Janke,
great song and great band. Gonna be seeing them in september

Iam not mad about the reviews {even thou i think ss wastes money on reviewing people that arent going to get better} am ****** that they write that their doctors think am gonna improve and be in better health in 2013, then i was in 2010. If thats the case, let these people tell me how to do that, so i can once again be healthy, back to work and off ss.

Cant they just write in their letters, we will review your case in 3 years? I can deal with the reviews as much as i hate them, already had 3 of them, but when they put that "they expect me to be improved in 2013, it makes me spend my time worrying that come 2013 am gonna get the boot, because they think i will be improved. Like i said its already driven me crazy for the first 2 years, am sure this last year waiting for december 2013 to come is gonna be even worse.

Gilbert up above said that they write that on all his reviews, but they didt write that on my first 3 reviews and really just wanted to know, if thats what they write on all the reviews now

Bobby

Guess it's time to call my dad and tell him he's CRAZY !

That 'crazy' guy had MULTIPLE laminectomies over several years starting 15 years ago.

In the intervening years, he also had stage 3 colon cancer, with surgery and chemo. He just had a clean pet scan 10 years after the conclusion of his treatments (which started 12 years ago)

To celebrate, at age 75, he's heading off to Acadia National Park to do some bike riding.


He does his back exercises every day. He walks about 5 miles a day. If it's not raining, he bikes 20 miles most days but has been known to zip through 100 a day/200 a weekend.

He's got a few more wrinkles now, but I can assure you....he IS healthier now than he was 12 years ago......and I've seen the medical records that PROVE that.

p.s........My psychiatrist says I'm not crazy.

Most 'pain management' doctors I know of (and I worked as a health care professional and have experience as a patient at 4 different pain clinics) are interventionists. They tend to do injections (like trigger point and nerve block). They don't tend to write prescriptions for ANY meds, never mind ones that anyone could "get hooked on."

As you mentioned, there are many psychiatrists that work in the pain management field. They often have expertise in helping patients deal with pain. They are not commonly known for their expertise in evaluating orthopedic and neurological conditions. Some people chose to see an orthopedist or a neurologist to evaluate conditions of an orthopedic or neurological nature.

I don't believe anyone here recommended you continue to follow up with your orthopedic surgeon. Surgeons do the pre op consult, cut, do the follow up, and say goodbye. Orthopedists and neurologists follow people for ONGOING issues.

As it happens, my disability IS neck and back related. TOS, RSD, occipital neuralgia, multiple disc issues, fibro, depression. I was a hospice nurse. Like you, I wish that I could go back to the job I loved.

I'm concerned from some of your comments that you might think I am asking you to 'justify' your disability 'status'. I hope that I haven't offended you......and I want to be CLEAR that I'm not questioning your level of disability AT ALL.

I have no problem believing your issues are still causing you disability.

I have no problem believing that the review process is stressful. I'm pretty sure that I won't enjoy it much when it's my turn.

My goal in responding in this thread is to try to help you de-stress over this.

SOME people DO get better.....maybe not great, but better.

SOME people improve to the point where they are no longer considered disabled. Doesn't sound like YOUR case is going that way, but for SOME on SSDI, it does get better.

SOME people DON'T get any better, but they don't provide the medical documentation to PROVE that they ARE still disabled.....and they find themselves without a monthly check.

Part of minimizing the stress of the review process is "getting" that SSA is OBLIGATED to try to figure out who is still disabled and who isn't. They aren't TRYING to make your life worse.....they are just trying to make sure the government doesn't throw away money. The SSA tells us that not providing adequate documentation that were are still be treated by an appropriate medical professional implies to them our conditions might be improving.

I don't plan on 'implying' that to the SSA. Unless WC starts approving reasonable treatment or a miracle happens and I DO improve.

Arguing that SSA shouldn't ask for that proof doesn't help with the review process. Sending extra info that doesn't prove disability doesn't help. While I can't IMAGINE paying the bills for $54,000 worth of meds.....submitting bills for meds doesn't prove disability. Submitting documentation about the need for and the effectiveness of those meds could help prove disability.

