SSDI for Back Problems

[anticourier]

Hello everybody I am new here and was curious to how many people here are getting SSDI for back problems and what type of condition. Just curious since I may end up traveling down the rd to get SSDI..Thanks...Bobby

[backless]

Hey Bobby,welcome to the site. There are many people getting SSDI for back probs.Im awaiting a hearing next month for what I hope will be a positive aqnswer from the SSDI judge. I applied in June of 03.so that tells you how long the wait is ,should you get turned down at application and the second (which is most times same no answer).Sorry to say I live in Fl.as well and the wit here is one of the longest in the country. I have 3 herniated discs.facet joint syndrome. Neuro,said I could use a fusion at l3 l4,but avoid it like the plague,because the one above and below is bad and they go like dominoes.So I live a life on pain meds,RFN procedures.I have bad knees too.My advice is,if you hope to get it,be sure to get a good file going from your Dr. Dont just toss the papers in the trash,you cant count on the office personel to keep an accurate file.Get everthing in writing.Apply ASAP,the sooner the sooner. Good Luck.

[Boopers]

Hi Bobby,

When I first applied, I did it because of my back problems. They were only in my neck at the time. As you can see in my signature, I am still having problems. But, I didn't have the other issues that I have now, either. So, if you have back problems, you may want to apply as soon as possible because it took me three years to get it.
Good Luck,
Linda :)

[Georg]

Hello and welcome! There is allot to be learned re: SSDI and much of it can be found on this and a few other web sites. It has been a very LONG road for most of us, it took me nearly 5 years. Spend the time and do the research by looking through this web site you can get a birds eye view of the devastation and some limited success. I hope this web site help and as I said above there are a number of other links that can be helpful, you can find those links scattered throughout this web site.

[Mitch]

Yes I was accepted when I was walking with a cane. All docs thought my leg weakness was from the 4 back surgeries.

I finally saw a good Neurologist who said "I don't care how many lumbar surgeries you've had. You should not have this much trouble walking."

He ran several tests and told me: MS. My point is that SSDI accepted me, first try, back when my diagnosis was not that clear.

[kaybee]

My husband receives SSDI but he has several issues, including his back. Originally he received long term disability through his employment under 'own occupation', which was not hard to get. His insurance company requested that he apply for SSDI right away although we knew he wouldn't be accepted based on a single knee problem.

He applied again when he developed back problems and was denied two more times. Finally, he was awarded an 'on the record decision' by the ALJ. The reasons given by the judge were for his knees, back, and neck problems. I honestly think the back alone is enough to qualify him.

He's still suffering after his 4-level fusion which included a bilateral 4-level laminectomy and foraminotomy. He'll have total knee replacement surgery this summer and then he can move on to a 4-level cervical fusion. In spite of the fact that he has pretty much going on, the judge must have thought that it isn't unreasonable to expect him to have all those major surgeries within a year because he's suppose to have his first review 'about a year' after he was approved. That would be about now and we're waiting for the forms to arrive.

I agree with everyone else, you shouldn't wait to apply. The process can be a long one! Good luck to you!

[brians2000]

I applied in Sept 2006 because of Chronic Pain caused by 3 separate spine fusions. I was born with Scoliosis and I had my first small three level fusion when I was 6 (1977). I wore a body cast most of my life. I ended up in a major car accident in 1986 with a broken pelvis and a head injury that left me in a coma for one week along with my left side of my body temporary paralyzed. Because of the broken pelvis and being paralyzed for awhile my scoliosis got out of hand. In 1988 I underwent my first 360 spine fusion with two 17" rods from L4 to my pelvis. After I recovered fully from my car accident and fusion I was just like a normal teenager except no physical sports. I began lifting weights and I continued about ten years before I started having back pain again when I was 29. I went back to my original spine surgeon and he noticed I had broken one of the 1/4"x17" Harrington rods. He told me I would have to undergo another major re fusion which would require two brand new 1/4"x17" rods along with two pedicle screws. In Sept 2000 I underwent two ten hour surgeries that fixed the broken rods but left me worse off now than before the surgery. Maybe it was so hard because of my age but I am now suffering daily for going thru it. For the last four years I have been on Morphine, Duragesic Patch's and Oxycontin. Right now I am on Duragesic but I don't know if I like it as good as the Avinza which is Morphine. I also found out when I had the surgery that I had something called an urethral stricture which blocks me from being able to urinate easily. I have had three surgeries in the past five years on my urethra to get rid of the scar tissue. I am due to have a complete urethra reconstruction sometime in the spring. I had surgery in November on Carpel tunnel in my right hand. I can no longer sit eight hours per day doing engineering so I decided to file. I am suppose to go have a breathing test Jan 10 because I have shortness of breath and I am unable to breath in cold weather. Scoliosis puts a strain your someones lungs and hearts. My lungs have been weak since a small child so this test will only prove what I have been going thru. Anyway now you know someone with spine problems who is also going thru the disability circus. I have heard it can take awhile to be accepted. I just hope the doctor understands what it is like to have back problems especially the ones that requires surgery. Brian

