Hi! I'm a 38 year old male. I've dealt with chronic back pain since 2007. I used to be very active playing softball and working out 5-6 days a week. In 2005-06 I began pulling/tearing calf muscles when running on the field while I played softball. This happened about 3 times before I knew something was going on. I started getting severe pain down my right leg that would not stop. My back hurt severely. I had had some back issues beginning when I was 15, but I went to the chiropractor every once in a while starting in my 20s. Long story short, in 2008 I had been working a manual job which required heavy lifting. I found that I had a ruptured disc between L5-S1. I also found out I had a pars defect and an extra vertebra. The extra vertebra was transitional and would move. After conservative treatment failed I had my first back surgery in August 08. The neurosurgeon did a fusion of L5-S1. I had some relief and had high hopes. Three months later the fusion broke. I was told I may have low bone density. I have never smoked and I don't drink. For 13 months I wore a bone growth stimulator a couple hours a day. No bone growth! When I sneezed I would hit the ground in pain. Another surgery was required.

January 2010 I had a cage put in. The same doctor went through my stomach and did this operation. I never was out of pain, but I was managing. I started doing a paper route that September to try and bring in some money. I got a much better job in November 2011. I hurt on and off doing this job which was a desk job. In May of 2013 I was hit from behind in an accident. My pain went through the roof. My pain meds did too. Pat my highest point I was in a Fentanyl patch (75mcg/hour), 1800 mgs of Neurotin, and roughly 100-120 mgs of Oxycodone a day, I had gone back to work after being in STD for a month. The pain persisted and got worse and worse. Another surgery was opted for. Keep in mind that in between the surgeries I had roughly 12-15 steroid injections in my back and SI joints. I also have chondromalasia in both knees because of having to compensate for my back.

In November 2013 I had my 3rd back surgery. This was by another doctor- a ortho surgeon. He out me out of work mid October because I could no longer work with the pain. I couldn't concentrate and I was worried about driving with so much medicine in my system. When he got in (through the back this time) he found that the bone put in between L5-S1 back in 2008 was gone. It was like my body absorbed it and never grew any. A screw from 08 was lose as well and the threads had been rubbing up against L4. The surgeon opted to remove all original hardware and fuse L4-5-S1. He took bone marrow from my hip. I was on STD and I started physical therapy in January. The PT said my back and knees were so weak that I would be better off going to aquatic therapy. I did that and thought I was getting better. Well, I was. I got myself off of the Fentanyl patch by slowly tapering off. My doctor wanted me off of everything. I was originally supposed to go back to work in April, but the last time I went to PT my back had been hurting. It never stopped, I made it through that session and that was it.

My back started to click and make clicking sounds down at the fusion level. Then that turned into popping. I can feel and hear 2-3 loud pops at the base of my spine. The pain is worse now than ever! I was down to 1 30mg Oxycdone a day. I'm now back up to 3-4 a day plus muscle relaxers, Neurotin 1800 mgs, a nerve pill for anxiety, and 2-3 Norco (10 mgs each) per day. My STD ran out at work and I was required to move to LTD. I also filed for SS disability. I know this was my main question, but I wanted to give my story.

I now walk with a cane and the only way to get relief is to lay on my side with a pillow between my knees, but I'm now finding that even that doesn't work. Three weeks after I filed for SSDI I received a package in the mail. It included a daily activity form, a work history form, a form to talk about my pain some more (pain meds too), and a third party form that my wife filled out. I have a friend who told me when he first filed he got a denial letter 3 weeks later. My case looks to be different. Instead of being turned down, I've been asked for additional information. I'm miserable. I cannot do anything without increased pain. A simple task such as brushing my teeth hurts. I get ions and needles in my back and glutes when doing so. My feet are numb and tingly right now and both legs hurt so bad.

Has anyone ever filed and gotten a package like this? Is it possible I will be approved the first time due to my situation? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I walk with a cane now and I'm just bad off. I can't concentrate and I cannot sit longer than 3-5 minutes without moving to try and get comfortable, which never happens.

Thanks

Welcome atlbrvfan.

Someone should be along to help.

Yes. I believe we all did at the initial filing of SSDI. I initially applied over the phone & about a week later received my "package" which was like a War & Peace novel.

