Back Pain Support Group

Yes it is worth checking into. If your dr. says you can not work. even if it is short term. you really want to get started it takes and average of 6 months and you can expect to be denied the first go around. You might even consider getting one of the diability lawyers they don't get denied as quickly. hope it all works out for you.You need to know also if you have a surgery with a fushion, the chronic pain may still be there and the nerve problems. surgery may "fix" the discs but may not help with everything, i have had two back surgeries and i am in horrible pain always and have horrible neuropathy in my legs. You could be one of the few who goes back to "normal" i am not trying to discourage you just want you to be aware. ggod luck and i hope you get some much needed relief.

All I can say is if your going to file for SSD, get ready for a long road. I don't know where your from, But everybody I've talked to out of state said the same thing, It's a fight & you just have to stick with it. I've been at it for 2yrs now. & still no SSD. I'm going to court in a couple of months. Usually on your 2nd denial from SSD then the 3rd time you appeal their decision you will go in front of the judge & he/she will determine if your disabled. Good luck & best wishes. Just keep all your paper work together & all the doctors you see. Hugs, Cheree

I am going through the battle of trying to get disability right now.
First, the guidelines are not that you can no longer do any certain job or the job you once had - the guidelines require that you be completely disabled from performing any type of work at all in any capacity. The SSA will tell you there are plenty of jobs that do not require heavy lifting and that do not require long periods of sitting.

The guidelines say that if you can earn $550.00 a month (not per week), then you are not disabled. If you can work as little as an hour per day - you can work in the eyes of the SSA.

Currently, the approval time for getting on disability is 3 years from the date you applied. This is if all goes well. If not, then it can take much longer. I belong to the disability group on DS http://www.dailystrength.org/group... and there are members who have been waiting 5, 7, 9 years with life threatening conditions who are not even close to approval.

You will need several doctors (not just one) documenting that you are unable to work in any capacity and then the SSA will test you to see if there is any job you can do - regardless if such a job is impossible to find. It can be from stuffing envelopes to counting change.

One member of the SSA group was just told that based on her condition, she could be an attendant in a laundrymat for up to 1 hour per day. They told her she could fold clothes while standing. This woman lives in the country in farm land - there are no laundrymats around.

Another member was just told that if they could lay in bed and were strong enough to lift 8 oz of weight, then they could be a work at home phone receptionist.

This is how difficult it is to get disability. I'm completely physically disabled and I have mental illness as well and i'm still going through hell trying to get it.

You can apply - but be prepared to have a lot of support from several doctors behind you and a very long battle.