[GJZH]

I have just gotten approved...but I had a very organized claim when I went into the office...I have also had three spinal surgeries ....two fusions,...cervical and lumbar....and also have multiple health problems, though the only other one that might be considered disabling would be the RA and OA....

[fallenangell]

I don't have back problems, I have MS.

BUT...it did take me over three years to get approved, even though I had documentation in my medical records from my neuro saying that I could not work anymore. None of that mattered.

I was denied twice, had a hearing with an ALJ and was denied by him so we appealed that. The reviews council threw out that judge's decision because it was so full of mistakes (like I was a guy for one; besides having my sex wrong, he had my diagnosis wrong, my age wrong, the number of children I have wrong, and he quoted a doctor that I had never even seen, just to name a few). The reviews council threw out that decision and turned it over to another judge who looked at my medical records and gave me a fully favorable decision based on those and said that he didn't need to have a hearing to see that I was disabled.

It was a long, frustrating road, and I almost gave up my case. But I am so glad that I didn't. I just received my back pay 2 days ago, and will get my first monthly check in two weeks. In the end, it was worth it...all the waiting, frustration, and tears.

I hope your case goes much faster than mine did.

[HeyJoe]

Ant to think they are eliminating the appeals council so now you have no right of appeal of the alj decision except to go to federal court.

[winchester]

Interesting to read the different scenarios. I have severe thoracic spine problems, I had surgery almost a year ago. I applied for SSDI in June 04 and was approved by the ALJ in May 05. However, it it were not for the fact that I have had 3 knee surgeries and shoulder problems as well, I highly doubt I would have been approved on the thoracic spine problem alone. Believe me, the spine problem is by far my worst problem and very debilitating, however the combination of my problems is what "impressed" (if you will) the ALJ. I didn't have to go to a hearing, he did a pretrial review of my file and approved me on the spot with an on the record fully favorable decision. I also think had he seen me in person, he wouldn't have approved me. I look fairly fine. I just feel awful.

[Tgent]

I was approved in 2006 and it took about 14-15 months. I was turned down the first time with lawyer on case. I appealed and was granted ssd. I now have more health problems and don't know if I will have a review anytime soon or not and it really doesn't matter to me. Unless you appear in front of an ALJ they don't let you know when you will have a review. I also have depression and cataracks(SP). Good luck, Tgent

[Mitch]

Unless you appear in front of an ALJ they don't let you know when you will have a review.

Does anyone know how this works. I was approved on first try. I just filled out the forms and got approved.

I was supposed to be reviewed at 3 years. It has been 5 years now and I have heard nothing. I even moved out of state a year and a half ago and feared that that might raise a flag.

I don't fear a review since I am far worse now than I was then. Since then docs have discovered it was PPMS, not the back surgeries, causing my problems.

[suede]

Hi,
I was just approved a week ago today at my ALJ hearing and it was for back problems.
I first applied in June of 2003, and at the hearing the judge told me that it would go a lot faster if I would move my date up to my 50th birthday which was in Oct. of 2003 so I did.
So after their medical expert testified and the vocational expert I was granted full disability.
I have not had any back surgeries to speak of, other then having numerous procedures and ESI injections, I had a SCS implant done that failed also.
I have problems at all 3 levels none of which at this time are operable, I also have permanent nerve damage, I have numerous restrictions because of my back problems though such as no lifting over 5lbs and 10 on occasion if I have to, I can not work any job that would require me to sit or stand for any more then an hour a day.
I also have lupus and FM but none of this was mentioned at the hearing.
Linda

[ange11]

Does anyone know how this works. I was approved on first try. I just filled out the forms and got approved.