As for being approved the "first" time, that is hard to say. Sometimes, it depends on your "disability," the "State" you live in and/or the "backlog of claims" in your State. Who knows why some people get accepted right off the bat & other years down the road.

Are you represented by an attorney?

Will be keeping fingers & toes cross for ya! Keep us posted.

GOOD LUCK!!

I thought at first you meant the monthly one.

˙dɐu ʎɯ ǝʞɐʇ oʇ ǝɯ ɹoɟ ǝɯıʇ

Not as of right now. I was told to file first and then retain an attorney if I was denied.

I am pretty convinced my fusion is failed. My back is popping more frequently at the fusion levels. I can feel it. Sometimes it is very strong and I can feel my spine shift. Just now while brushing my teeth, as I leaned over slightly at the sink, I felt like I was going to collapse. If felt like my back was coming apart and I get the pins and needles in my back and glutes. It is a scary situation to be in, knowing you can't work and depending, praying, and hoping for a favorable decision.

Yes, keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me. My family is in need.

Are your dr's supportive of you filing for SSDI ? I have small fiber neuropathy that developed after I received 6 rounds of chemo....I'm also diabetic so that didn't help things. I have no A and C Fibers left in my feet per the skin punch biopsy.

But I had a heck of a time getting any of my dr's....even my PCP that I had been seeing for 6 years........to actually write a letter detailing my problems. My GYN of 20+ years was so upset when she saw the shape I was in she wrote a letter that I was able to submit to SS. I also had letters from family and former co-workers. I have no idea whether that helped or not but wanted to add that for you. I was denied the 1st time but was approved at the reconsideration stage. They told me I was approved at the end of Jan 2014 but the active date was Nov 2013. I was 51 at the time.

You're from GA right ? Me too

Debi from Georgia

Well, I have a pain management doctor that got me my handicap tag for parking. She has always been very supportive of my situation. So far she has been overseeing my medications and has also done two injections on my knees, which I thing I noted, have gotten very bad since my first back surgery. I feel like I am just a shell of a man.

The surgeon who performed my 3rd back surgery told me yesterday that he was at a loss for why I'm in such horrible pain. His last office note, which is being sent to the insurance company today for long term disability, states, that although my X-ray looks good he sees that I'm in obvious pain. He stated that I use a Campbell or Walker to get around and have weakness in both legs and feet. In addition, I cannot stand on one leg at a time due to pain. He listed that he didn't believe additional surgeries would help at this time. He has ordered an FCE for me and he told me that the results would be sent to him and that he would write a letter saying he agrees with the results. One things that bothered me is that he told me not to try and beat the FCE test. I asked him what he meant and he said to not go in and try to do less that I'm capable of. I just hope he doesn't think I'm faking this. I am 38 and have been in chronic pain for right at 7 years and I still cry some days from the pain. I have/had a good job making respectable money and would never put my innocent family through this financial stress. My wife sits and cries sometimes when she sees me in so much pain. She is also so scared of financial issues. We lost our last house because of my back and we have been leasing this one for 3 years. We were supposed to get the house in our name this month. The credit scores are back up to get it, but now I'm out of work. I'm praying God just intervenes in my situation.

No, I'm from South Carolina. I'm just a huge Braves fan.

Has anyone ever filed and gotten a package like this? Is it possible I will be approved the first time due to my situation?

Many applicants get packages like that.

One out of three applicants are approved on the initial application. So you could be one of them. Or not.

I know you want a stronger answer, but I don't have one.

I agree. It's really hard to say. The support of a doctor is important, but will not guarantee you approval--it's just part of the key.

Your age could be a factor. If you are 50 and over, you may get approval easier because of the rules regarding employment. I was denied initially and at reconsideration level, but approved on appeal because I had turned 50, due to the rules which had now changed in my favor.

Definitely apply and get started. The wait is long, but worth it in the end. Good luck!

yeah just getting your dr. ok sometimes is not enough.here in NY.we have some other factors they use also.one of them is your age.if your 50 and over your chances helps alot.second is your education level,3rd kind of goes along with the second which is are you "retrainable"??.cause our system here is "broken and so "miss used"there's nothing really left in the pot to pass out to those who really in need.its why we have to go thru so many hurdle here