SSDI and Visit with their Doctor

[mompain]

Next Saturday, is the day!  SSDI has made me an appointment with their doctor for an evaluation to decide if I am eligible for SSDI.  The appointment is with a Chiropractor. (I don't quite understand a Chiro for Sjogren's, but I do have fibro, 2 unsuccesful cervical disk surgeries, sciatica, degenerative disk disease of lower back.  Maybe that is the purpose of the Chiro even though I am applying for SSDI for my Sjogren's.)

Anyway, I am scared and nervous.  Can anyone offer any advice or words of encouragement?  What can I expect?  I really, really need to be eligible for SSDI!  Is there anything that I need to know or need to do? 

I would appreciate any and all help.  You are a wonderful group of people and I know I can turn to you!!!

[lynnmarie219]

Hi mompain!

I cant offer you any words of what to expect but I can wish you lots of positive thoughts and good luck!

A chiropractor.....hmmmmmm....thats a little confusing to me too.....maybe someone else will have some input if they were sent to one as well...I had never heard of that but I don't have the experience either!


Good luck to you! Keep us posted!

[SilberKatze]

They sent me to a Family Practice doctor, and that I didn't understand. I'm a little confuzed as to why they sent you to a Chiropractor. I'm not sure what a Chiro does, but still confuzes me. =)

[Billydude]

I'll be watching this closely myself as I'm in the middle of the process.   I have multiple disk and neck and bone spur problems too but we aren't even using that as what we are going for.   I hear that they make you go to see one of their doctors but do one of their doctors really understand Sjogrens?  Its taken us all many years and different doctors to finally come to a diagnosis so can it all be at the whim of one doctor that may not necessarily know anything about SJS?    However,  Sjogrens was just this year listed as one of their official diseases on their list of disabilities.      Are you doing this all yourself or do you have a law firm handling it for you?
Steve

[mompain]

I may be absolutely crazy, but I am doing this all myself.  I have spent many hours researching the way to do things when applying for SSDI and what they need.  I have learned a lot, but I don't know if it will be good enough for the SSDI deciders.  All I can do is hope and pray that I will be approved, and if not, then hire a lawyer for my appeal.

I do have Long Term Disability Insurance that is supposed to pay for 2 years, if they don't try to say that I am not disabled.  If I get this, I will at least be able to survive financially for those years and maybe by then, I will be approved.

Please say a prayer for me and wish me the best through this process as I will for all of you that are going through this too.

[eyeamdry]

For SSDI to send you to a doctor that doesn't make any sense to you is common.  My thought is they send you to the lowest bidder for their group work.  I was sent to a psychiatrist for eye problems.  (True)  I did not question their choice, but my rep said "it is what it is." 

Chele on this board was sent to a chiropractor for her Sjogrens and related problems by the SSDI board.  Hopefully she or her husband will come on and tell you about it.

Mompain, I also did all my own work for the disability claim.  I checked into getting an attorney, but you have no need for an attorney until you're turned down.  Fortunately, I was approved on my first try--but would have gotten an atty if not.  You are at a big advantage because you have two years of long-term disability and that takes the pressure off.  Good luck to you and Billydude.  Lucy

[mompain]

Lucy and all others who have written encouraging words,
THANK YOU!  Your words of encouragement mean so much to me.  Maybe the other lady who had to go to a chiro will come on and see this to offer some help with that. 

I don't understand why I am getting SO uptight about this.  It is like I am freaking out about it.  It is almost like my emotions are out of control and I cannot convince myself not to be so nervous.  All my self talks are in vain.  I guess I know how important to our financial state it is for me to get approved before my long term disability runs out and if the long term disability will approve me again too.  They just approved me through July and I now have to reapply for LTD again.  I took my forms to my doctors today. They assured me that there should be no problem but until I get approval from the company, I am afraid.  We financially cannot afford for me to not to be approved.  During the last 4 years after my wreck and after all the medical bills, surgeries, and numerous blocks and pain procedures, our finances were to the point we  didn't think we were going to make it.  We have just now got all of those medical bills except 2 paid for and I cannot handle the thought of more. 