I was supposed to be reviewed at 3 years. It has been 5 years now and I have heard nothing. I even moved out of state a year and a half ago and feared that that might raise a flag.

I don't fear a review since I am far worse now than I was then. Since then docs have discovered it was PPMS, not the back surgeries, causing my problems.


SSA is behind in doing CDRs. Some states are several years behind. If your nearing age 60 chances are you will never have a review.

[katgemini00]

i cant imagine having more than one fusion. i have one at c5-6 with a plate and i'm in pain all the time . i also had tore a ligament , spinal cord compression and left nerve compression. i just had my alj hearing in dec in mass . hopefully i will get approved . good luck to all of you

[caudaequina]

Interesting to read the different scenarios. I have severe thoracic spine problems, I had surgery almost a year ago. I applied for SSDI in June 04 and was approved by the ALJ in May 05. However, it it were not for the fact that I have had 3 knee surgeries and shoulder problems as well, I highly doubt I would have been approved on the thoracic spine problem alone. awful.
people have to also remember a lot depends on the work you have been doing , your age and your education. if you are over 50 years of age and have been in a field that is heavy lifting and high physical activity, i believe with the above symptoms you may get approved first time , where a desk job would have to appeal more.
one of the questions they ask if the type of lifting and other physical requirements of your job

[suede]

caudaequina, You are so right, the fact that I have spent most of my life waiting tables and working jobs of manual labor and didn't have a high level of education played a large part in my getting approved.
Linda

[Pam-OH]

HI, My name is Pam. I fought for over 2 yrs. I finally won after I went in front of the ALJ. My age was over 50, my work history wasn't heavy lifting though, it was credit manager, and before that office work, and my level of education was associate degree. I know that it is hard fighting Social Security. I started in April, 2003 and finally won in October, 2005. I still read the forums, just as I did before I was approved, and my heart still goes out to all that is still in this fight. I think how I worked most of my life and paid into Social Security. Then when I got sick and couldn't work anymore, I had to fight, and as you all know, it takes everything out of you especially when you are sick to begin with to have to fight. Hang in there. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Pam

[cindybear]

I fought for over 5 years...My problem isn't back but it's a inoperable brain aneurysm that was growing and stated pulsating on the nerves in the brain. ( trigenemal nerve ) And the pain is horrible !!! My nuero surgeon finally thinks he gots it from where it has stopped growing (we hope ) But the pain is insane !! And he states that there is nothing he can do about the damaged nerves in the brain...And keeps getting damaged..That was my fight with them...Finnally after going to fedral Goverment..I won..Once I got there I won. They looked everything and said why is she here ? She should have won at the ALJ level...And put that down on my papers....and I got a award for aeja something like that..That paid all my fees and my attorneys-free. For unjust and and taking longer because I had to go to federal court...I'm just thankful it's over ..I come here allmost everyday also,,To see if I can be of any help in any way..I got mine disability for severe chronic pain...I hope all those in the waiting process, does not have to wait as long as I did...Hugs, Cindy

[LilDarlin]

Hi Bobbi,
I was approved on my back injuries. It took three tries. I tried on my own the first time, and was turned down. Then I got an attorney. He advised me to try again on my own on the second time. I lost again. But, while all this was happening during the second time, my mental state got involved because of the stress of all the turndowns, and especially my chronic pain. I was at the ALJ hearing stage and thats when my attorney stepped in. I was finally approved in 2004, but the judge took my disability all the way back to Jan 2002, when I first became injured. I was approved on Physical back injuries, but my mental health also played a part in it as well. Normally anybody that has a chronic pain injury/illness, develops depression, and while its not a good thing, it does help when your applying for SSDI.

[anticourier]

I thank all of you for taking the time to read and reply to this post. Everything will be helpful to me since I will be applying for SSDI soon it looks like. Thanks again..

