While working on section D of the Function Report - and trying to provide DETAILS - I sent my rough draft to a doctor friend of mine. What is in yellow highlights is what he thinks I should state. I wrote all of the text. He is just suggesting to keep what he highlighted of my text. I like his edits. It reads much better than my ramblings but does it provide enough details?

Here is my reply to my doctor friend:

Scott,

Thank you so much for your timely reply. I love the way you edited way down.

I think I should also delete references to Gabapentin. Those are really speculations and due to my limited ability to handle stress (in addition to the other related mental conditions) I would most likely still have problems in those areas.

I have read to that one can 'hang themselves' filling out the Function Report. That generally speaking, less is more. However, they say in a few areas one should be very detailed. I have a post from a SSA examiner were he stated something like, "DETAILS! Give me details. I need to really know what it is like to be you for a day."

Additionally, many wrote tell them that condition is erratic in nature and let them know about your good days and bad days. However, I can just write that ONCE as a 'big umbrella' that covers all the other areas.

So . . . I love your edits. I wonder if I still have enough detail with your edits? Again, maybe I can write a 'preface' statement about good days/bad days and the erratic nature of my condition applies to all areas listed below.

*****And below are his edits to my ramblings. Remember, all the writing is mine. He just highlighted the parts that he thought were worth keeping.

Dear D,
Here is my attempt to edit; my words are in yellow. They are interested in HOW limited you are in each area to see if you would be impaired enough to not be able to work, and WHY you are limited. You may want to add a few details, but don't go overboard. Hope this helps! Hang in there!
LIFTING:
I have problems lifting due to a poorly healed broken wrist 3 years ago. I am attaching an MRI report.
I BROKE MY LEFT WRIST 3 YEARS AGO. IT NEVER HEALED RIGHT. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED MRI. MY RIGHT HAND – ON THE THUMB, HAS BEEN SWOLLEN FOR AT LEAST 2 MONTHS NOW. I WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR IT THIS WEEK. I HAD NOT MADE AN APPOINTMENT EARLIER HOPING THAT WITH MORE REST IT MIGHT HEAL ITSELF. DUE TO THESE INJURIES, LIFTING MORE THAN TEN POUNDS IS A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE. I EVEN HAD TO BUY AN ELECTRONIC CAN OPENER, BECAUSE OPENING A CAN MANUALLY WAS JUST TOO PAINFUL. FINALLY, WHEN GREETING SOMEONE WITH A HANDSHAKE, I TELL THEM OF MY THUMB INJURY AND THEN PROCEED TO SHAKE WITH THE ‘WRONG’ HAND.

SQUATTING:
I have difficulty squatting due to increased pain in my feet and weak calves. My doctor has advised me to avoid full squats. I cannot do more than 10 half squats without fatigue and pain.
SQUATTING IS PAINFUL TO MY FEET. THE SOLES OF MY FEET. I TAUGHT ELEMENTARY PE FOR 25 YEARS. OFTEN THE GYM FLOOR WAS UNCLEAN SINCE THEY ALSO USE THE GYM FOR LUNCH. I WANTED A CLEAN FLOOR. I WOULD DO ABOUT 30 FULL SQUATS EACH DAY. SQUIRT BOTTLE AND RAG IN HAND. SQUIRT, FULL SQUAT, RUB FLOOR WITH RAG . . . FIND ANOTHER STICKY/DIRTY SPOT – REPEAT PROCESS. 30 TIMES A DAY FOR 25 YEARS. WITH DOCUMENTED NERVE PROBLEMS IN MY FEET (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED) I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY AT LEAST 2 DOCTORS TO NOT DO FULL SQUATS. HALF SQUATS ARE NOT AS PAINFUL ON MY FEET, HOWEVER DUE TO THE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY FEET, MY CALVES HAVE BECAME VERY WEAK. THEREFORE, I CANNOT DO MANY (10 MAX) HALF SQUATS.

STANDING:
I cannot stand for more than 30 minutes without severe foot pain from my neuropathy.

DUE TO THE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY FEET, I CAN RARELY STAND FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES WITHOUT MY FEET BECOMING PAINFUL (COLD, NUMBNESS, HEAVINESS, TINGLING, BURNING ETC). I TEND TO HAVE A CYCLE OF LIKE 30 MINUTES UP ON MY FEET, THEN 30 MINUTES LAYING ON MY BED. UNFORTUNATELY, SITTING DOES NOT BRING ME ANY RELIEF. IT USUALLY MAKES THINGS IN MY FEET AND ANKLES WORSE. SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY LEGS BEING AT A RIGHT ANGLE WHEN I SIT, BUT LAYING ON MY BED – THEY ARE PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. OFTEN TIMES (5 TIMES PER WEEK) I HAVE TO LAY ON MY BED, WITH MY FEET ElEVATED UNTIL I CAN GET SOME RELIEF. IT TENDS TO BE LIKE A ONE TO ONE RATIO. IF I HAPPENED TO STAND FOR AN HOUR, THEN I USUALLY MUST LAY ON MY BED FOR AN HOUR. REPEAT CYCLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SOMETIMES WHILE STILL STANDING, I'LL DO MY ‘SORE FEET’ DANCE. I ALTERNATE PICKING UP MY RIGHT FOOT, THEN MY LEFT. REPEAT UNTIL I CAN GET TO MY BED.