I naeed to go something has come up.

[Billydude]

Mompain....I totally know what you are feeling.   The anxiety of it all takes up all my mental currency.   As someone with anxiety to begin with it doesn't help my overall health.    I hired an attorney from the beginning because I knew I couldn't "deal" with it.    They just get a cut from the first check that is backdated to whatever date we put down as the beginning of my disability.  If this goes through with ease they are WELCOME to it.   I also have a lot riding on this and the decision is very important because I just don't know how I'll survive otherwise.
Steve

[mompain]

Steve,
Its nice to know you aren't alone isn't it? When you have Chronic pain like we do, it is very hard to deal with the financial aspect of what we are going through.  I would imagine that there are many others on this board that struggle financially because of their illness. 

I think back to the days before my wreck, when my credit was perfect, bills were paid perfectly, and we weren't loaded with tons of money but we had enough that we could go out to eat if we wanted to.  Those days are long over.  Medical bills, prescriptions, procedures, and such like have taken every spare penny we ever had and has totally changed our financial status.  It is so hard to deal and cope with. 

But . . . through this all, we just need to know that others care, they are there for us, and all we have to do is ask and let them know what we need.  Good luck with your SSDI and I don't know if there is any way that I can help, but if there is, let me know.

[kathylee]

mompain
A chiro ..weird. I am sending you warm thoughts. I am already on disability and am a rare bird in that it happened very easily and I did not have to see one of their docs..Voc rehab referred me to a doc and he was highly respected. Maybe he was on their payroll. But that was years ago and not for sjogrens. I think it has become much harder for certain if not all diagnosis. I was very lucky. It seemed someone upstairs was protecting me.
Kathylee

Steve
Sending you hugs too and positive wishes. You sure so have alot going on with you body too. Not to hyjack here but can you tell me what a bone spur does? I have one in my neck and my neck causes me alot of trouble.

[Mark54]

Mompain,
     SSD is nothing but an up hill climb. My wife, Chele, was sent to see a Chiropractor as well. The system is set-up that the lowest bidding doctor (which a chiro isn't, they are a massage therapist with one year of extra schooling). When my wife had her appointment, she was one of many who were scheduled 10 minutes apart.
     The "doctor" didn't know what Sjogrens was as well as didn't know what transverse myelitis was. My wife is numb from the chest to her toes on her right side due to her spinal cord being attacked by the effects of sjogren's. She will be permentally numb on her right side because of the existing scar tissue on her T7 region of her spinal cord. He also has diabetes, severe asthma, high blood pressure and Reinald's.
     My suggestion is to document everything that was done and everything said. Chele was denied by the system. The "doctor" said she should be able to lift and carry 40 -50 pounds  for 8 hours a day and doesn't have any problem walking. My wife can't feel her toes! Her every step is calculated.
     You might as well as get your lawyer in hand. The lawyers only get paid if you win. By the way, they won't take you if they think they will loose. If they win the money comes from the settlement up to $5,000. Chele is on 17 different meds each day. Our lawyers didn't hesitate to take her case. We are now waiting for our court hearing. In Indiana it takes 20 to 24 months to get the hearing. We could be waiting another year or better before we get our day in court. We have been in this process for 2 years now. Thank God for our family or other wise we would of had to sell our house. I am working two jobs. The second job is just to try to pay for her meds each month which averages between $300 and $550.
     We will keep you in our prayers. I'm not trying to scare you, I just telling you what has happened in our case.

God's blessings,

Mark....

[Billydude]

Good information Mark.   Sorry its such a battle for you all.    You are correct on the law firm information and thats exactly what is going on with mine.
Steve

[Cheryl]

Mompain,
  I'm really behind on reading posts, so I only read this one tonight.   I already knew about your appointment tomorrow, though.   I hope that the chiropractor will be thorough and will understand your situation.   We're all wanting to hear good news.   You are in my prayers.
Cheryl