I just saw my Pain Mgmt Dr. at Clev Clinic. last week.

The copy of the notes from my visit say "Assessment: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy upper limb. Pain in limb. She has severe disability related to her pain."

Will the wording above help me at all? I am waiting on my first decision. I was to get the notes from the Doc, and return them with my Symptoms Report.

The last visit notes only say RSD and muscle spasm - no note of severe disability.

I have so many different doctors and things I have tried over the years - gave them copies of all of it. Nothing has helped, I continue to get worse.

I use a mobility service dog and am wondering how that will factor in.

I have RSD, Asthma, High blood pressure, obesity, Fibro, arthritis, sclerosis, chronic headache, problems with my eyes when reading or looking at a computer monitor, depression, social phobia, limited use of my arm, etc etc... but - there are not a lot of mentions in my records of things like "can only walk 5 minutes" etc. Lots of symptom notes, but not much that directly addresses function.

My asthma specialist wrote a letter for me. It says "In my opinion, she does definitely have bronchial asthma that is exacerbated by exertion. She should avoid exposure to smoke and other irritating fumes. She should also avoid doing strenuous work that would involve lifting more than 8 pounds or any other very strenuous work that would involve prolonged walking, or other physical exertions, including repetitive lifting."

I have all the records from asthma doc, foot surgeon, rheumatologist, physiatrist, psychologist who specializes in pain, eye doctor, two neurologists, an orthopaedic surgeon, two pain management doctors... etc. that cover 10 years. In the last 6 months I have been to all of the docs that now care for me. Geesh, records are a couple inches high.

I am currently trying to find out what has gone wrong with my hands and feet. Neuro says neuropathy, but put in his notes RSD flare. Grrrr. Pain Mgmt doc is my #1 for RSD and she said the problems I have with my hands are not related to RSD. Who knows. But am trying to get that figured out.

I hope I have done everything I can. I have filled out the function report - took me a month because typing, thinking and writing are so difficult, and I had so many things wrong to cover. Now, I have been working on the symptom report for almost a month, but want to have it finished tonight.

Then, I guess the wait begins. I went in to the SS office to apply back in May. Hoping to hear something by late fall.

Just wondered about what the pain mgmt doc said "She has severe disability related to her pain"...

Thanks
Jules

I think, though I am not 100%, that the notes will have to be more specific ---a disability doing what...ya know?
Please hang in there..it is normal to be denied the first time around. You sound like you have many things that would prevent you from working, but they may deny you anyway..it is their game to discourage you. I was approved after 17 months...denied the 1st time.
I wish you luck! Kepp us updated!

Hi ~ It really doesn't matter what the note says because SS is going to request ALL the doctor's RECORDS so they can review them. A copy of that note will be in his file anyway. Everything he has written down concerning you, they will read. The doctor's office has to copy every piece of file related to you and send it to SS for them to review. That's what takes so long.

I hope this helps. And I hope and pray you get a favorable decision the FIRST time. God bless. Hugs, Lee

The notes I was referring to are the treatment notes... not a note that the doc wrote for me. They gave me a certified copy of my treatment notes to send to SS. SS requested that I get them as it would save time.

I'm just getting anxious about this. I am sure everyone here understands.

We know exactly how you feel. I just re read my post from the other day...I am so sorry it sounded so negative!!!!!! I seriously don't know what was wrong with me. Hang in there..we are with you!

Its not easy for most to get SSDI. I live in a state that is so far behind when i called to see where i was in the process they told me it could take anywhere from 26 to 38 months for a hearing. I live in Alaska. i have been denied once. I am in the hearing stage now waiting for a date its been 15 months since i have applyed again. A total of 4 years plus now that i have been trying to get help and have just been through hell. The system is so backloged.
Hope whatever state your in its much faster and i wish you the best.

Thanks. If I don't get it first time, it won't be because I didn't prepare well.

I have been having problems with my hands and feet the last few months. Trying to get that figured out. After going to Clev. Clinic last week, and a neurologist this week, I have peripheral neuropathy and according to the neuro, central pain syndrome. Geesh, when will this end?

I'd like one of the SS people to live in my pain for just one day, and see how well they function.

for peripheral neuropathy you have to state how it affects your gait and station for your feet/legs and how it affects your motor skills and dexterity for hand/arms.

Thanks - am trying to do that now as I finish up the symptom report. For instance I can barely write a few sentences by hand, and typing is nearly impossible. I bought dictation software, but can't wear the headset, had to get a microphone to use. I use a service dog and now I have to keep transferring her from my left to right side, because my hands go so numb I can't keep hold of the handle on her harness. I'm dropping things all the time now. Yesterday, I went to put the flour container back in the cupboard and dropped it. What a heck of a mess that was. Yesterday when I went to the doctor's office, I must have dropped my keys half a dozen times, and a pen twice. My dog picks them up for me. I can't open things like bottles of water. It is not as bad in my feet, but I wear toe to knee plastic hard braces. I have tingling, and burning, and have tripped up a few more times, but other than that, I have not had as much trouble with my feet. My hands are so stiff and painful sometimes I cannot come close to making a slight fist. I put my hands into microwave heat pack, warm them, then have to start working the stiffness out. Still, my hands are much weaker than they were 6 months ago before this happened.

Are these the kinds of statements that I need to make?

yes, but dont downplay your feet/legs. dont neglect to write that you have to wear braces and that you lose your balance even with them on, that the braces themselves limit your mobility, if they do, that wearing the braces makes your legs feel heavy and that you tire easily, if they do, that you have to take naps during the day. that you can only walk so far, that you can only stand so long, sit so long etc. that you cant climb, squat, kneel, reach, bend without losing balance, for your hands that you cant carry objects over a certain weight such as 10 lbs., that you drop things constantly and cant carry anything for any period of time. that holding things and typing etc cause pain, that you are unable to do things that require fine motor skills in your hands such as sewing, writing, picking small objects up and dont forget to mention how any medication that you take makes you feel or causes side effects, memory loss, concentration difficulties, too much sleep. or too little sleep. nausea, whatever it may be.