[backless]

bobbi.an update to my situation,
i was just approved at the alj stage, my disabilities are 3 herniated disks in lumbar,l1 to si.I also have bad knees with 2 surgeries each.I want to inform you that time is not alwats your friend.If you stay away from work for a long period of time ,you can lose credits.For those whom dont know,the requirement for applying is you need 40 credits lifetime,you can earn 4 a yr.depending on amt.of earnings,for instance, this yr. each 900 dollars you make, you earn up to a max. of 4 credits a yr.However,you had to earn 20 of the required credits whithin the last 10 yrs. So that means ,in the last 10 yrs.a person had to have worked at least 5 (5 x 4 = 20)yrs.to meet the 20 credits in 10 yr.requirement.I know of people that became disabled yrs. ago and received income via other means,or a spouse worked etc. now 10 or more yrs.later they decided to apply.for ssdi and were denied ability to apply because they neglected to earn the 20 in 10.I wanted to take the opportunity to explain this in your thread because you are waiting and perhaps others are also .Another FYI,I too live in Fl. It took 4 yrs from application until hearing for my case,I still have 60-90 days for the case to go through payment processing,there is also a possibility of another 60-90if my case happens to be picked for a review that is a possibility.good luck to you bobbi









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[crunched]

I just received my SS after waiting 2 1/2 years - was denied twice - then when a "real" human ( the ALJ) read my file - he was flabbergasted that I wasn't already approved -

I had a correctable back problem, and a surgeon made it a huge perm. one -

http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/11447/2005275787616199821_rs.jpg

1 guess what you are looking at....

[Lindberg1927]

I need advice on SSDI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a 55 year old man who has worked as a teacher for over 30 years. Atthe age of 20 I was involved in a very serious industrial accident. My right arm was severed a reatached and my right hip was severley broken damaging the lateral femoral nerve. I was declared partially disabled because of the loss of feeling in arm, hand and right leg. I went to college through Vocational Rehab and became a teacher. At the time of the injury the doctors told me that as I got older the pain would increase in both my arm and hip and it did. By the time I was 50 I had lost most of the use of my right leg. If I walked for more than a few miniutes it started to burn and then went numb. The same thing happened if I sat for more than 15 miniutes or so. They put an implant in my right elbow which greatly reduced the extension.

In October of 2002 I was changing a light bulb and I fell off of a chair and smashed into a glass shower door head first. When I hit the ground it dislocated my shoulder (On my previously injured side) and broke the elboewwith the implant in it. The pain was excruciating. I became seriously depressed and suicidal because of the chronic pain and ended up spending a week in a mental hospital. I was prescribed a combination of Elavil and Prozac to help with the pain. It didnt work but helped the depression.

The pain in my hip, arm and shoulders continued. I saw several doctors but the pain continued a even got much worse.

In the fall of 2006 the pain in my shoulder (or so I thought!) Got worse and worse and I began to feel burning and stifness in both hands. The pain got ton be excrutiating. I saw two more orthopaedic surgeons but they just gave me steroid shots and sent me home.

The day after Christmas 2006 the pain got so bad that I went to the emergency room. I could not move my head or arms. They referred me to a orthopaedic surgeon who took the time to look at my symptoms. He did an MRI and determined that I had degenerative disk disease and that three discs would need to be removed and replaced with cadaver bone. He told me that the pain was comming from the nerve roots being compresed by my spine collapsing. I had the surgery on January 30th. The surgery was structuraly successfull but the pain and loss of use of my hands is worse. Also I have lost much of the flexabilty in my neck. I was sent to a neurosurgeon and he told me that the nerves in my neck were so badly compressed that the pain and loss of motion would be permanent. I can't lift or grab anything and am taking Lyrica, Time relased Morphine, and several other drugs to deal with the pain.
My doctors have told me that they will not release me to go back to work and that I should apply for a disability retirement and SSDI. I have been evalutaed by a pain clinic and they also told me tha the pain will continue and even get worse.

I need a cane to get around and even with that I can only walk short distances. If I sit for more than a few miniutes tha pain from my hip and arms is so bad that i could cry!

Luckily I have a private disability policy and it pays me 80% of my payfor 24 months The insurance company is already pushing me to file for a disability retirement and SSDI.