One of the posters over on the RSD board, with a dx list similar to mine, has been able to get back to work after a new tx worked for her. She's NOT "all better", but she IS markedly improved.....and now able to work. Her WC paid for the experimental (and VERY expensive) tx. My WC is still refusing to pay. Same initial dx's, but one of us is totally disabled and the other is not.

The SSA understands that happens. When it's my turn for review, I understand that I have to PROVE to them that I am still disabled while someone else with the same dx might not be.

while having 54,000 dollars in prescription costs a year may not prove that you are disabled during your review, it certainly is not extra information that doesnt help. it is part of your documentation of disability.
personally i feel that you are playing with fire (forgive the pun) by not going to an orthopedist once in a while in every two year period. you need to keep that medical condition current.

to be reviewed every three years means that you are under the medical condition possible review status. if it was medical condition expected to improve the schedule would be once a year.

i think that you are way over thinking the letter wording thing. keep going to your psychiatrist but throw in an occassional orthopedist appointment. they want to see that your medical condition is evaluated by a doctor within the review time period or else they have their doctors evaluate it.

Were you dianosed with degenertive joint disease, or degenertive disk disease? These permanent conditions, that is what I have. My doctors origional statement said "No hope of recovery" My pain level did go down. However the disks themselves are not going to hold out forever and I know that. Working would put me in the poisiton of ruining what I have left. I don't look down or up well at all. I think they also look at the language your doctor says about your future abilities. Mine are shot. In my case, I don't care what the SS says. I am not going to do anything that ruins this window I have to experince some time and life in a stable place medically. I do go to the doc. on a regular basis, actually two almost monthly. My PCP and Pain specialist.
Keep up with the appointments. Your doctor can alway re-write a letter to SS stating that your condition is not going to improve. Do all you can to document pain and all, and you should be OK. Your doctor will back you no matter what SS requires. I hate them putting us through all this too, but I guess they have to because of money issues. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Finz, you havent offended me and appreciate you taking the time to post.
I also appreciate all the posts from Gilbert, Ginnie and Echoes. thank you

When i was approved for ss, it was based on my neck and back and not any of the mental issues, heart problems or anything else.

I got approved the first time, in 4 months. I never recieved an actual letter telling me anything. Just a letter saying how much money i would get every month.

After my surgery in 2000, i wanted to go see my doctor every 6 months or even yearly, but they told me doctor will only see know if there is anything that needs surgery for. I wanted to go every 6 months just to make sure everything was still good.
Right now, i have a couple of bad discs in lower back that i just baby and dont want to do anything yet. The cage in my neck has further damaged the disc above and below the cage, which happens to everybody, due to the pressure. The pain and weakness from these discs is something i want to live with, until i just cant take it anymore, only because i dont want to have 3 discs with cages and other metal. It will only make other discs weak. Iam 50 now and dont want to have no movement in my neck by the time i turn 60.
So does not going in to have more surgeries, make me healthy and not disabled anymore? Does this mean am capable of working now? I really dont believe i could work, but does ss feel differnt, because i choose not to have more surgeries? I get confused over this.
My doctor has said if i want those discs taken out, come back and see him, otherwise theres nothing more he can do.
So does not going to him anymore, make my health improved? on ce again am confused.



When i sent the printout of all my meds to ss, i agree with all of you, it doesnt prove my disability, i just thought it helps to prove that iam seeing doctors regularly or a person sure couldnt get that amount of meds, at least i dont think they could without seeing a doctor.


I never even thought of seeing an orthopedist or neurologist because i thought what can they really do for me, since surgeon already said nothing more to due, except for having another surgery. I mean if i see orthopedist what is he gonna say to me, besides probably saying, go see a suregon? So thats now confusing me. Can they offer me help?

