Chronic Pain

I am filing for disability today. I am not filing on the basis of my chronic pain, due to the fact that my general diagnosis is still shaky, but on the basis of my social anxiety disorder. I've kind of been ignoring it for awhile, but it has started to seriously interfere with all aspects of my life. The major aspect being leaving the house. I am constantly making excuses as to why I can't go out with friends, and I also miss doctors appointments on a regular basis because of it. This DEFINITELY makes it hard for me to be treated for my pain as well as my anxiety.

Has anyone else developed this condition after being afflicted with chronic pain? Also, has anyone else filed for disability, and if so, do you have any good advice? Thanks guys...

-Stefany

Hi Stefany,
I have been diagnosed with situational depression because of my chronic pain. I'm currently seeing a PMC doctor and I'm on quite a few meds that tend to make me dizzy and drowsy and I refuse to drive like that. When I do have doc appts. I make them early in the morning so that I can come back home and take my meds. With my depression I really don't like leaving the house, especially with some of the meds that I'm on that makes me kinda dizzy. I feel like I'm being stared at like I'm a drunk when I do leave the house and have to have hubby go with me to the grocery store when I'm able to go. I have to cling to him so I won't bump into things. It just makes my depression worse, so I find it easier not to leave the house at all. We no longer makes plans to do things in advance, because we never know how I'll be feeling. If I am having a "good" day, we gather up the kid and make a run for it because we never know how long the "good" part will last. I'm very sorry to hear that you are going through this. Have you talked to a psychologist about this? This would be very helpful into getting your disablity. I myself have already consulted a lawyer about filing and will be doing so shortly. I hope everything works out for you!

quote:

Originally posted by RuffLife:
I am filing for disability today. I am not filing on the basis of my chronic pain, due to the fact that my general diagnosis is still shaky, but on the basis of my social anxiety disorder. I've kind of been ignoring it for awhile, but it has started to seriously interfere with all aspects of my life. The major aspect being leaving the house. I am constantly making excuses as to why I can't go out with friends, and I also miss doctors appointments on a regular basis because of it. This DEFINITELY makes it hard for me to be treated for my pain as well as my anxiety.

Has anyone else developed this condition after being afflicted with chronic pain? Also, has anyone else filed for disability, and if so, do you have any good advice? Thanks guys...

-Stefany

Congratulations on taking that step, Stefany! Woooohoo!

I definitely understand your anxiety and think that anxiety and depression come with chronic pain. Sometimes it is tough for me to do simple things, like clean my house or even put away the dishes in the dishwasher! Do you guys know what I'm talking about? or am I crazy? LOL! (Ok ok, I know I am a little bit crazy, hehe).

I have talked to a lot of chronic pain sufferers over the years and many tell me that they suffer from social anxiety as well as depression. Most pain specialists will address this with medication, but other patients find it helpful to see a psychologist as well. It is especially helpful, in my opinion, if the psychologist has experience with pain patients.
However, if you have ever seen a psychologist, you know that it is all about your fit with them. If you do not like the person or don't feel like you can trust them and open up, just remember that there are a million others out there and for sure someone who you will love!

Anyway, my advice is just to take things one step at a time, and make small goals for yourself until they turn into a big goal.

Filing for disability is a great accomplishment!


stacy

I know I am a little late for this post but wanted to offer any help & support that I can. I filed for disability on the basis of pain and anxiety in July 2005 and was finally approved Dec 2006 after an appeal. It is a long and draining process - as if we don't already have enough pain & anxiety! Please let me know if I can help.

Lacy

Hi Stefany,
My SSD took 18 months to approve, drained our entoire savings... plus, and we nearly lost our home.It was VERY discouraging and we ended up filing banruptcy to avoid losing the house but made it thru now and have been on SSD for the past 4 years.

Im hoping it has improved some (but i doubt it) since then. I had 6 doctors ALL saying I needed it (after me stubbornly refusing for several years till I just couldnt take it anymore) and was unable to work, and finally had to get our states US Congressman involved.

It will eventually happen. It takes awhile though.

Im sorry to say all this (it IS depressing in itself)just trying to be honest.

Good Luck and IF I can help just shout at me!
Blu

Hi-

My chronic pain has caused me to have to leave my full-time job in advertising to trying to even work a part-time job doing administrative work in advertising. Needless to say, it's been tough psychologically on me, as it has been a big step down from my dreams of a big career, but I needed to listen to my body.

But, even doing part-time (only 20 hours a week), I am really struggling. I had spinal fusion and have 4 more herniated disks in my back. Do you think I would qualify for disability? I really don't know anything about it. I am scared though, because I just dont' know if I will feel fulfilled in life without working, but right now, the working is making my pain so much worse.

If someone could let me know if you think I would qualify, and how I go ahead getting disability, I would appreciate it. I'm also considering a law suit againt my neck surgeon, as I didn't have any of the back pain until after the neck surgery, and several doctors since have told me that my back pain was caused by my neck surgery.

I'd appreciate any insight you guys had.

