You need to be prepared that this might be a very long process. You might need to consider moving in with family if you don't have another source of income.

^^^OK. Thank you for the tip. I cannot image how hard that would be on my girls AND me. My family is 2 to 3 hours away. But, I understand your point.

No, it does not appear your PN will qualify you with a Listed Impairment at this time. Becoming a klutz does not rise to the level of severity needed. The same thing with having body twitches a few times a day.

^^^Understood. But, the pain and weakness of my calves . . . hard to be nice and sweet and productive when one feels that their pain level is in a 6-8 range.

^^^I read an article from the NIH about small fiber neuropathy and the number one word is the article was PAIN. And I finally saw in print, what I have been dealing with for over two years now. "COLD PAIN".

Your current Neuro is increasing your meds to hopefully reduce your symptoms and give you the highest degree of function possible,

^^^My bro said the way he increased my GabaP was not correct. That it should have been gradually bumped up. Not a starting dose of 900mgs total for the day to 2,400 total for the day just six weeks later with no gradual build up. AND, this was with me calling in almost two months early than he had originally had me scheduled to come in. After the first visit, it was the 'see ya in three months' deal. After 3 weeks, the Gaba honeymoon was over and I was in to see him in six weeks rather than the 12 weeks that he had me down for.

^^^At the conclusion of yesterday's meeting, he had it in my charts to see him in SIX MONTHS! It is a two hour drive from my small town to see my shrink and my neuro. So, I try to 'double dip'. Stay the night with a friend. See one doc one day and see the other doc the other day. So, instead of six months like he put down on my chart - his nurse told the scheduler to put me down for a two month follow-up so we could do the double dip thing.

^^^Even my meeting yesterday - no change at all in meds. He tried to call my shrink while I was there with him. He could not speak with my shrink today. He said he would consult with my shrink and THEN they would change my meds. At least the AD I take. Makes since. But, all that really happened yesterday with the neuro was, "You got to have some talk therapy. We will try to help you find one in your area. AND, you STILL need to do LESS. Work for 15 minutes - rest for 30 minutes. Continue that pattern until bed-time.

^^^So, at this time - nothing in my meds have been changed.

that's not necessarily inconsistent with him thinking you may be capable of working.

^^^Understood. But there is that subjective area of PAIN. How is that handled?

The skin biopsy proves you have PN, not what your functional limitations are.

^^^Understood.

This might be a good time to request a referral for a Functional Capacity Evaluation. It will help provide your Neuro with objective test results regarding your abilities and limitations, as well as providing SS with the same.

^^^One has to walk at least a day in the shoes of the other to get an idea what the other's day is like. Is the above going to do that?

--And he is right, if he just guesses what he believes are your functional abilities, SS may or may not give it any weight. (Those forms your attorney asked your docs to fill out, and that were maybe even customized specifically for you, were probably a version of an RFC form.)

^^^Understood.

Did you give the Neuro a copy of the form that you had already filled in? If so, that was not a good idea IMO.

^^^I gave it to him as my brother suggested and I also told him he was free to throw it in the toss can if he so desired. I stated the reasons I gave them to him. Why do you think my bro's plan was a 'not a good idea'.

BTW, it is possible SS will determine you are no longer capable of teaching PE due to your PN, and perhaps not teach any subject due to your BP disorder, but they might claim you are capable of a less stressful desk job.

^^^Which cannot be found . . . and if I sit for longer than an hour - my feet get naughty (painful). Remember neuro doc said MORE rest. That I do TOO MUCH. I said, 'all I do is pittle around my apt doing housework, paying bills, etc...

In all my lengthy postings to you, the one thing I've forgotten to say is that qualifying for SSI/SSDI is a complex medical/legal evaluation.

^^^I understand.

One last thing, your brother can write a letter on your behalf, but unless he's a treating source, it will be the same as a letter from any other family member. His medical opinions might be 100% accurate, but they won't help you prove your SSDI claim, which needs medical documentation.[/QUOTE]

^^^Since I had him listed as a contact person, unbeknownst to me - they sent him a function report that is identical to mine . . .for him to fill out on me. He was not a 'happy camper' but he understands the importance of his filling it out in a timely manner and getting it back to SSA.