pain is hard to prove but if you don't apply its guaranteed you won't get it.

There is gov. sponsored disability and private disability, and may even be state disability. Check on all three! In NJ where I live there is temp. dis. which covers until Fed. disability kicks in. Fed. dis. has a six month grace period. Some private disabilities pay according to the degree of disability; they cover a portion of what your yearly income is/was. My husband had this type of disability in addition to the others. The private disability is often paid for by the employer as a benefit, but you can add to it in increments. Perhaps you should check with your human resources manager, or even with a disability lawyer. They usually work on a contingency basis and I know plenty of people who have used one telling me it's the best way to go.

I am new to the group, but I have been off work on disablility since September. I am off work due to the pain. I had no trouble with my disability plan because of the size of my kidneys and my neph saying I could no longer work due to Polycystic kidney disease and the pain resulting from the disease. I don't know where you live, but everything is different is each state or country and even with insurance companies. My function is still at about 35%, but it sure does not feel that way. I take 15mg of hydromorphone 3 x a day and another 4mg 2 x a day.
Best of luck to you!!

I am on long term disability through my employer for pain. It took about 4 months before it was approved. Do it now before you lose your job.

Thanks for the posts.

Were you off work while you awaited approval?

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I started with short term disability and was off work while I received this immediately. I tried working part time for a few months and it didn't work out. I was out of work for the 4 months I waited for LTD and did not have any income. We had to borrow money from family because at the time my husband was laid off and we had exhausted our savings. My advice is to take short term disability and file your long term disability at least 30 days prior to need be because it takes a long time for them to collect records and such from doctors and employers. Are you currently on FMLA?
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When I first went off work I was in emergency the first week 2 times. I tried to go back to work and only lasted for 3 hours and had to leave because the pain was so bad. I only had a 3 day waiting period to start short term disability. After 3 months it then switched to long term. My disability policy is with my empolyer, so I am very luck that way. I do believe that you have to be off work before you can apply for disability. Hope this helps. Good Luck

Some people get disability because of pain. Sometimes the doctors will give a different reason though. People with back pain get disability all the time. You might want to see what your SS info is on govt disability. If you still have your job and disability insurance and you are afraid you will be fired remember two things. #1 If you work for a complany with more than 10 (i think, but you should check it) FMLA applies to you. This means with proper documentation your employer must excuse you for up 12 weeks of time off to take care of yourself or family member because of illness, although they don't have to pay you. If you seriously think you will not be able to return to work, don't tell them and start the process of researching disablity and the pros and cons. Sometimes the policies from work provide better coverage than SSDI. However many employer based DI only covers you for two years unless you have an upgraded plan to take you all the way to age 65. i know it's a drag and the last thing you want to think about right now. Maybe you have someone that can help you decide what to do. Painkillers, while helping with the pain, can make thinking hard.
I know you will figure this out... but you'll have to do your due diligence... Good Luck and I hope you feel better.