. Thank you all in advance.

Hello and welcome to the Osteo Forum.  I agree with Judy on this one.

Do approach your Human Resource Department re your disability plan through them if you have a plan with them.  I took early retirement for medical reasons but nobody from our HR department mentioned my using my long term and short term disability and I was 62.  I was so down and out at the time that my mind didn't engage and think of my disability which I donated money to as an option.  I ended up taking the reduced SS and supplementing with my pension plan 3 years early then I planned. That was rught after I had lost 1/3 of my pension second degree to our economy. 

A friend of mine had a stroke and applied for SSDI and just last week she was approved.  Her first hearing was over 3 years ago and she was turned down.  Same with her second hearing but finally she has won her settlement.

I hear this same story from others.  It can take a long time for the Government to approve disability and some they never do.

I can see the insurance will be an issue for you and with known medical problems can you afford to be without medical insurance - just a thought ?

I wish you well and do feel comfortable and asking any other info we may be able to help you with.

Kindly,

Kitt