REACHING:
I lose my balance when reaching because of poor position sense in my feet due to my neuropathy. I have to hold on to something or lean against a wall to reach safely.
OFTEN TIMES (2-3 TIMES PER DAY) WHEN I REACH FOR AN OBJECT I LOSE MY BALANCE DUE TO THE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY FEET. MY FEET ARE CLUMSY BECAUSE OF THE NERVE DAMAGE. A LOSS OF PROPRIOCEPTION. 2 OR 3 TIMES PER WEEK, THE ONLY THING SAVING ME FROM FALLING DOWN COMPLETELY ON THE FLOOR, ARE THE WALLS THAT I SOMETIMES ‘BOUNCE’ OFF OF.

WALKING:
I have limited walkng because of my neuropathy. My doctor has told me to limit walking (see attached report). Walking causes worsening foot pain and fatigue. I cannot walk more than __ minutes at a time.

A YEAR AGO I WOULD WALK FOR 30 MINUTES ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. HOWEVER, SINCE THE NERVE DAMAGE HAS PROGRESSED – I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY DOCTOR (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED) TO NOT USE WALKING AS A FORM OF PHYSICAL THERAPY. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I TOLD MYSELF, ‘LETS GO FOR A 30 MINUTE WALK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.’ WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT NIGHT, I COULD NOT GET TO SLEEP, EVEN WITH THE SEDATING PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE I TAKE PRIOR TO BEDTIME, UNTIL 3AM. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I TRIED A 10 MINUTE WALK. AT THE 4 MINUTE MARK, I HAD TO TURN AROUND BECAUSE MY FEET WERE HAVING THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. HAVING BEEN A PE TEACHER FOR 25 YEARS I HAVE A HABIT OF KEEPING TRACK OF FREQUENCY, INTENSITY, TIME AND TYPE. F.I.T.T. I USED TO TEACH THAT TO MY STUDENTS. I APPLY THAT TO MYSELF OFTEN OUT OF HABIT.

SITTING:
I cannot sit in the same place for more than 20 minutes because of neuropathy pain.
IS ABOUT THE SAME AS STANDING, WHICH IS DESCRIBED ABOVE. OFTEN TIMES (DAILY) I WILL USE A COUNT-DOWN TIMER. IT IS USUALLY SET FOR 20 MINUTES. WHEN THE TIME IS UP, I GET UP AND WALK AROUND AND CLEAN/ORGANIZE MY APARTMENT OR LAY ON MY BED – DEPENDING ON WHAT MY FEET SYMPTOMS DICTATE I NEED TO DO.

KNEELING: Kneeling is limited because of knee damage from long term work as a gym teacher (need to document knee damage if possible).
AFTER 25 YEARS OF TEACHING KIDS HOW TO JUMP ROPE ON A HARD TILE FLOOR, MY KNEES ARE ABOUT SHOT. I ONLY KNEEL IF I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. I THANKFULLY THAT ONLY HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A YEAR. INSTEAD OF KNEELING, I WILL BEND AT THE WAIST. KNEELING HURTS MY KNEES.

TALKING
I have difficulty with concentration and attention. This may be a side effect of my high dose gabapentin which is used to control neuropathic pain.:
MY COGNITION HAS BEEN OFF FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. OFTEN TIMES I FEEL A BIT ‘LOST IN THE CLOUDS’. I WILL TALK WITH MY DOCTOR THIS WEEK ABOUT IT. MAYBE IT IS A SIDE-EFFECT OF THE HIGH DOSE OF GABAPENTIN (600 MG -4 TIMES A DAY) THAT I AM ON. I WILL BE TALKING TO SOMEBODY AND COMPLETELY LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY THAT I HAVE AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION (5 – 10 MINUTES) WITH SOMEONE. ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, I HAVE VERBALLY APOLOGIZED TO WHOEVER I WAS TALKING WITH AND TELL THEM SOMETHING LIKE THIS, “I SO SORRY. I AM HAVING SOME COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES RIGHT NOW. I HOPE I AM MAKING SENSE. PLEASE BARE WITH ME.”

