I applied for disability after 6 months of being dx...having to figure out how to juggle dr appts, medications, treatments/procedures, physical therapy takes a lot in itself... during those 6 months i was fired from 2 jobs because of the amount of time i needed to have off for appts and calling in cause i couldn't move from the pain. i got rsd while i was full time in school and working... so i didn't have support from anyone else.. cuz needless to say my boyfriend at the time was a bum... and i took care of everything... so... ya... i still didn't get granted disability till like 3 years later... but now (5 years later) that i am able to manage the pain in my own way and am "comfortable with it" and know when my flares will occur usually and what not, i am back in school full time and working under the table.

everyone's situation is different tho.