Hi

My husband is supposed to be examined by an orthopedist and psychiatrist on Wednesday for his RSD related disability claim. For those of you who've been through the experience of applying for social security disability, please answer a few questions for me.

1. Were you examined by an MD as part of your INITIAL disability application?
2. Did you bring any medical records with you to the exam.
2. Was the doctor familiar with your case prior to the appt.?
3. What type of doctor or doctors examined you? Orthopedist, neurologist, pain management, etc.?
4. Was the doctor at all familiar with your disease?
5. About how long did the doctor spend with you?
6. Was the exam cursory or thorough?
7. How long after the exam did you receive your determination?


TIA!
Teresa

My experience was with a neuro and he would not look at the records from the other Dr s. He said he does not look because he is making an independent opinion. He spent a total of 13 minutes with me and that included the hello and how are you. I was in his office for a total of 13 minutes.....and from that he was able to write up this big report of several pages. Of course, with it ending with he thought I could work at some level so that was that for me.

I know there are others that have had good results with state appointed Drs and had good exams. I just was not one of them. But then, I am sure the ALJ that had my case knows who to send people to when he wants documents to deny their case. He is known for that in our area with all attorneys and even the SSA office.

Other than the 13 min. eval. the other professional he called in was a Dr in no mans land that could barely speak english and he sent him what he wanted him to review. He called him on the phone while we were in our little hearing and the man had never laid eyes on me at all. Sounds like a fair hearing, don't you think?? Even though the Drs that see me on a regular basis state I can't work, those opinions do not matter at all.

Sorry for venting. I am just so tired and depressed over all of this.

Hi Teresa

It has been about 8 months since I was finally approved for SSDI after a long 5 year struggle with them.

They sent me to a doctor to evaluate me that had no prior knowledge of me, or my condition. (RSD) Only it was for the ALJ Hearing, but I believe it is better timing in your case.

I brought no medical records, and I cant remember what type of doctor she was. She did seem familiar with rsd until she started poking me in the most painful parts. She started with the the feel and look of the skin, then proceeded to poke me with a pin in some of the places that are numb on my leg.

She checked the temperature on both legs to see if there was a difference. She acted like I was faking the rsd pain the entire time. At the very end she asked me where it hurt the most, and then proceeded to poke right on that spot. The pain shot through my leg, and I jumped up knocking her on her butt. I didnt mean too, but she looked at me with contempt and said the visit was over.

The visit was about a half hour long, and pretty thorough I thought. I just knew it went bad, but when in court I found out she agreed with my doctors about the rsd, and said I was disabled. The judge didnt believe me or his doctor, or my doctors. So he threw out all the medical records as evidence saying they didnt prove anything, and I lost.

My attorney then fired me because she thought since the judge said I could work at something simple an appeal would be fruitless. I hired another attorney and waited the year and a half for the appeals hearing where I got a fully favorable decision Sept 07. The good news is this judge agreed with my doctors at the start date of my disabilty, and set the onset of disability to July 01.

I sure hope everything works out in your husbands favor, remember, never give up.

My long term disability company provided the legal advocate when I got Social Security Disability. The records from my surgeon (for colitis/Crohn's) and my gastroenterologist were what they used to determine my state of disability. I was never sent to another doctor. I occasionally have to ask my doctors to submit follow-up reports so that SS knows I am still disabled, but I have yet to have to undergo an exam by one of "their" doctors.

This may have been based on the state I live in (different disability laws?) or the fact that I was close to house-bound, very sleep deprived due to residual issues following four intestinal surgeries. . . I don't know. Seems Crohn's is getting a rep as a disabling condition . . . I know it has been included in several disease categories that are considered disabling. I am surprised that the constant, intractable, and incurable pain associated with RSD and some other neurological disorders has not yet been recognized as hands-down disabling.

If you truly can not work, I am afraid it is time to get an attorney to help with your SSD. If you were ever offered one by your disability company, see if the offer still stands. I literally had no choice, but I also never feared that their assistance was anything but benign.

Short of that, I would have your own physicians submit reports, chart notes, whatever, on your behalf. Protest any denials of coverage. . . .I (my advocate) had to battle through one round of denials. Sometimes it takes many tries before you are awarded SSD. Many. Don't give up!

i went to an md and a psycotherapist during my initial app. the md spent about 45 minutes, documented my anxiety attack as well as all the physical problems i have and gave me a favorable report, unfortunatly the psych eval lasted 10 minutes, she asked me 2 or 3 questions, wouldn't let me say a word other than brief answers to those questions and determined i had mild depression. i have severe panic disorder with agoraphobia. i was having an active panic attack in her office and she screwed me. i am waiting now for my alj hearing, hoping i can maybe get a "decision on record" with the records since i have finally been able to get to a decent psych doc and gotten a real diagnosis. with my medical condition i can still do sedentary work which is fine except that i can't leave my house without a major panic attack and only do so for dr appointments monthly so that everything is fully documented for the judge. good luck, some are good docs that care, most are just trying to get you in and out.

lost