Would going to see a physical therapist be just as good?


when december 2013 comes around, i will have been on ssdi for 12 years. My question is, if i was going to improve disability wise, wouldnt the best chance of that happeneing have been in say the first 3-5 years of my disabilty, not 13 years later? Doesnt just the age process play a factor in a persons health not being as good?


Echoes is probably right, am way over thinking the wording of the letter.
I wish they would have just said we are going to review you in 3 years, then am fine with that. The added we think you are going to improve drives me crazy, because its like they know whats gonna happen in those 3 years, but i dont. I would like for them to send me the game plan that they know should make my condition improve, that way i can start working on it. I know when i wake up everyday it sure as heck doesnt feel like am gonna be improved anytime soon, but they seem to know lolllllllllllllllllllll.


lastly does the wording on the letter i recieved, mean that they will do a full review on me or could i just get the 6 question form again?


everybody thanks for all the help, its much easier talking to people already in the same boat, then trying to talk to people not dealing with same types of issues
Bobby

bobby i think you didnt fully understand a few of the things i wrote.

i think you should send in your printout of prescriptions when you get a full review. finz was saying it doesnt prove disability which i agree with but it helps to prove it, she also said that "Sending extra info that doesn't prove disability doesn't help." in reference to your prescription records and this i strongly disagree with.

the point of going to the orthopedist is not that they can do anything for you but to show that you have gone to a doctor in relation to the condition you were approved for. you were a firefighter, so was i, you know that at times you just have to do medically with doctors visits what you have to do even if it seems like a waste of time. you have to keep the condition that you were approved for current. it can only hurt you down the road not to keep it current. a physical therapist wont be enough
for SSA because they are not doctors. take care.

Other post is correct, keep current. I do go to my PCP and he refers me out for the continuing host of problems. Neruo surgeon won't see me either until I want another sugery. When ____ freezes over. I don't want to be forced to do another spinal fusion. I go to orthopedic person in-between. My neuro is fantastic, but really won't see you even after a big fusion, unless the PCP referes you again. I am currently going down on medications. I won't know till I try. I do worry that any activity I do, they will look at and say, yeh you are OK. I am not OK. just doing a bucket list. I worry about them saying I am not disabled anymore, because I want to decrease my medication. I have plenty of other things going on, the origional favorible for me was over two issues, breakdown of ankles, and my spine. Just keep as current as you can be. I don't know what else we can do to keep the coverage. I am 60, and have had medicare for 5 years now. Try not to worry, I still think you will be OK. ginnie

Thank you all so much for your answers and help.

Am gonna look into seeing a orthopedist, so my case looks better. Its a shame that money has to be wasted on a doctors visit that really isnt going to imrpove my health. You would think ss would also factor in common sense when reviewing cases.


2 other things, that nobody addressed for me in last post

based on the last letter which said :
"we recently reviewed the evidence in your social security disability claim and find that your disability is continuing. We have also enclosed information about working that explains some of the terms we use.
The doctors and other trained staff who decided that you are disabled expect your health to improve. Therefore, we will review your case in december 2013. we will send you a letter before we start the review."


does that mean am for sure getting a full review or in 2013 i just might get the the 6 question form to fill out, like i have got before?


and the other thing, is my logic sort of correct with this statement?

"when december 2013 comes around, i will have been on ssdi for 12 years. My question is, if i was going to improve disability wise, wouldnt the best chance of that happeneing have been in say the first 3-5 years of my disabilty, not 13 years later? Doesnt just the age process play a factor in a persons health not being as good as when they were years younger?


once again thank you to all
Bobby


p.s. Echoes, how did you get hurt at your firefighter job? am sure you miss it as much as i do. I would be starting my 26th year if i was still on the job

bobby,this is a good indicator of how often you will be reviewed.when you did your first review after recieving ssdi benefits what did the letter say that you got from social security?if the first letter you got after your first cdr review said that the doctors who examined you feel that your condition is expected to improve than you will be reviewed more often than a person who's condition in not expected to improve or might improve.this goes into the diary of social security.when you have a medical improvement expected diary,social security watches over you like a hawk with many reviews.