Re: Herniated disc and Disability


It is very difficult to get approval for SSDI. The people at DDS, who
make the decisions for approval or denial, can only base their decision
on facts that are presented. These medical facts must show how and why
a person is unable to perform any type of gainful employment. These
medical facts must be presented by medical professionals in your
medical records. Medical procedures, tests, x-rays, MRI's, CT Scans
etc. Just as Zomby said, DDD is part of the natural aging process.
There are cases where the DDD is so bad and has progressed so rapidly,
it can be totally debilitating. This would have to be proven by
medical facts. I'm not saying you are not disabled, just letting you
know how DDS looks at your condition. Do you have documentation from
your doctors as to why your condition would prevent you from performing
any type of gainful employment? Are you on medications for your
conditions? How do these conditions impact your daily living
functions? These are some of the things you will be required to prove
to DDS. It's not an easy process by any means, as you well know. It's
too bad we have so many people who try to screw the system. I can't
imagine going through the SSDI process just for a free lunch. I'd much
rather be working at the job I loved for nearly 25 years. It was so
life shattering when I became unable to work. When I received my first
disability check, I felt worthless, useless and like I was receiving a
handout for being worthless. That took a long time to get over.....I'd
still rather be working at my job today, five years later, but I no
longer feel worthless, or useless, or like I'm receiving a handout.
Time can heal most of the emotional side of becoming disabled, even if
it can't heal the physical side.

I'm rambling, but here's one more thing....be very thorough with your
explanations...don't just say "I can no longer sit at my desk." Tell
them "why" you can no longer sit at your desk, and tell them "how" it
effects your body. Be very specific and very thorough. Don't just
tell them "I can no longer stand and cook a simple meal." Again, tell
them "why" you can no longer stand and cook a meal, and tell them "how"
it effects your body to do so.

Good Luck Puddin'!


Puddin' Man wrote:
> Re: Herniated disc and Disability
>
> I am 58 and haven't worked regular in 5 years. Have had
> a Soc. Security disability case in the courts for years.
> After multiple denials, my lawyer dumped me, other attorneys
> declined involvement. Representing myself, I put the case
> in US District Ct.
>
> I have multiple sources of pain in/around the left hip.
> One recognized source is Degenerative Disk Disease,
> which SS treats like an ingrown toenail whenever
> they can get away with it (almost always).
>
> I just gor results of a lumbar spine MRI. Some excerpts:
>
> "There is a focal herniation of the L5-S1 disc toward
> the left which is best appreciated on the saggital sequence.
> Image degradation of the axial sequence creates some
> limitation of visability but the small herniated fragment
> appears to abut and slightly posteriorly displace the
> left sided S1 root.
>
> IMPRESSION: FOCAL HERNIATION L5-S1 TO THE LEFT
>
> IMAGE DEGREDATION BY METAL HARDWARE IN THE LEFT SIDE
> OF THE ABDOMEN AS NOTED ABOVE."
>
> The metal hardware is the result of a varicocele embolization
> performed last fall.
>
> Because of the metal hardware qualification, I doubt that
> SS or the court would count the MRI as conclusive evidence.
> They'll use any excuse to deny.
>
> Q1:
> Would/should a lumbar spine CT-scan confirm/deny the
> herniated disc? I'm assuming the metal hardware wouldn't
> interfere with the CT (correct me if I'm wrong on this).
>
> Q2:
> What's a good source of info on long-term herniated disc
> problems?
>
> I've suspected that I had vertebrae problems above/beyond
> DDD for years.
>
> Would appreciate prompt response. The judge may be writing
> the disability denial as I type.
>
> Much Thanks,
> Puddin'
> --
> ******************************************************
> *** Puddin' Man PuddingDotMan at GmailDotCom ***
> ******************************************************;

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