Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
Hi, everyone, I really have a lot on my mind and am confused. I recently had an MRI of my entire spine. Each area, cervical, thoracic and lumbar had a full page of issues. Lots of degeneration, arthritis, herniated discs, etc., etc.
The NS said you must have a genetic predisposition for DDD to be this bad at your age - I am nearly 50. I had an L5 S1 discectomy in 1997. My new NS asked me if I had insurance because in order to fix everything it was going to run $250-400,000 which included laminectomies in my lumbar area, a discectomy at T11-12, and a cervical fusion of C5-C7.
I just applied for SSDI two days ago. I'm afraid once they start operating, they are going to create even more arthritis and put me in even greater pain after all the surgeries. I have been managed by my IM guy for pain for 5 years and have continued working. Then I moved because I basically couldn't do the job I had and got fired and got all new docs including a PM who is excellent.
Back at the end of September after an issue at my new work due to pain, pain medication and anxiety, I was asked to resign. This makes the third job I've lost due to health issues. I also had a car accident while on pain meds - fell asleep and totaled my car. Fortunately, no one was in the other lane because I crossed over to the wrong side of the road and then came back to my side into a guard rail. Thank God no one was injured, including myself.
I have really struggled with asking for SSDI. I just want things to be better, but I'm thinking it's a pipe dream now. I just don't have the strength and endurance to work while taking pain medication. If I get stressed at work, I usually get upset and take it out on someone there and that has gotten me into trouble twice now. I also have MS type issues with my eyes and a couple of brain lesions.
Do you think I will have problems getting SSDI based on my story? Do you think they will expect me to continue to work while on pain meds? I can't stand, sit or walk w/o pain pills for any length of time without lying down.
Sorry for the long post but I have been frozen in inaction and can't make a decision or be objective any longer about what I should and shouldn't be able to do. Brain fog is a real problem as well and any additional stress wipes me out. I have been coming home, flopping on the couch after work and spending the weekends there for over 5 years. This is no life.
So long of short is 1. Will I have trouble getting SSDI and 2. Should I get the surgeries or just continue to manage with pain meds which I can do OK if I don't work? Sorry again for the long post...
The NS said you must have a genetic predisposition for DDD to be this bad at your age - I am nearly 50. I had an L5 S1 discectomy in 1997. My new NS asked me if I had insurance because in order to fix everything it was going to run $250-400,000 which included laminectomies in my lumbar area, a discectomy at T11-12, and a cervical fusion of C5-C7.
I just applied for SSDI two days ago. I'm afraid once they start operating, they are going to create even more arthritis and put me in even greater pain after all the surgeries. I have been managed by my IM guy for pain for 5 years and have continued working. Then I moved because I basically couldn't do the job I had and got fired and got all new docs including a PM who is excellent.
Back at the end of September after an issue at my new work due to pain, pain medication and anxiety, I was asked to resign. This makes the third job I've lost due to health issues. I also had a car accident while on pain meds - fell asleep and totaled my car. Fortunately, no one was in the other lane because I crossed over to the wrong side of the road and then came back to my side into a guard rail. Thank God no one was injured, including myself.
I have really struggled with asking for SSDI. I just want things to be better, but I'm thinking it's a pipe dream now. I just don't have the strength and endurance to work while taking pain medication. If I get stressed at work, I usually get upset and take it out on someone there and that has gotten me into trouble twice now. I also have MS type issues with my eyes and a couple of brain lesions.
Do you think I will have problems getting SSDI based on my story? Do you think they will expect me to continue to work while on pain meds? I can't stand, sit or walk w/o pain pills for any length of time without lying down.
Sorry for the long post but I have been frozen in inaction and can't make a decision or be objective any longer about what I should and shouldn't be able to do. Brain fog is a real problem as well and any additional stress wipes me out. I have been coming home, flopping on the couch after work and spending the weekends there for over 5 years. This is no life.
So long of short is 1. Will I have trouble getting SSDI and 2. Should I get the surgeries or just continue to manage with pain meds which I can do OK if I don't work? Sorry again for the long post...
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/416/627/main.html
where treatment/questions (to ask you medical doctor are listed) and other matter about DDD are listed, including
Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease
Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Degenerative Disc Disease
What is the problem with the lumbar spine?
Is there significant narrowing and compression?
What treatments do you recommend?
What operative treatments are options?
Is spinal fusion preferable to laminectomy and other procedures?
Will spinal implants be used?
If so, what kind and what is their purpose?
What are the possible complications?
What are the chances the preoperative symptoms will be improved or eliminated?
I answer your question in the back support group. Is a pretty long response, so I let you read it over there. Good luck!