Hi

My husband is supposed to be examined by an orthopedist and psychiatrist on Wednesday for his RSD related disability claim. For those of you who've been through the experience of APPLYING for social security disability, please answer a few questions for me.

1. Were you examined by an MD as part of your INITIAL disability application?
2. Did you bring any medical records with you to the exam.
2. Was the doctor familiar with your case prior to the appt.?
3. What type of doctor or doctors examined you? Orthopedist, neurologist, pain management, etc.?
4. Was the doctor at all familiar with RSD?
5. How long after the exam did you receive your determination?

TIA!
Teresa

1. Were you examined by an MD as part of your INITIAL disability application? YES.

2. Did you bring any medical records with you to the exam. No...Social Security office sent copies of my records to doctor.

2. Was the doctor familiar with your case prior to the appt.? See above.

3. What type of doctor or doctors examined you? Orthopedist, neurologist, pain management, etc.? Doctor I saw was a retired HEART doc....

4. Was the doctor at all familiar with RSD? Don't know...he barely spoke to me.

5. How long after the exam did you receive your determination? Denied twice....waiting on ALJ Hearing... 2+yrs now....

My answers would be mostly like Abaski.

I saw a Pain Specialist. He told me to bend over and touch my toes and that was the extent of our conversation and exam. I don't even think SS got the report from him to be honest.

I was turned down 4 times. I finally got the State Rep in on my case and had it within a week after he got involved.

I also was sent to a Psychatrist. He told me that he was absolutely going to let them know I was dealing with major depression. The next day I got my turndown. I called the SS office near me and they didn't even know I had been sent to this guy.

Later on I was sent to another Psychatrist and again she was great. Again the report wasn't even sent or acknowledged.

My file was also sent to another state by accident.

I had a lawyer living on the golf course not doing a thing. I finally got fed up with it and as I said wrote to my State Rep and sent him my file. He got it for me within one week.

Men seem to have it easier at getting it. My husband got his within 6 months without an attorney. He represented himself and got his. I have seen that go better then having a lawyer involved.

Hopefully he will get his pretty quick but I wouldn't count on this Dr. knowing much or wanting to say anything to help you. I would also follow through and make sure they get the paperwork from the Dr. after the exam.

Ada