STAIR CLIMBING:
This is difficult due to neuropathy and I stumble even when using a handrail. I need to limit this to prevent falls.
DUE TO CLUMSINESS CAUSED BY NERVE DAMAGE IN MY FEET, I ALWAYS USE A HANDRAIL WHEN ONE IS AVAILABLE. EVEN WITH USING A HANDRAIL – I STUMBLE A BIT GOING UP – AND A STUMBLE A BIT GOING DOWN. AGAIN, THIS IS A PERCEPTION PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS AT THE STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR – I WAS SADDENED BY HOW CLUMSY MY FEET WERE AS I NAVIGATED ALL THOSE STAIRS. IN THE RAILINGS WERE NOT THERE, I WOULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN. A FRIEND AND I GO EVERY YEAR TO WATCH THE STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT. THIS YEAR WAS NOT MUCH FUN FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE SITTING, STANDING, WALKING AND USING STAIRS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS MADE IT A PAINFUL AND FRUSTRATING EVENT FOR ME.

MEMORY:
I have short term memory problems, possibly due to my gabapentin which is used for pain control.
AS NOTED ABOVE ON THE TOPIC OF ‘TALKING’ – I FREQUENTLY I PROBLEMS HAVING AN ENJOYABLE CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF MY SHORT-TERM MEMORY PROBLEMS. I HAVE PROBLEMS FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM LOSING THINGS EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF THIS (KEYS, EYEGLASSES, IMPORTANT PAPERS, ETC). I WONDER IF THIS IS A GABAPENTIN SIDE EFFECT AS MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE ‘TALKING’ SECTION. I WILL TALK WITH MY DOCTOR ABOUT THIS. AGAIN, THIS IS THAT FOGGY COGNITION THING AGAIN AS MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE ‘TALKING’ SECTION.

COMPLETING TASKS:
I have diagnosed A.D.D. This results in distactability, trouble concentrating, and difficulty completing daily tasks. My neuropathy pain and gabapentin contribute to making this worse.
I HAVE A.D.D.. IT IS IN MY MEDICAL RECORDS. WITH THIS CONDITION, I GET EASILY DISTRACTED AND HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING FOCUSED LONG ENOUGH TO COMPLETE A TASK. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE I AGAIN OFTEN (2-3 TIMES DAILY) WILL USE A COUNT-DOWN KITCHEN TIMER TO HELP ME STAY AT A TASK. THE TIMER (AS MENTIONED ABOVE IN ‘TALKING’) IS USUALLY SET FOR 20 MINUTES. I TELL MYSELF, ‘YOU ARE NOT GOING ANY WHERE OR DOING ANYTHING BUT THE TASK AT HAND UNTIL THAT TIMER GOES OFF.’ THESE 20 MINUTE INCREMENTS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN HELPING ME GET TASKS DONE. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE CYCLING/PACING THAT I MUST DO TO MANAGE FOOT PAIN, IT SEEMS LIKE I NEVER GET CAUGHT UP ON MY HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL CHORES. PAPER IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THERE ARE USUALLY DISHES TO DO AND LANDRY TO PUT AWAY. I HAVE THREE TIMERS THAT ARE EXACTLY ALIKE IN MY LITTLE 600 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENT. WHY THREE? BECAUSE DAILY I HAVE A HARD TIME LOCATING ONE WHEN I WANT TO USE IT. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THANKFULLY I HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. THERE IS AN AWESOME WEBSITE THAT HAS A COUNT-DOWN TIMER FUNCTION. IT IS BOOKMARKED IN MY FAVORITES BAR OF MY BROWSER FOR QUICK AND READY ACCESS WHEN I CAN NOT FIND ONE OF MY THREE KITCHEN COUNT-DOWN TIMERS. A

Please change the yellow font color, it's impossible to read.

Understood. I thought I was highlighting in yellow. Looks like maybe a moderator or something fixed/changed the font color to red.

Which is much more readable.

Thanks,

D

Dear D,

I believe you said the abbreviated wording is from a friend that is a physician if I read that correctly. Physicians are taught to keep brief notes and not to write extensive and superfluous information. While I like the writings of your friend, I think your words draw a better picture for SSDI.

Social Security Disability looks at things a bit differently in my opinion. They want details of what your day is really like each day. I think it should be as if you were trying to tell a friend of what your life is like and how it has changed and how you struggle to do the everyday routine things and how it has affected your ability to do your former job or your ability to do ANY job.

From the perspective of a stranger, (which SSDI is to you), I found your detailed information much more insightful of what your life is like than the abbreviated format used by your physician friend.

I think as long as your details are accurate and not inflated, truthful and honest, you will not be "hanging" yourself with any responses. It also appears that you seem to have medical documentation to back up your responses which is vital.

In my opinion, which may be worthless and not necessarily good advice, if you think about what you put in your responses as a way of telling YOUR life as it currently is, to a complete stranger so that they can understand what you can do and unable to do on your best and worst days. Don't think of it as "responding" to their list, but more as telling your story as if to a stranger. Make your words draw a picture of your life as it is each day.

