Good Morning,

I wanted to know if anyone could give me any hope for getting my SS disability. I am 50 year old female have been in pain for years. I had to leave work 2.5 years ago due to pain. In the last 2.5 years I have had four surgeries carpal Left carpal right 3 level ACDF cervial fusion, Ulnar nerve release. Monday June 18th I will have a complete rib resection for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. My husband and I filled bankruptcy hearing was last monday we have lost everything due to my inability to work house car etc..
I am desparate I know when I have this surgery on Monday I will not have the money to pay the co pays for my therapy. I filed 2.5 years ago and have been turned down 2 times and now I await the hearing with SS judge. I don't know what to do how much more do they think I can take. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions you can give me. I would also like to know if anyone has gotten a positive decision for TOS my diagnosis is bilateral extra ribs dead pulse left sided pain. I have severe degenerative disc disease and the disc above my fusion is now ruptured and my ortho says he will have to address this in near future.

Thanks so much I dont know how long I will be down from surgery on monday down and out no money need hope.

Beverley

Did you file a hardship to get your case expedited and/or contact your congressman/woman?

You seem to be getting really bad reviewers. You shouldn't have this much problem with this much objective findings

I think the congressman idea is a great idea

These are the things that are helpful

a) strong doctor's report's describing your limitations
b) doctors that are respected by social security writing reports for you
c) filling out your application in detail describing your limitations fully
d) a good social security lawyer
e) objective evidence with an explanation of how it causes your limitations
f) full clinical exam with TOS tests
g) functional capacity exam done by someone who understands TOS
h) a good reviewer at Social security
i) a good judge

I haven't filed for a hardship review but I have begged my attorney to request emergency based on new diagnosis of Tos. What should I do to request hardship?

Any help appreciated
Thanks
Beverley

i have never filed for hardship, but of course you would need evidence of bills overdue, shut off notices, eviction etc. Contact your local social security office to find out and also definitely contact your congressperson and tell them you have a hardship. Seems like your lawyer should be doing something about this.

This is the guideline for doctors writing social security disability reports. You can check if your doctor's reports have enough detail for social security and, if not, ask them to add detail.

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/


Social security is all done electronically now, so if you have paper documentation you want them to refer to, you need to specifically put a notation in the electronic file for those reports to be copied and forwarded to the appropreiate disability evaluation unit. Someone at social security told me this.


I think at this point there is a hold on all appeals other than hardship/emergency ones, so that is necessary to even get an appeal.

Hi i was just reading your story i wish i could help you. But i have never heard of hard ship before is this some thing in the states or canada. I am from nova scotia canada and i am on comp because my tos was caused from the type of work i was doing. I know i had to fight with them but after all the doctors i saw and reports from them they finely excepted it. But one thing i know is never give up because thats just what they wont you to do the more they can frustrate you the better for them i would say get your self a good doctor who will write reports after reports in your favor write every thing you have been though and let them know you wont be going any where any time soon. Tell them you well go to the press make as many threat as you can come up with. i know here in canada when you let them know you well never stop fighting it does make a difference. I would also look in to comp because if a doctor will say its because of the job you did then you would have a case with them. I feel for you and i truly hope every thing will work out and if you would like i would be more then happy to help you researcher your options i have the time because i dont work at this point so i have time.

Hi everyone,

Have lots of pain today so am "Down and out" all day. Hope to say hello tomorrow.

Nancy

Hi,

Just wanted to say that I am a week and half out of Thoracic outlet surgery I am in tremendous pain and very week. Surgeon said the area was very compressed and he removed 2 ribs along with 2 muscles and other fibrous structures. I'm in for a long recovery period and just pray every day that I will get my social security disability so that we can save our home. Please pray for my husband and I that God will see us through. I wanted to say that I did write Allen Boyd my congressman for florida. I was suprised the day I came home from the hospital I had a letter from him in the mail I sent the requested information back so I am hopeful that maybe he can get my hearing moved up. Anyway thanks to all for the support and pray for me.

hi, beverley,

in my neverending quest for truth, justice and the american way, i somehow stumbled upon your thread today.

i just wanted to say first of all that i hope you are feeling better each day and recovering nicely from your TOS surgery. i know from personal experience what that is like and you are in my thoughts each day, believe me, as you go through this.

but with all due respect to our canadian friend and fellow TOS'er, mucker, i must say i do NOT agree that it is productive to make threats when dealing with the US government. please do not do that.

and from the little i know of your history, beverley, i believe it would be fruitless for you to attempt to open a W/C claim at this late date. i could be wrong, but with all the surgeries you've had and the probable misdiagnoses... well insult to injury is all i can say. the fingerpointing and other nonsense would just be beyond belief and cause you nothing but more grief and heartache.

you've got more than your fair share of that as things stand already. your SSDI claim is legitimate and it sounds like you've gotten the attention of your congressman now. that is a very good thing and you shoud go with that. your energies are limited and need to be focused where they will do the most good.

threatening to go to the media or otherwise expose the "system" has been tried by many. it just ends up getting you booted out of the system, denied once again or your file lost forever. please don't do that to yourself. you cannot win with that tactic; use your head. this is NOT a game.

steady wins the race. you will prevail. this is your money and you are entitled to the insurance payout in due course. mucker is absolutely right ON the money when she says to never, ever give up. i do agree with her there, 100%. and i would find your voice and be assertive and as firm as can be to protect your rights and get all of your ducks in a row.

just no threats or drama. i think that's a bad idea. and if you weren't a workers comp case before your TOS dx, then you certainly cannot become one now (and by 'de way... W/C will fight TOS cases to the death, anyhow!). this only my opinion, FWIW...

alison