In my first post I talked about me and my background and disabilities. Now I begin the long process of applying for disability. I stopped working about 5 months ago. March 3, 2009 was my last day at work. I was a school bus driver and drove a minibus for a good company. My run was for a special needs school and I enjoyed seeing the kids everyday. They were a joy and a light in each day. As time went on it became apparent that my disabilities were getting worse and it was no longer physically possible to continue doing what I usually did within he course of each day. So due to this and not wanting to jeopardize the safety of all involved I resigned as a driver and haven't worked since.
I waited for a while before starting this process because I had hoped to get more medical attention which might allow me to return to work but those thoughts were more based in denial then reality. I also contacted a disability lawyer who was slow in returning my calls and never sent me the information via mail like they said they were going to. I waited and hoped the would get it together because they were suppose to be one of the best in New Jersey but realized that being one the best made them to busy to really focus on me so I began search for a different lawyer. I made a list and looked at several websites of different lawyers in my area. After reviewing them I chose one with alot of good experience in SSD and the website was very professional and informative. I had been told it was best to seek a lawyers advice and counsel before beginning the SSD process. The SSD process is very complicated and can be hard to navigate and unfortunately if you don't do things correctly you can be denied for that reason alone.
My advice to anyone who is disabled and ready to apply for SSD is to do some research on SSD lawyers in your area. This can easily be done online. In my opinion the website should be professional in appearance and should provide you with information on each of their lawyers. It should include a short biography and state what their experience is with representing people with their SSD claim. It is best to choose one that is within a comfortable distance from you or has a office in your area because you will need to go meet with them at some time during this process. Its is also customary that most SSD lawyers do not charge you any upfront fees to take your case. Most will listen to what you have to say and ask you some questions and then take your case if they believe they can help you to successfully obtain SSD bebefits. When you do win your claim social security pays them 25% of all retroactive benefits due to you or $6,000, which ever is higher. (This amount may change in the future as per the SSA but its correct as of today 8/8/09)
I called the lawyer that I chose and the secretary did what she called an "intake." She asked me several questions including personal information such as name, marital status, address, phone, birth date and questions about my disabilities. Once this was finished she said one of the lawyers would review it and call me back. A couple days later the lawyer called me. He asked more questions and information and said that he believed that my disabilities definitely were preventing me from being able to work and that he could help me with my disability claim. He said that I would receive a packet of information in several days, which I did.
The packet I got from my lawyer included alot of information to read through on SSD. It also included:
*Client Questionnaires
*Appointment of Representative (this is your acknowledgement and agreement to have the lawyer represent you and deal with SSA on your behalf)
*Medical Authorizations
*SSA Authorizations
*DDA Authorizations
*Directions on how to apply for SSD
*Directions on how to apply for SSI
Going through the packet was a little overwhelming at first but I took each item one at a time and read them and filled out forms and signed where necessary. I am still working on the client questionnaires as of today 8/8/09 but have returned all the other forms to the lawyers office.
Besides still working on the client questionnaires for my lawyers I also have began the process of applying for SSD and SSI which I will discuss in the next post.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Like I said in the header for this blog, my name is Lori. I am married to my husband Bill. We were married in July of 2006. I am at the time of starting this blog 33 years old. We have no children at this time. We do have cats and a hamster. We live in New Jersey, USA.
The purpose of this blog is both for me to keep a daily or at least semi-daily record of my life in general but in particular to my experiences as I begin and go through the process of applying for Social Security Disability. I hope that this will accomplish several goals:
1. To have a record of the daily occurrences and information that I get from SSD and my lawyer
2. To keep a record of my daily struggles and problems associated with my multiple disabilities
3. To gain insight and advice from others currently going through this same process
4. To help those who begin the process after me and could use some information, help, or advice
More about me:
Since I am applying for disability I am sure that you have assumed by now that I am disabled and you would be correct. Alot of the paperwork and people will ask what date you became disabled. This can be a hard question to answer. First because I have multiple disabilities and second because some things have started long ago and were manageable but now have gotten to the point that they are no longer manageable and continuously disrupt my daily life.