My 5 doctors all agree that I am disabled and that I cant do even sedentary work becuase of my multiple injuries. They are willing to document it all. I have had all kinds of therapy and used a variety of drugs. No improvement. MRI and EMG shows serious nerve damage.

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[caudaequina]

1 guess what you are looking at....

not sure ,the screw went into the wrong place?

[krashleen]

Lindberg, apply now.
Thats my advice. I am so sorry you have been through hell and back. You have been fortunate in some ways. I am glad that you are here to tell your story. I don't know if anyone has told you that, but you def have overcome your disabilities in an honorable way.
God Bless you!

[crunched]

not sure ,the screw went into the wrong place?

funny.. your user name is right were that screw went... it's supposed to go thru the pedicle - but was screwed right thru the lamina and into the cauda equina - the dark spot is the spinal canal

[suede]

Crunched,
OUCH!!!
I can't even imagine the pain..
I agree with everyone else though, do apply now and don't wait..
Linda

[caudaequina]

funny.. your user name is right were that screw went... it's supposed to go thru the pedicle - but was screwed right thru the lamina and into the cauda equina - the dark spot is the spinal canal
what kindo of damge did it cause?

[crunched]

what kindo of damge did it cause?

mostly sensory damage - Nerve pain in my leg and lower back. I’ve developed sharp stabbing pain in my hip and thigh with fatiguing pain, weakness and numbness with various areas that twitch. I have burning, twitching, numbness and cramping in the back of my thigh and calf. Burning down my shin into the top and inside of my ankle. Stabbing pain in the bottom of my foot, prickling, cramping and numbness in toes. In my back I have stinging and burning and needle poking pain and I feel prickling, radiating down my sacrum into my buttock down into back of thigh. Some times it feels like bugs are crawling on me.. Sometimes I feel liquid being poured on me… All of this is causing problems walking as my legs feel heavy and sore.

I have been suffering from severe leg “shocks” that come on by themselves, or are triggered by sneezing or coughing. If standing when this occurs, I lose motor skills of the leg. On several occasions I have fallen. Several times a week I am presented with failed motor skills of the leg while walking, luckily I have been able to brace myself with a wall or something to keep myself from falling and injuring myself. Luckily, most of the time I am seated during these episodes and just have to endure the shocking pain and muscle spasm caused by it. I have a cane, but feel very awkward using it, so, I "risk" it on short trips ( like to the mail box) but if I am going to be walking for any length of time. I try to have it with me - on a few occasions it has save me from a bad fall

Even though the screw was removed, it didn't change anything - the drilling and screw being in there for a long time severly damaged the nerves in that area - and they make me a very unhappy camper - my life has turned in to a big pile of steaming poo - of course we won't talk about the high blood pressure ( 180/100 ) and the diabetes I now have because of pain and inactivity

[newfie11]

I would hope you filed a lawsuit against this doctor! How did you finally discover what happened and was it the same doctor that found the problem?
Newfie11

[caudaequina]

crunched, ok i see . so you applied for ss for back problems i guess?
i have cauda equina syndrome which is a listed impairment.
i was approved first time around.
sucks you had to wait 2 years, but glad they finally got it right.

[crunched]

Well, the pain went from being a nagging pain to a disabling pain after the surgery - I limped and became a house potato - even though I complained of the pain to the doctor, he just kept giving me more stuff to combat the pain, and not actually check on what was causing it - after 5 month, and me "demanding" he do something, he sent me for an MRI - the guy doing the MRI almost fell out of his chair when he saw the screw - he says it was the worst thing he had ever seen and that I was lucky I was walking -

We are currently in litigation over it - and do you believe the surgeon actually says he didn't do anything wrong - and they actually got another doctor to say he didn't do anything wrong - it pretty funny - it's like the blind leading the blind

As far as SS goes - they were looking at it like it was a simple fusion surgery - and did not consider the malpractice as damage - well, when the ALJ looked at my file, he said they he was very very sorry that the people before him were so laxed in thier perception of the case - and he awarded me back to the actual car accident date, which was 5 months before the surgery - so my begin paying date, fell right on the date I was actually malpracticed - so in the long run, I didn't take a hit on the 5 month waiting period