Haven't seen you post in quite some time!

I'm sorry you were denied. I wish I had something for you.

I lost my job three weeks ago and I looked at applying because I don't think I'll find another job that will allow me to work three days a week but I can't wait three years to have an income again.

Hope somebody else will respond with something more. It's good to see you but I wish things were going better.

The reason I applied for SSDI was mostly due to my profound pain and exhaustion after trying and failing at working so many times. But in the end, they approved me based on bipolar disorder and mentioned nothing about my pain condition.

It is common to get denied the first time for most. After that, it is best to get a lawyer even though they take 1/3 of your backpay once you get SSDI, but can't take anymore than that. It's ridiculous, but if you have a difficult case, it is best to get one.

I have NOLO's guide to Social Security Benefits and it says that chronic pain of uncategorized origin (meaning not on their blue blook list of conditions,) can still be qualifiable for benefits. One of the things that helps if you are seeking pain management. It shows you have a condition over a period of time that you are being treated for.

If you have any depression that goes along with it, get treated for that as well and keep it up as that will add the right blue book condition. The examiner can then (in their minds at least) pair that up with the pain treatment history.

I do not know if these things have changed in terms of FMS, but when I applied about 7 years ago now, they did not have a category for FMS.

I hope any of this helps.

Thanks PeaceN2You. Sorry to hear of your job loss. Yes, it's going on 2 years already that I've been out of work and keeping up the insurance has been horribly hard. I only got short term for the first 6 months. I guess that's better than most though so I am thankful for that.

I did find that I had a rare hip problem that develops usually by the time a person is 14 years old or so that has been the cause of much of the hip bursitus and back pain I have been having through the years. I finally took the time to go to have an mri. When I was working I was always too exhausted to go to the doctors when I was done working. So I've had surguries now on both hips. Lots of physical therapy to come but hopefully less pain down the road.

Thank you redfern1966 - that is helpful too. I have been seeing a pain management doctor for over 10 years and a pschyiatrist for at least 7 so hopefully that will help. And they talk to each other.

Go to ssafacts.com-this forum is very helpful! It has been a huge help to me.

sorry, it's ssdfacts.com

I was told three years ago that I have scoliosis, which explains why my pelvis is tilted and my whole body is "off kilter." It explains so much that's not fibro, and may have even contributed to my developing it, who knows?

What I want to know is why it took 60 years for somebody to notice.

Hope your PT helps your hips heal quickly.

I was approved on my first application. I think one of the biggest things that helped me was a diary that I had kept for purposes of helping my doctor to see how medications were impacting my life.

I also had the worst problem with thinking at the time, which was the main reason I couldn't work (I was unemployed for 2 years, too). I also have bipolar disorder and I think that having two conditions was another factor in my getting approved on the first go-round.

That said, it was some years ago and I think it is just generally harder to get approved nowadays.

Good luck

I have a ss and ssi case going now. I lost the appeal and now have a court date. The attorneys feel confident they can win and they are going back to 2008 as I lost My job of 16 years. They will cap at 6k. But they plan on my back pay from 2008. Which will be way more than that but I feel its my money and I should be able to get it since I cant work but out in 32 years in all total. I reccomend u get an attorney that wont charge you unless they win. Good luck

Do you have a doctor to support your claim? That is extremely important.

If that was your first SSD denial you can keep going. After 2 denials you can ask for a hearing, that is where I won my case even though I lost my LTD.