The first and worst disability I have is called Spinal Stenosis. This is lamens terms is a gradual deterioration of the spine. This began to bother me when I was a teenager. I would notice that after I had stood or sat for a while that my lower back got very sore and I would need to rest and sometimes take over the counter pain killers for relief. The spinal stenosis has gradually gotten worse over the years and has cause several of the dics in my lower back to bulge and herniated. Most recently I also now have Sciatica in my right hip region. I am in constant chronic pain both in my lower back and right hip. I have a hard time sitting, walking, and standing. I find it extremely difficult to find any position where it does not hurt. I can not stand for more than 30 seconds to a minute or walk more than 10 feet without needing to sit down to take some of the pressure off but even that does not relieve the pain. I use a cane because I do not walk well and must use my wheelchair when going to the store or anyplace where people would normally walk around or be on their feet for more than 30 seconds to a minute. I also lose my balance alot lately and sometime fall because of it. My doctor believes I may have neurological problems causing this added balance problem that has been associated with my Spinal Stenosis/Sciatica. He also believes that I may need surgery to help with these conditions.
I am often asked to describe the pain. In my lower back it is a deep constant throbbing, its is occasionally accompanied by sharp pains like stabbing. Alot of times it will feel tight and like a squeezing pressure along with the throbbing. I also get on different occasions either numbness in my legs and feet or the feeling of pins and needles.
In my right hip it is stabbing and shooting pain sometimes accompanied by intense throbbing as if someone was hitting you real hard in the hit with a board or a stick.
Here is a list of medical definitions for those interested in a more detailed definition of my conditions. I got them from www.medterms.com
Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spaces in the spine, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or soft tissues, such as disks, in the spinal canal. This occurs most often in the lumbar spine (in the low back) but also occurs in the cervical spine (in the neck) and less often in the thoracic spine (in the upper back).
Spinal stenosis is most often caused by degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae due to osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects people at an earlier age than osteoarthritis does and is associated with inflammation and enlargement of the soft tissues of the joints. The portions of the vertebral column with the greatest mobility (for example, the neck area) are often the ones most affected in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Nonarthritic causes of spinal stenosis include tumors of the spine, trauma, Paget's disease of bone, and fluorosis.
Pressure on the lower part of the spinal cord or on nerve roots branching out from that area may give rise to pain or numbness in the legs. Pressure on the upper part of the spinal cord (that is, the neck area) may produce similar symptoms in the shoulders, or even the legs. The symptoms vary depending location on the nerve tissues being irritated and the degree of irritation. When the neck is affected, it can result in unusual sensations in the arms and/or poor leg function and incontinence. When the low back is affected, the classic symptom is pain radiating down both legs while walking that is relieved by resting (called pseudoclaudication).
Persistent mechanical irritation of the nerves to the leg can have longterm consequences. If symptoms are mild, conservative measures designed to relieve the nerve irritation are used, such as medications to relieve inflammation and/or mechanical supports and/or back exercises. Antiinflammation medications can be given to reduce the swelling of tissues (disk or other local soft tissues) that are pressing against the nerves. Examples include by mouth: ibuprofen/naproxen and others and cortisone related medication, such as prednisone; by injection: either throughout the body by injection into the muscle; or into the spinal canal (epidural injection).
When symptoms are severe, surgery is necessary. The operation involves surgical resection of the bone and soft tissues that are impinging on the nerves and/or spinal cord. Operation is generally considered only with persisting, intolerable symptoms
Sciatica: Sciatica is pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and begins from nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back and extends through the buttock area to send nerve endings down the lower limb.
My second disability is Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes in lamens terms is a problem with your blood sugar. Your body does not make enough insulin to properly digest and use the sugars in the food that you eat. My diabetes cause me to feel exhausted all the time. I get sick when I don't eat or don't eat healthy foods. Sometimes I get nauseous and lightheaded. I have to test my blood sugar once a day and I get blood tests for my doctor about every 3 to 6 months. I also have to take medication to try to control it.
