Hi shellos8,
It's me, SharonMom. I read your post, and I can tell you that I have been disabled and on disability since shortly after I was diagnosed with M.S. in August of 2009. Because my symptoms came on quickly.
It all started shortly after my Mom died on 3-1-09. My right leg started taking a shorter step than my left leg, causing me to fall many times. Then the right leg started having tremors. The final straw came in May of 2009, when I was incontinent on the job. Thankfully my client, I was taking care of an 87 year old as a Nurse's Aide, was at breakfast, so I was able to clean myself up. The next day I made an appointment with my G.P., which led to my being seen by a neuro-surgeon, because of the 3 bulging discs they found in my lower back. But when I saw him, he said that my symptoms could not be caused just by the bulging discs, so he referred me to a neurologist. 3 more MRI's and a spinal tap later, caused my neurologist to diagnose me with M.S. So now I am a full time housewife. If your symptoms continue to worsen, you might ask your neuro if it is time for you to apply for federal disability. Good Luck.

I think that has much to do with what type of job you have, and what you are trained or educated for. Also, what type of accommodations your employer is willing to make for your illness. Of course, by definition, you are not "able" to perform ANY job full time to be considered disabled for Social Security Disability, but private companies will have their own definitions.
D

I was totally disabled in 1993 and received LTD. In 1994 I received my SSD and dx with ME/CFS and other stuff. I was dx with MS in 12/2006. I can't tell you if it was the MS symptoms as I am classified RRMS. As far as I know those with that classification still work. Something knock me out pretty quick. My symptoms list is so long it is kind of embarrassing to fill it out when seeing new doctor. I don't have primary care doctor as he refused to see me as a patient. I usually don't see one but once a year anyway. You will know when it is time and your neurologist will help when that time comes.

Wishing you the best, Bunni

My ms was suspected in 2000 but put down to hemiplegic migraines. It took till October 2005 to be actually dx with ms.
I have had to change responsibilities at work & hours of work (gradually) so now only working part time & it is gradually decreasing. Think I will be probably be taking more long service leave (been there 12 years) then retiring later this year as symptoms have got worse & I have needed more aids.

Originally I used a walking stick after a flare up & hospital then rehab in 2006, then got leg supports due to drop feet. Can't remember when but started using walker then got a walker for work & was using a scooter to get to & from work with trains etc. Last year I got an electric wheelchair & started using that for work - getting to & from & all day at work too. I am now in that all day as well at work & when we go out I am either on the scooter or wheelchair as can't walk far at all.
I have also got a very bad foot that is in a cam boot because of other issues - some caused by steroid use too.

Don't give up before you are ready too & make plans well in advance as to how you would manage.
It really depends on your job, how far you have to travel & how & if you drive & if that is affected too.
Lots of people still work for years after being dx with ms. If you are able to & happy to then keep going.

Hope I haven't confused you & please keep asking questions too.

Yes I am disabled and all the signs led up to it and they explained everything away, I got my disability based on my back and hipp which all led to the dx of disabled, that was the slap in the face of havinng MS it is just so hard for all of us

Bunni, why does your primary care doctor refuse to see you? Don't you generally need a PCP to treat other things maybe not related to MS or can/will a neurologist handle all of those things? I think I saw another post from someone on here that they couldn't get a PCP to see them.

I think some of you misunderstood the point of my questions. I'm NOT in any way considering applying for disability at this point. I hope to work for many years to come. But I know how unpredictable this disease is and so I could work right up until retirement or I could be totally disabled in a year or two.

I just would like to hear some of your stories. I haven't even been diagnosed a year and there is sooo much to learn. I find hearing other mser's stories to be very enlightening. Some are uplifting and some are hard to read and make me sad.

I keep telling myself it is what it is. What else can you do? I hope and pray for a cure every day. I know there are a lot of people working tirelessly to figure this thing out.

Thanks for all your replies so far. I'm actually at work right now but would like to responsd to a couple of you specifically later on. Have a great day :)

you are a fighter!! i was to-
but ya - i worked i even had the health ins-4 family-
well things can change real quick
its bad-very hard to be -proud- then get knocked down like this
but cant imagine how a man deals with it- they brought up to provide-be -well tough-
very deppressing-

I've been DX for 6 years and still work full time. About 3 years post dx though I was working in a more physical job and realized that I couldn't do that much longer, so I transitioned to a desk job career that is much more "physically appropriate" for my situation and allows me to work from home on rough days. usually once a week. It's all about planning though, and each person is different. I think about going on disability at least once a week - and my doctors regularly ask if i'm ready. But to be honest, I spent 3 days in the house last week and was ready to lose it, so clearly I wouldn't do well at home everyday.

As for the PCP - I have one and she is great! But it took me 5 years to find her because most PCPs were not willing to take a "Back seat" to the neuro (e.g. my primary calls my neuro before prescribing any meds for me, and if they have a disagreement, I will take my neuro's opinion 9 times out of 10). The trick for me was to find a doctor who knows nothing about MS - although that sounds counterproductive, it doesn't become an ego thing when she has to question how something would affect my MS.

LOL mine too! He told me on my first visit he knew nothing about ms, but I could ask for anything I needed. He gives me prescriptions, labs, anything my neuro wants. I'm very happy with him. Alma.

When I was 39 I was dx'd with RRMS. I was a telephone repairman. I continued working for as long as I could calling out sick every few months. Climbing poles and ladders in all kinds of weather and putting in 12 hour days became too much after 2 years. The final straw was I started to feel unsafe. I now am on SSDI :-(

I became disabled almost 2 years after I go sick--maybe a year and a half? My symptoms came on so strong/sudden when I was 22 but I couldn't get any help or doctors to take me seriously so I kept going.
I had left side just dead--dragged it around--left eye blind. PAIN ...all the worst pain symptoms possible I've got em.

It wasn't a decision I really made myself. One day I just couldn't get out of bed anymore. I've been in bed since--clearly judged to be worthless to the working world.

I paint and spend most of my time alone.

Yes, I am classified as disabled. In 1989 I was working full time for a major retailer when I received a "probable MS" dx, and in 1996 I got a true dx of RRMS. I worked with the same company until March 2009 when my position was eliminated.

It was my intention to take 1-2 years off and then go back to work but in 2010 I had a major relapse. After the relapse, I was in extreme pain and not able to walk, sit up or even feed myself. I was in rehab for a month then at home therapy for several month afterwards. The relapse was my final straw because I had such a long road to recovery. I am good now not much residual from the relapse but fatigue and cog issues just kick my butt on a daily basis.

In many ways I think it was the work that kept me going each day even if it was rough at times. I often wonder how different things would be if I not taken the time off.

It is great you are still working. I would say work as long as you can. Make sure you plan financially for the day when you won't be able to work because disability will most likely be less than what you are accustom to having.

AS of right now I am still working as a home health but over the last year its been down hill my job is stressfull .my last flair really got me down ,So I am not sure how long I will be about to keep it up.My stytoms are too numbers to name....II just take one day at a time

Cathy

I was diagnosed over 20 years ago. I had a flare and went to a neurologist . He ran all kinds of tests, and dx the MS. I worked in the Education field. I kept working, and it wasn't until 5 years ago I had a really bad exacerbation and had to quit work and go on Disability.

Every day I wish I was back working, and then I forget what I was doing. Brain fog!! Stay exercising and doing everything your doctors tell you to.

Good Luck and God Bless!

I was DX'd in Oct 2002. My neuro said he thought I'd had it since I was a teenager( a long time ago.). I continued to work for 1 year. I was falling asleep driving and falling asleep at my desk after lunch. That is when I went on disability and stopped driving,