Im new to these boards and just wondering after reading all of your posts about Ketamine is this.....how many of you are on SSD?
If you are on it and have had the Ketamine injections, feeling better with your pain; do you end up losing your SSD? or do you still keep it cause you are still diagnosised as a RSD patient?

I know that this must sound strange for asking but I have thought of this. At least as a "DUH" moment I can honestly say if you are pain free for say months and able to work then yes, you would lose it. Of course if the pain is away for awhile and it comes back slowly starting to keep you from working again then it sounds like you would have to go back onto SSD. Ok so have I just confused all who have read this? Yes, but I need to know all the options available. I want a pain free day more then anything.

Thanks for responding.

Hi R.S. and Welcome!

No, it's not a dumb question. No question ever is. It's a very thought provoking question actually!

I don't have the answer, as I just applied for SSD in Maryland. It will take a minimum of six months for my decision. I would think that once one was approved for SSD, they would continue to receive it (because of the incredible hassle of applying). Plus, one would never know when the symptoms would resurface.

Kim

I've been receiving ketamine infusions that have put me into remission for months at a time... and I still receive my ssd/ssi. I have started going back to work, but I make sure that I do not exceed the allowable amount of monthly income that would then stop my benefits. I haven't exactly told them I'm in remission, but because there is no cure, and i do eventually start making too much money that would end my benefits, if at anytime i need to be fully dependant on them i can go and let them know that i am unable to fully support myself. there is also a way to continue working, and continue receiving the medical insurance aspect of it. but pretty much i see it as what they don't know won't hurt them, because remission is not a for sure thing and the symptoms can come back at anytime, and i fought for 3 years to get my benefits, so i'm going to make sure that i keep them until i'm absolutely certain i don't need them anymore.

My understand ing is.Once you have RSD..you will always have it..there is no cure...and even with Keatmine, you must have the booster infusions cuz the pain does resurface..sometimes worse that original pain so you are never free of it..Sad but true..So your disability status should not change as RSD is so unpredictable.....

I was disabled in from 1991 until 1997 from a car accident. Headache 24/7 during all those years, until I was able to find the help I needed to pretty much get rid of the headache with only maintenance chiro visits with a Chiro specialist in the NUCCA technique. Applied for SSD in 1992 & got it after one appeal in front of the judge, this in Iowa. When I went off of SSD because I went back to work, I still kept receiving SSD, the full amount, for 9 months. I was also receiving Medicare, I did not buy the B coverage as I was on a policy thru the man I was married to at that time. They kept me on Medicare even after I was off of SSD. All I had was the free part of Medicare, part A. They kept extending it. I was still on it when I applied in 2004 again for SSD because of RSD & I received it 6 months after with no denial of any kind. I was really surprised because what I am disabled for now has nothing to do with the original reason I was disabled. I sent in all the info requested.

The biggest problem I had was I had convince them that when I had turned down Medicare part B I had good coverage & that now I no longer had any coverage. What ever I said they let me buy it & that was 9 months before Part D became available so I wasn't penalized.

Debby