From www.medterms.com
Diabetes: Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, often called non-insulin dependant diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% - 95% of the 18.2 million people with diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin; however, the insulin their pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly. This is called insulin-resistance. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose (sugar) can't get into the body's cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the build up of glucose in the blood include:
Dehydration. The build up of sugar in the blood can cause an increase in urination (to try to clear the sugar from the body). When the kidneys lose the glucose through the urine, a large amount of water is also lost, causing dehydration.
Hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic coma. When a person with type 2 diabetes becomes severely dehydrated and is not able to drink enough fluids to make up for the fluid losses, they may develop this life-threatening complication.
Damage to the body. Over time, the high glucose levels in the blood may damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and predispose a person to atherosclerosis (hardening) of the large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke.
My third disability is Major depression and a anxiety disorder. I don't know when or how exactly this started but I do know that it was greatly worsened by the death of my father in 1997. I get very sad and have crying spells, sometimes for no reason at all. When things happen that get me down I get extremely sad and uninterested in doing any of the thing I normally would enjoy and just want to sleep. Sometimes I cant sleep though because I am so sad. Sometimes I feel like it would be easier to be dead than to deal with all the pain and problems. I don't feel as though I am suicidal because I could never do that. I believe that only God has the right to decide when our lives will end. I sometimes do want relief from it all so badly that I wish I could die sooner than later but I would never take the actions necessary to take my own life or to ever hurt anyone else. It is very hard to deal with being sad all the time and sometimes not even know why I am sad or crying. I get upset very easily and have terrible mood swings, being ok one minute and in tears the next. Being happy one minute and angry or frustrated the next. I also have problems with anxiety. I have panic/anxiety attacks where I shake and feel physically ill. I will be nauseous and get a terrible headache. I constantly worry about things although sometimes they are thing that I cannot change or have any control over. I also cannot shut my mind off when I am worried, my mind will go through tons of scenarios and possibilities. Sometimes I will become anxious when a situation doesn't necessarily need to be causing anxiety. I don't do well with large crowds of people especially if people get too close to me and are in my personal space or what I deem to be my personal space. I don't like noisy places or places with too much activity going on around me. Over the last 6 months since I stopped working I find that I prefer to either stay home or go to a friends house where its calm and just me and her spending time together. Sometimes I just don't like going out at all and feel like I am more comfortable being at home with my husband or alone. However alot of the time being alone causes added sadness or anxiety as well. I don't really understand why I get anxious or sad or both all the time.
From www.medterms.com
Major depression: A disease with certain characteristic signs and symptoms that interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.
The characteristic signs and symptoms of major depression include loss of interest in activities that were once interesting or enjoyable, including sex; loss of appetite (anorexia) with weight loss or overeating with weight gain; loss of emotional expression (flat affect); a persistently sad, anxious or empty mood; feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; social withdrawal; unusual fatigue, low energy level, a feeling of being slowed down; sleep disturbance with insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; unusual restlessness or irritability; persistent physical problems such as headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain that do not respond to treatment; thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts. Alcohol or drug abuse may be signs of depression.
Disabling episodes of major depression can occur once or a number of times in a lifetime.
Anxiety disorder: A chronic condition characterized by an excessive and persistent sense of apprehension with physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, and feelings of stress. Anxiety disorders have biological and environmental causes.
Anxiety disorders are very common, affecting one in 10 Americans
So that is some background information on me and my disabilities and the first of many posts as I begin this journey through SSD and dealing with my disabilities and everything life brings my way.
