I made the journey back to the VA hospital today and got some more bad news. I went to my primary care doctor because I have been having a lot of pain in my neck and shoulders. I thought it might be from stress with this blessed SSDI claim. I was wrong. This pain sometimes goes down my arms and it has started causing numbness in my arms and hands. I was diagnosed with severe cervical arthritis a couple of years ago. I use a tens machine to massage my neck and I do exercises for my neck. The doctor today sent me to x-ray, when she got the pictures on the computer, she called my orthopedic doctor. I had to go to his office because the ortho clinic is closed on Wednesday. He looked at the x-ray and sent me right back to x-ray for an MRI. After that, I went back to his office and sat there for an hour waiting for him. He finally came back and there was another older doctor with him. He introduced the other doctor and told me he was from the UAB Medical Center. They both looked at the MRI results and then he broke the news to me. My cervical arthritis has reached a very severe degenerative state. They both told me that surgery would probably not do any good at this point. He said about all I can do is use ice packs, heating pad and more pain medicine. He said that sometime in the not too distant future, I would have to have an Anterior Cervical Fusion in my neck. This has been one hell of a day. I can’t even walk because of my knee and now this lovely news.

I'm sorry to hear that RLJ

well i finally went in for my "MRI"today.they told me it takes about 2days till the dr.gets back to you.i wasnt worried though.but i will take your advice and try and get a copy of his letter to SSA and i will ask him for something for the pain im having.folks its getting hard for me to drive now the pain is unbearable.and im seeing a "Shrink".she has me on "Celexa" so i will get some info from her as well as she treating me for my mental state.with all im going throug its no wonder

Be careful using that tens unit on your neck. Sounds like your in a lot of pain and not thinking right. You sound like your in bad shape. Take it slow.

It's good for your case that you are seeing a shrink. I've never heard of Celexa. Your not taking anything for pain? Try to get a diagnosis from your shrink and submit that to SSA with the MRI. Talk latter.

nothing for pain yet ,when i go back to see the "Neuro doctor" i will definetly ask for some.now that we have a clearer pic of what were dealing with.oh this is what "celexa"is.or for anyone else is going thru what i am who might need it or similar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citalopram

Just wanted to let you all know; I finally got all my ducks in a row with this stupid lawyer. He seems to think he can get the decision overturned after he saw what my doctor wrote in the RFC form. He finally agreed with me and said he wants to know why SSA made their decision on the least severe of several disabilities. He said with all the medical records he has and the RFC form saying what it does (I can't read the doctors writing), SSA and the doctor that gave me the physical made a serious misjudgment in their decision according to SSA rules and he says he is going to find out who and why. I don't know if this is just more of his lies or what. He said to give him a couple of weeks and he was going to show all of this to an ALJ that is a close friend of his.

hey "Rickey" we two are going thru a lot with our neck to our fingers.i to am making and appointment with the "VA".for and "EMG" and for them to check out my right hand,arm and neck.just more amunition to give give to my lawyer,judge or the "FED's".plus some med's my hands are killing me in pain.Iguess a 2nd opinion wont hurt.just kind of still worried though if they want to do surgery on my neck

Sorry it took so long to reply Don, I have been trying to keep my mind off of this nightmare by creating another. Let me explain, I have been busy building a forum website for veterans. This alone is very frustrating and time consuming. It probably won't ever be anything like this forum because I can't afford to promote it like it should be. The domain name only cost me $3 and my wife managed to scrape together the money to pay for a years hosting. At least it keeps me occupied and out of trouble not to mention taking my mind off other problems for a while. The name of the site is Veterans Chit Chat if anyone wants to take a gander at it. I forgot to say that Jo*mar is watching out for me, he said my old username was not safe so he changed it to Rickey. Thanks a million Jo*mar. Well, I gotta go; the wife just shouted chow time.

Later Folks, Rickey

hey that sounds like a good site for us"Vets".i could us all the help i can get from anyone out here.i go to the VA for my mental therapy. but when im in the waiting room,what a good time i have there.all my brothers are there