Originally Posted by Gojo

I realize that your not looking for my 2 cents but I couldn't help but to respond even though I'm not in your state.

I know exactly how you feel only it was back in 2002. I have worked hard (physically) all of my life and I wasn't about to take a hand out or admit I was disabled to anyone at the time and by God I was going to beat this thing. However, after bankruptcy I got on SSDI and remained on it for five years (mostly because at the time my wife pushed me into it head first). I'm glad she did today because there is no telling how much more time I would of lost. I'm happy to say that with the help of a pain pump implant, a whole lot of determination and hard work (physical therapy) I was finally able to return to work in 2007.

Admitting that you are disabled means so many other things as well but it mostly says that I need help because I'm no longer capable of doing it all by myself. However, if I hadn't started with that first step I wouldn't be where I am today. You have to start at step 1 in order to get to step 10. There is no cheating, trust me I know. Just consider this the first step in getting better and work towards small goals along the way to the big one.

I'm not sure about your state but in mine if you want to retrain for work and you are on SSDI then the state will pick up the tab for school. Before you get there though you need to get a handle on the pain as best as you can by working with your doctor. I set goals and met them. Some of them I was a little later in accomplishing than I intended but I accomplished each of them none the less. Looking back I wished I had accepted being disabled sooner because I could of saved a lot of precious time.

The part can never be well unless the whole is well.
Plato

Difficult times are just like gas; this too shall pass.
Byron Pulsifer