The purpose of this blog is both for me to keep a daily or at least semi-daily record of my life in general but in particular to my experiences as I begin and go through the process of applying for Social Security Disability. I hope that this will accomplish several goals:
1. To have a record of the daily occurrences and information that I get from SSD and my lawyer
2. To keep a record of my daily struggles and problems associated with my multiple disabilities
3. To gain insight and advice from others currently going through this same process
4. To help those who begin the process after me and could use some information, help, or advice
More about me:
Since I am applying for disability I am sure that you have assumed by now that I am disabled and you would be correct. Alot of the paperwork and people will ask what date you became disabled. This can be a hard question to answer. First because I have multiple disabilities and second because some things have started long ago and were manageable but now have gotten to the point that they are no longer manageable and continuously disrupt my daily life.
The first and worst disability I have is called Spinal Stenosis. This is lamens terms is a gradual deterioration of the spine. This began to bother me when I was a teenager. I would notice that after I had stood or sat for a while that my lower back got very sore and I would need to rest and sometimes take over the counter pain killers for relief. The spinal stenosis has gradually gotten worse over the years and has cause several of the dics in my lower back to bulge and herniated. Most recently I also now have Sciatica in my right hip region. I am in constant chronic pain both in my lower back and right hip. I have a hard time sitting, walking, and standing. I find it extremely difficult to find any position where it does not hurt. I can not stand for more than 30 seconds to a minute or walk more than 10 feet without needing to sit down to take some of the pressure off but even that does not relieve the pain. I use a cane because I do not walk well and must use my wheelchair when going to the store or anyplace where people would normally walk around or be on their feet for more than 30 seconds to a minute. I also lose my balance alot lately and sometime fall because of it. My doctor believes I may have neurological problems causing this added balance problem that has been associated with my Spinal Stenosis/Sciatica. He also believes that I may need surgery to help with these conditions.
I am often asked to describe the pain. In my lower back it is a deep constant throbbing, its is occasionally accompanied by sharp pains like stabbing. Alot of times it will feel tight and like a squeezing pressure along with the throbbing. I also get on different occasions either numbness in my legs and feet or the feeling of pins and needles.
In my right hip it is stabbing and shooting pain sometimes accompanied by intense throbbing as if someone was hitting you real hard in the hit with a board or a stick.
Here is a list of medical definitions for those interested in a more detailed definition of my conditions. I got them from www.medterms.com
Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spaces in the spine, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or soft tissues, such as disks, in the spinal canal. This occurs most often in the lumbar spine (in the low back) but also occurs in the cervical spine (in the neck) and less often in the thoracic spine (in the upper back).
Spinal stenosis is most often caused by degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae due to osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects people at an earlier age than osteoarthritis does and is associated with inflammation and enlargement of the soft tissues of the joints. The portions of the vertebral column with the greatest mobility (for example, the neck area) are often the ones most affected in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Nonarthritic causes of spinal stenosis include tumors of the spine, trauma, Paget's disease of bone, and fluorosis.
Pressure on the lower part of the spinal cord or on nerve roots branching out from that area may give rise to pain or numbness in the legs. Pressure on the upper part of the spinal cord (that is, the neck area) may produce similar symptoms in the shoulders, or even the legs. The symptoms vary depending location on the nerve tissues being irritated and the degree of irritation. When the neck is affected, it can result in unusual sensations in the arms and/or poor leg function and incontinence. When the low back is affected, the classic symptom is pain radiating down both legs while walking that is relieved by resting (called pseudoclaudication).
Persistent mechanical irritation of the nerves to the leg can have longterm consequences. If symptoms are mild, conservative measures designed to relieve the nerve irritation are used, such as medications to relieve inflammation and/or mechanical supports and/or back exercises. Antiinflammation medications can be given to reduce the swelling of tissues (disk or other local soft tissues) that are pressing against the nerves. Examples include by mouth: ibuprofen/naproxen and others and cortisone related medication, such as prednisone; by injection: either throughout the body by injection into the muscle; or into the spinal canal (epidural injection).
When symptoms are severe, surgery is necessary. The operation involves surgical resection of the bone and soft tissues that are impinging on the nerves and/or spinal cord. Operation is generally considered only with persisting, intolerable symptoms
Sciatica: Sciatica is pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and begins from nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back and extends through the buttock area to send nerve endings down the lower limb.
