After reading the nightmares that some of you all went and going trough I feel good about my own situation...

Hi Shelley, I never had to deal with W/C or appeals for SSDI. I was blessed to have mine approved the first time. The people at the SS office did want me to come in to fill out paperwork and talk to me so I did. They were very kind and helpful. CRPS is listed as a disability that SS I believe acknowledges. I gathered all my medical records from all of my drs, documented all my dr appts and kept a log of my daily struggles with RSD. I also got a SSDI lawyer to help me with the paperwork, because some of it was hard to understand for me. Then I kept them updated on my dr appts and let them know of all the meds I take and how they affect me. If I were you I would get a lawyer who specializes in SSDI and one who works on contigency. If you are on WC, maybe get a WC lawyer too. Not sure about that one, sorry. And most of all, DON'T GIVE UP! RSD is REAL as we all know all too well, and you have every right to apply for help if you can't work because of it. I pray alot these days and will pray for you too that you will win your appeal. With Love, Renee.
PS - Make sure you try not to get stressed during your appeal. I know it is very difficult not to, but the stress will make your rsd flare up and you don't want that. Your health is most important. Take care my friend and good luck.

Thank you all for taking a look at it!

This process is so frustrating. I'm most scared to be denied by the ALJ and have to keep fighting. My long term disability insurance is set to end in September if my SS doesn't get approved Then I am in some real trouble.

Why is your LTD ending? Are you at retirement age? I thought all LTD benefits are supposed to last until you are at SSNRA (normal retirement age) as long as you still meet the criteria of being totally disabled.

LTD company is saying that is how the policy is written. If I am not on SS by 36 months they stop paying me. Like its my fault it is taking SS so long to pull their heads out of their ***'s! My LTD started 6 months after I was off work and I applied for SS around 5 months after that. If SS is approved then it goes to retirement age...where they will only be paying a portion because of the maximum on my policy.

I really need to get my policy out and look through it, but you know how that goes....I plan to do a hundred things and like 2 get done!

Definitely get that policy out and take a look at it. I thought most LTD policies paid until SSNRA. Most pick up after being out 6 months (when STD ends if you have it). I really had to fight to get my benefits. My LTD benefit is to pay 60% of my salary. Since I got approved for SSD, LTD pays the difference between SSD and that 60%. They told me after 24 months I would continue to receive benefits only if I was unable to do any job. Umm, SSD already determined that.

And yes, I know what you mean about planning to do many things and maybe getting 1 or 2 done...story of my life!

My wife's short term disability was 6 months. Her LTD would have been only 2 years but was denied at the last minute by a doctor who, for some strange reason, replaced her regular doc at a pain center at the last minute. Who told us that she was just fine and dandy and can go back to work, and proceeded to run out of the examination room, never to be seen by us again. She could never go back to work, in fact worked for 4 years with severe RSD pain before she went on short term. We think her very powerful and very large employer had a little say in how the outcome will be. We know this because my wife was in benefits for the same company for decades and knew first hand how much influence large employers have over insurance companies and their treatment of employees.

Anyway, it took her 3 years and 3 appeals to acquire SSDI. NEVER GIVE UP AND ALWAYS APPEAL!!!!!!

Hi Shelly,
I went thru this fight & I'm not sure what combo of things finally got
mine awarded last week.
Guesses?............My orig. surgeon admitted & finally put in writting that 1. the condition of my hand had reached it's max. improvement (30%) after 1 yr.
of every kind of intensive treatment 2. He DID NOT recommend ANY further surgery to "correct" my condition (as stated by S.S. Dr.).
Another thing is that milestones of being over 50 is good, over 55 better &
I turned 55 last mo.
I should put it in my signature that "sorry guys I can't post much as I'm very
slow one handed'.

Being in wc is bad and also go thought SSD or SSI is so scary,I need too to start soon a case ,I'm scare too and hope i can get a positive response ,I battle like we all,do so much,least thing we want is have this stress over our shoulders. hope you all the best and also wish the best ,with love Jesika .

I know it's hard, but try to keep the faith Shelly. You have crps and it is a very debilitating condition. If you can't work because of it, then you have every right to ask for help. I am praying for you everyday. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.