Thanks alot.
Kari

Hi Kari,

I know you don't have fibromyalgia, however, the National Fibromyalgia Association has several excellent articles about how to file for disability, the importance of your medical records, etc. Most of the information is applicable to any disability and is not FM specific.
NFA Disability Information

I do know that the main thing the SSA is looking at is whether or not you can work five days a week, eight hours a day at any kind of job. If you are still working at all, even if it's just part time, there's little likelihood you'll be able to get disability. I also know it can, and often does, take up to two years to finally get approved. Most people have to go through several appeals.

I'm sure there are others here who can give you more first-hand information about the disability process. I've studied it for several years and talked to hundreds of people who have gone through it as part of my work with FM patients, however, I've never filed myself––partially because I have no way of supporting myself for two years while I go through the process. The positive side of that is it has forced me to get very creative in finding ways to work from home within the limitations of my illness.

You mentioned your concerns about not feeling fulfilled if you're not working. I can totally relate to that. You might want to explore possibilities of working from home if that's something you think would help you to keep working. Or, if you do go on disability, there are plenty of nonprofits who I'm sure would be thrilled to have you contribute whatever time you're able to handle and you could do it from home via the Internet. Your experience in advertising should be a valuable asset for them. The wide use of the Internet now has opened up avenues of possibility I never would have dreamed of a few years ago.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I know this is a really difficult decision to make and I wish you the best as you consider your options.

Hello
I'm not sure if I've already responded to your question on disability here. and I cannot figure out how to read all the post or at least the ones on the next page of this thread. DUH! Sorry

But I have been fighting this disability claim stuff for a year now and am still at it.
From what I understand from my attorney, is he wishes I would not have started the process on my own, as I guess I said a few things that were not helpful, I was just trying to be honest and thought that my disability was obvious and honesty is always the best policy, but apparently I shared some info that the attorney feels they may have taken the wrong way.
So anyway, I must say that in my opinion (for what ever thats worth) the entire disability process is a bunch of garbage. They drag seriously ill people through the biggest bunch of bologna that I've ever seen. But what else can I expect from a government agency that hundreds if not thousands of people before me have abused the system so badly that they now have to treat everyone with the most skeptical and suspicious eyes that any government agency can.
I guess my anger is most directed at the abusers that we sometimes see on programs such as 48 hours hard evedence or some other type of revealing shows. Once again, the abusers and just as the addicts have made life more impossible for those who are truely ill.

If I were to begin all over agian, I would have begun with an attorney and let them go ahead and file all the paperwork. Most disability attorneys take a portion of your monies once yor approved and only up to a certain amount, so If it takes a long time, your now already up to your ears in debted to your attorney.

My biggest problem has been that even though I'm nearly homebound and suffer at very high levels of pain, SSD feels that I should be more depressed than I am. I went in for their phyc evaluation and their own phyc stated that although my pain is very obvious in my face, my actions, not being able to sit, stand or hardly walk and that pain is on my face and he feels is at a high enough level to keep me in a state of distress, that I am a failth filled woman that relies on my faith to survive and that I am not hampered mentally and with average intellegence.
SSD basically stated that my life sucked and they are not sure why I'm not being seen by some type of therapist???
So those of you who are having troubles with depression, social anxieties, etc. Your in much better shape than I and this will probably be the only situation in your life that your depression will be of great value.

I may too have some problems with social anxiety disorder, the only thing that gets me out of my house, is the fact that an elderly friend has no children and no husband and in order for her to stay in her home, she needs my help with paying her bills, making her doctors apts,ordering her medications from the pharmacy, and setting out her medications, and just a couple of small household chores. If it were not for the fact that she needs my help so badly and it would be impossible and even life threatening for her to be on her own comepletely, I would probably be completely home bound and never leave, I only go to her house a couple afternoons a week and make sure she's alright. I have set her up with the grocery store and can order her groceries online and have them delivered to her.
I sometimes worry that I may fall into agoraphobia very easily. as soon as I leave my home all I can think about with the pain, is getting back home.
When I need to lay down or recline and move about to stretch, I feel paniced if I am not home so I can help get some type of relief from the pain. The car is a trigger and that does not help matters for me at all.

Hope you all have been successful in your disability claims and hope I was not too discouraging
Betty

Hi Stefany,
Like several others here I've filed for disbility
15 months ago.
The only real advice I can give is start with
a lawyer or advocate.
They do all the work, forms etc.
I haven't had to talk to social security at all.
My reps had gathered records, filed paper work the whole
thing.
Getting denied the first 2 times is almost automatic.
So, at best its a lengthy process..
Chuck

I agree with Chuck, I wish I would of began my case with the help of an attorney, instead of on my own.
I just don't have any experience with the law and so it really shows on my paper work.
I went through some very stressful time in the beginning, before I finally broke down and hired an attorney. The paperwork is just long and daunting, I have had such a horrible time getting through it and kept telling myself, if I'm able to fill out all the mountains of paperwork, I would be able to get a job doing paperwork, but I'm not able to continue on. The stress of not having the ability to deal with them was far too much and I was thankful to have my husband finally say, HIRE AN ATTORNEY!
Knowing what I know now, I would tell everyone to do it in the beginning, unless you have a good understanding of the process ahead of time.
Betty