My second disability is Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes in lamens terms is a problem with your blood sugar. Your body does not make enough insulin to properly digest and use the sugars in the food that you eat. My diabetes cause me to feel exhausted all the time. I get sick when I don't eat or don't eat healthy foods. Sometimes I get nauseous and lightheaded. I have to test my blood sugar once a day and I get blood tests for my doctor about every 3 to 6 months. I also have to take medication to try to control it.
From www.medterms.com
Diabetes: Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, often called non-insulin dependant diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% - 95% of the 18.2 million people with diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin; however, the insulin their pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly. This is called insulin-resistance. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose (sugar) can't get into the body's cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the build up of glucose in the blood include:
Dehydration. The build up of sugar in the blood can cause an increase in urination (to try to clear the sugar from the body). When the kidneys lose the glucose through the urine, a large amount of water is also lost, causing dehydration.
Hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic coma. When a person with type 2 diabetes becomes severely dehydrated and is not able to drink enough fluids to make up for the fluid losses, they may develop this life-threatening complication.
Damage to the body. Over time, the high glucose levels in the blood may damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and predispose a person to atherosclerosis (hardening) of the large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke.
My third disability is Major depression and a anxiety disorder. I don't know when or how exactly this started but I do know that it was greatly worsened by the death of my father in 1997. I get very sad and have crying spells, sometimes for no reason at all. When things happen that get me down I get extremely sad and uninterested in doing any of the thing I normally would enjoy and just want to sleep. Sometimes I cant sleep though because I am so sad. Sometimes I feel like it would be easier to be dead than to deal with all the pain and problems. I don't feel as though I am suicidal because I could never do that. I believe that only God has the right to decide when our lives will end. I sometimes do want relief from it all so badly that I wish I could die sooner than later but I would never take the actions necessary to take my own life or to ever hurt anyone else. It is very hard to deal with being sad all the time and sometimes not even know why I am sad or crying. I get upset very easily and have terrible mood swings, being ok one minute and in tears the next. Being happy one minute and angry or frustrated the next. I also have problems with anxiety. I have panic/anxiety attacks where I shake and feel physically ill. I will be nauseous and get a terrible headache. I constantly worry about things although sometimes they are thing that I cannot change or have any control over. I also cannot shut my mind off when I am worried, my mind will go through tons of scenarios and possibilities. Sometimes I will become anxious when a situation doesn't necessarily need to be causing anxiety. I don't do well with large crowds of people especially if people get too close to me and are in my personal space or what I deem to be my personal space. I don't like noisy places or places with too much activity going on around me. Over the last 6 months since I stopped working I find that I prefer to either stay home or go to a friends house where its calm and just me and her spending time together. Sometimes I just don't like going out at all and feel like I am more comfortable being at home with my husband or alone. However alot of the time being alone causes added sadness or anxiety as well. I don't really understand why I get anxious or sad or both all the time.
From www.medterms.com
Major depression: A disease with certain characteristic signs and symptoms that interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.
The characteristic signs and symptoms of major depression include loss of interest in activities that were once interesting or enjoyable, including sex; loss of appetite (anorexia) with weight loss or overeating with weight gain; loss of emotional expression (flat affect); a persistently sad, anxious or empty mood; feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; social withdrawal; unusual fatigue, low energy level, a feeling of being slowed down; sleep disturbance with insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; unusual restlessness or irritability; persistent physical problems such as headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain that do not respond to treatment; thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts. Alcohol or drug abuse may be signs of depression.
Disabling episodes of major depression can occur once or a number of times in a lifetime.
Anxiety disorder: A chronic condition characterized by an excessive and persistent sense of apprehension with physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, and feelings of stress. Anxiety disorders have biological and environmental causes.
Anxiety disorders are very common, affecting one in 10 Americans
So that is some background information on me and my disabilities and the first of many posts as I begin this journey through SSD and dealing with my disabilities and everything life brings my way.
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