Jibokri5 and back people

[backless]

Jib.I read your reply on another post.Your symptoms are much like mine.Though i had no neck issues ,but both knees and arthritis through my body.Im early 50's,applied in 03,approved at ALJ in Jan.07.The ALJ also said 'Improvement expected " thus I will be expecting a continuing disability review (CDR )in about 1 yr.Sooooooo I finally get approved,but the ALJ will likey have me going through more hoops in near future.I too on pain meds,I have been getting RF procedures about every 8 mo. forlast 5-6 yrs.They dont help much anymore.My neuro.told me I needed fusion,but if 1 level is done the one above and below will likely blow as well,thus likely needing future surgeries.His advice,possible sedentry work,stick with pain mgt.till cant take anymore.There was a occupational expert at my hearing,every possible job she came up with ,aLJ said I cant do.Yet he still wants reviews earliest possible.Bottom line ,it dont end.But you do NEED an atty.Need to appeal,need to be patient(no option there).Surely the pressure is on the system to make it hard as possible given the fact the Govt.sees the SSA to become bankrupt.Im not an expert here,but,I believe if the SSA stuck with the original plan(not giving to other entitlement programs)we might have a better shot at getting what we paid for.I live in S.Fl.and it sickens me to see people blaintantly stripping our programs with belief that they are entitled.Surely you know whom Im talking about.Its a hot topic these days.Too bad the govt.wasn't concerned about the future in the 60's .When I'm eating hamburger and someone on the grocery line has nice meat paid by food stamps.There lies part of the problem.

[kaybee]

Backless, you and my husband ended up with the same ALJ, I think. When dh received his 'on the record' decision, he had just had a 4 level fusion which ended up with complications. The SSA didn't even look at the surgery report when they denied him. They even sent him to a dr and refuted what that man said! The entire system needs an overhaul.

Like you, the ALJ approved benefits on the basis that dh be reviewed in 'about 18 months'. I think he must have thought that over that time period, dh will have had a successful lumbar fusion, successful knee replacement, and successful cervical fusion (4 levels). Dh should have been reviewed in October '06 but hasn't seen any sign of a CDR. I spose SC is a bit behind!

Keep us posted when/if you receive the review forms and we'll do the same...

[backless]

The bizarre thing about it all,the waiting period for the alj hearing was almost 4 yrs.however the alj believes improvement is expected whithin a yr,yet,my condition( as arthritis does)got worse.My biggest fear now is y Dr.retiring or moving away and me having to find a Dr.like the one I have that looks at my condition realistically and not thinking he Or she is some kind of miricle worker with the idea I can return to work.The wrong wording in a report could cut my benefits.Thats scarey.

[HeyJoe]

get a report from him before he retires....it will be good for a year anyway.

[kaybee]

Let's face it. Drs have egos, unfortunately. They have a hard time doing extensive surgery and then claiming it was unsuccessful. Another example of how the SSA turns reports around is when a doctor says that a fusion was a success in that the patient did fuse. It doesn't mean that the patient is pain free or that he is able to work an 8 hour job. Maybe it means that the surgery has reduced the chance that the pt will suffer permanent paralysis.

The system is so superficial and primarily run by inexperienced people. Dh's denial letters look like they were written by a 3rd grader with poor grammar and misspelled words. And these are the people deciding someone's fate?