don’t want to have surgery,can Social Security make me?
 

Hi everybody. My husband is close to getting a decision on his SSDI case. My husband had a brain tumor removed and due to scar tissue that built up in the brain he is now left with seizures triggered from that surgery.

I took my husband to UCLA as his Nuerologist recommended. UCLA said yes they can do surgery, but its not a definate fix. Its about 80/20 % effective on controlling his seizures.

But the case worker recently asked us " Why wont my husband have brain surgery. Basically seizure surgery.

So my question is since he fears surgery in general and has not really been the same since his original surgery can SSA force one to have surgery? Or can they deny him for not having brain surgery?

To me 80/20 % sounds scary especially when its the brain. But some told me even if he gets on SSDI, SSA will give him issues at review time.

He is young-42. He also has Reactive Arthritis.

Any input/info would help

Thanks to all

And I hope your all well.

I don't know the legal rules, but I don't think they can force or pressure anyone to have surgery.

Many surgeries do produce "scar" tissue, and some people's bodies produce more than the avg amount in reaction to surgery.

I would read up on surgery & post op scar tissue online and possibly find a dr that can/will clarify more about the percentages of a second surgery.

Let me put it this way......Can social security make you have surgery???? Of course not.

Will they deny his request because he's refusing treatment? Maybe not in this case but definitely in others, i.e. I need a new lung but I keep passing on getting a lung transplant.

Makes sense?

Well tomorrow my husband once again visits the same doctor that advises surgery. The doc said the surgery is successful 70-80% of the time at stopping seizures. Yet the risks are there for further brain damage, more memory loss, vision problems and more.

My husband fears all surgeries! But brain surgery he had once and that left him with Neurological problems, that surgery though had to be done because he had a tumor to be removed and the tumor was bleeding in his brain. This surgery that the doc is pushing is to stop the seizures.

My husband was approved for SSDI on Epilepsy & Arthritis.

Anymore opinions on this? Could SSA really stop his benefits because he is in fear of his health over brain surgery?

Does he have severe degenerative arthritis? If so,then one impairment alone has him disabled. Thats how I look at it. There is always the chance they might say that it might be a combination. That's why you should call and find out.
I turned down surgery on my hands to get replacement joints and Social Security didn't bat an eye about it. This was when I first applied and won on an appeal.

nope!..............

My husband is only 42 but has a form of Arthritis called -Reactive Arthritis, very painful, he's on an anti-iflam med plus percocet for pain for the Arthritis. His seizures cause him to be on 3 different meds.

But he was approved on 2 conditions for disability. Both the epilepsy and 2nd Arthritis

Thanks- so SSA cant even say by passing on surgery he is refusing a possible cure or consider that not wanting to get well?

Hello untilthebell
 

I am sorry that your husband has had to go through so much. I do not think SS can force you to do anything regarding surgery. I don't know how much influence that decision would count for getting the SSD benefit. The 80/20% would be scarry, as you said it is his brain. I hope you get another opinion just for peace of mind. I wish you all the best. Hope you get the disability to go through. My neighbor had three months in the hospital with a brain bleed, and he did get SSD. He also had seizures. take care of each other. ginnie

If the arthritis condition is severe ,then it by itself is considered an impairment and should be good enough for SS standards for disability. The blue book is confusing with combination impairments . See,he might have 2 impairments,neither considered severe,but since there is a combination,it makes it severe.

I was also approved with 2 impairments,both severe ,so both stand alone for disability.