Be careful not to embellish or dismiss anything. I read somewhere to avoid the word "can't", but to explain why something is not within your realm of abilities. For example: Don't say you "can't" walk, if you are capable of walking. However, if walking causes you such extreme pain, that it makes it unbearable to do so, then state that it is the pain that prevents you from walking, not that you "can't" walk.

Personally, I like YOUR responses better as they draw a better picture than the brief and clinical manner in which your friend has expressed the same thoughts. Just my opinion.

There are several people that I hope will respond that have great insight and understanding of the SSDI rules and how to complete the function report, far better than I can suggest.

Please seek more than my opinion. I can only tell you what I thought as a person, not as someone that has insight into the way SSDI would receive it.

The first line of your friend's note to you is very true. They want to know how you are limited. I believe your friend's editing and brevity are great for some areas of the function report, but other areas need the extensive details that you call ramblings.

If I recall, there is a place for how much you can lift, how far you can walk, etc. This area can be brief but when other sections ask for details, give them details.

About meds and how they affect you. Even if you do not know for sure that any particular symptoms that you may experience are a direct relationship to a particular med, you might want to say what the symptoms are and that you feel that the med "may" be a factor in certain symptoms.

For instance, if you take a drug that has a known side-effect of dizziness and you experience dizziness, you might want to say that you get dizzy and think it might be related to drug X but you do not know for sure that the medicine is the cause of the symptom.

Good luck to you. Hope someone that knows a lot more will give their input. Don't go by my comments. I am just giving you MY opinion, not advice.

The sections in blue need to be deleted IMO. If you give the impression your medical condition might be improved with a change of meds or dosages, you will be denied.

Have you sat down and considered every component of your job you can no longer perform?

Can I ask your age? It will determine whether the Grid Rules are an issue.

If you are under the age of 50 the standard SS holds you to is can you perform any job listed in the DOT. So, you'll have to prove you're not capable of an unskilled, sedentary job like Surveillance System Monitor.

Did you read the link I posted previously about 11.14 in the Blue Book? Even if you don't qualify with that Listed Impairment, those are the issues SS considers most severe for someone with your disorder. Make note of anything that applies to you and reference those limitations. It's not a bad idea to read the ENTIRE Blue Book by the way.

Hi D,

Lit Love's editing is SUPER. Best advice you can get.

Now that is good advice. Lit Love's points are superb. It cuts what should be cut but leaves pertinent details. Your friend sounded too clinical and brief in my opinion. (Sounded like a doctor.)

It needs to sound like you, the person applying for benefits, not like a clinician.

&&&& Wow. That freaks me out. How many pages is it?

Thank you for your help!

Understood. I hope others get involved in this thread and I personally thank you for your involvement!

Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)

If you can qualify by meeting or equaling a Listed Impairment, proving that should be your first priority. It doesn't need to be addressed in these forms, btw.

If you won't meet a Listed Impairment, then you should try to determine if you qualify via the Grid Rules. You may or may not.

The last way to be approved is with the 5 Step Sequential Process. It's unlikely you'll be approved this way without going before an ALJ. This can take 2+ years.

It really doesn't take that long to get through the Blue Book. It might take a day. Better to take a few extra weeks and do a thorough job, than doing it quickly and drawing the process out for years.

**** Agreed. Thanks. So, as I read through the BB - highlight things that 'describe me'? Then as I write BRIEF narratives for the function report, use the highlights from the BB . . .weave them into my narratives?

****And before I forget -- 11:14 that you asked about previously:

11.14 Peripheral neuropathies. With disorganization of motor function as described in 11.04B, in spite of prescribed treatment.

PN has proven treatment resistant for me. I am clumsy and I have a DX of 'abnormality of gait'.

11.04 Central nervous system vascular accident. With one of the following more than 3 months post-vascular accident:

***** 'accident'? I was in no crashes.

A. Sensory or motor aphasia resulting in ineffective speech or communication; or

****Cognition is marred due to PN pain this cause communication problems for me. I do not know what aphasia means and do not have time to look it up now.

B. Significant and persistent disorganization of motor function in two extremities, resulting in sustained disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait and station (see 11.00C).

***** Yes, the above is me.


11.00C
C. Persistent disorganization of motor function in the form of paresis or paralysis, tremor or other involuntary movements, ataxia and sensory disturbances (any or all of which may be due to cerebral, cerebellar, brain stem, spinal cord, or peripheral nerve dysfunction) which occur singly or in various combinations, frequently provides the sole or partial basis for decision in cases of neurological impairment. The assessment of impairment depends on the degree of interference with locomotion and/or interference with the use of fingers, hands and arms.

****** Yes, I think the above applies to me.

Thanks!