[UndividedHeart]

I am really sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time. I also injured my back. I have not been able to work in 7 years. Life was very difficult and things seemed to just get worse for a while. I can relate to a lot of what you said. My health went to pot and I was in so much pain. I am doing great now, and I look back and don't know how I lived with all that pain. I forgot what it was like to not have pain. I had an Artificial Disc Replacement at L4-5 in November of 2006. My disc was torn to the inter annulus. This surgery has been a major success. I am going to the doc this week and he will hopefully release me to return to work. I know that they were not doing this surgery on multiple levels, but it would be worth checking into. Make sure you get a doc that has been doing it more than a couple of years. I know you know this. My doctor is Dr. Isaza, he is wonderful.

I would apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible. I know it is a long process, but it is well worth it. I am young as well and I fought for it and got it. The medical part saved me. It has been so long since I received it. I did all kinds of research myself and brought articles and documentation to the hearing. My attorney did not win it for me. The judge told me he would not have awarded me it, if it would not have been for the articles and documentation. The sad part about being injured is you have to make sure that you are taken care of. Usually, others will not do it for you, even when you are paying them. I don't know what state you live in, but I would check into your Medicaid system, welfare system, food stamps, etc. These all can be a big help if you can actually get them. Also if you are taking medications you can contact the drug company that makes the medication you are on, and ask for patient assistance. I got some of my medications for free this way. Also you can check out www.nursinghouse.org they help disabled nurses. I was not able to get help from them due to Workman's Comp, but they are supposed to help you with your bills.

I know that you might not want to hear this but the only way that I got through my ordeal was with the help of God. Now I look at my trails and can see the good that came about because of them. I know for a fact that I would not have the relationship that I have with God if I had not been through this ordeal. So for me it was a blessing in disguise. I had to rely on Christ so much everyday. I used my time to study His word, and I believe that God in returned blessed me with healing. God healed many of my health problems even the doctors will agree. I prayed and many people prayed for many years and I finally received answered prayer. It was in God's timing. His will is not for everyone to be healed, but in my case it was. Now I have to tell my story to bring Him the glory. I will pray for you. If you need anything please contact me. Thank you and God Bless You

[DonnainGA]

Thanks for sharing your story with me. It really helps to know Im not totally alone. I have one question though. WHen you referred to taking documentation to the hearing for SS ..what documentation are you referring to? THANKS AGAIN!!

[Hoozdo]

Originally Posted by DonnainGA

Thanks for sharing your story with me. It really helps to know Im not totally alone. I have one question though. WHen you referred to taking documentation to the hearing for SS ..what documentation are you referring to? THANKS AGAIN!!

Initially there is no hearing for SSD. You apply on paper and very thoroughly and methodically fill out the paper work. You are either approved or denied.

Once denied, you have a hearing. You don't have to wait for a heaing to include documenation. You can use it in when you initially apply. The paperwork should include any medical abstracts, evidence based pratice research, or other documentation about your condition.

[UndividedHeart]

I found articles on my particular back problem, which was a torn annulus. I found articles on the Artificial Disc Replacement, which at the time was not being done in the US. I found articles that actually explained how sitting, standing, walking with a torn annulus causes increased pain. I don't remember the articles I found, but it really proves that you are limited to work, because anytime you are bearing weight on the lower back your pain increases. You can try looking under articles produced by Dr. Charles Aprill. He was located in New Orleans, but I don't know if he is still in New Orleans post Katrina. Anyway he might have some articles to this affect. I have moved several times since I had my hearing so I don't know what happen to the articles. Someone replied that you could put your documentation with the application, which is probably a good idea. My attorney did not even want to give the judge the articles, but I insisted on it. And yes in my state they almost always deny you the 1st time, but make sure you appeal. Make sure also that when you appeal you send it certified mail. I didn't and they claimed they didn't get my appeal, so I had to reapply. I hope all goes well for you and if you need anything else please let me know. Try to have a blessed day.

[woody62]

I need to post a few corrections. SSDI's application is more then 16 pages long. You need to complete it completely, obtain copies of your medical records, especially the doctors who have said that you are unable to work for the next twelve months or more. You submit everything and it takes about six months for the initial review, which is almost always turned down. I believe you have forty-five days to file your appeal. You can add additional medical documentation, if you have it. It takes another six months for another review. You are generally turned down. You then file fore a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. This is a federal judge who will review all your medical records, question you, question the representative for the SSA and allow you to present any additional evidence you might have, including supporting journal documents and/or any work evaluations you may have had done. If you are represented by an attorney, he will generally have a pretty good idea if you will win or not. But until you get your letter of determination from the Social Security Administration. It can take anywhere from four to twelve weeks to get the letter. Your first check is generally deposited the following month.[/b]

[b]If you chose to be represented by an attorney, pick one carefully. You can go to your yellow pages to get several names or call your bar association and ask for the name of several attorneys who specialize in SSDI. Your choice should be an attorney who practices primarily disability and WC law. As him how many cases he handles a year. And what his success rate is out of that total. If he is vague, I wouldn't hire him. I had one leg up on others, I could and did go to a judge I knew and asked him for one or two names, which he gladly gave me.

Woody

[akwesook]

I had my first fusion in 95(lumbar) second in 96 (cervical) and third a year ago. Apply for that SSDI-and if you get denied appeal. I went through 8 months of NO income when I was first injured (husb divorced me when I became a non-wage-earner and took the joint savings with him) Mine was an auto accident caused by ex. It took me years and I went through a lot of hell but I manage the pain and Social Security is paying for my LVN to BSN upgrade!

[deehaverrn]

all this is interesting to me, but i can't even get a doctor to take me out of work...i have several annular tears, and as undivided heart says (yes...exactly!!) i would get up in the morning with mild pain but it started gettin worse as soon as i started doing anything!! by the time i was washed, dressed, and drove to work i was all ready having trouble walking because of the pain level, i think i actually have a good pain tolerance but some days i couldn't take it and it was even worse the busier i was and the more days i worked in a row, some people acted like it must be nothing because i don't have a problem with straight leg raises nor pain in my legs (other than numbness and pins and needles but nothing sharp). i have been unable to work full days but have worked partial days...sometimes i am unable to even walk out to my car until i lie down and rest my back, anyway at present i am off work but they will probably send me back again soon, i had a procedure called an IDET which heats the annulus to form scar tissue and seal the tears ..it doesn't have a great track record but i am desperately trying to find something that doesn't require me to be on all these narcotics but still be comfortable because i just CAN't face going back to work and being in that much pain every day again!!!
The really annoying thing is that if i ever need to file for ssdi...i have read my doctors records since i have been involved in litigation over worker's comp my lawyer gets copies of all of them...and it is really disturbing how inaccurate the records are..since i know they are used in court for worker's comp as well as disability rulings. For example, despite the fact that i sometimes have numbness and pins and needles in my feet that is so bad it is difficult to even feel the pedals in my car in order to drive myself..this is not mentioned in the doctors notes once!! the fact that my teeth are cracked which i told my doctor my dentist had attributed to my clenching my teeth so often due to pain is not in there ( i've switched from that doc) and even though i have had problems sleeping for over a year..my recent records continuously say "denies sleep problems"...What?!! From someone who has always been scrupulous in charting this is especially offensive. I'm not sure if I mentioned my sleep problems at EVERY visit, but i am positive that i have never denied them. Oh well, enough ranting...but if you find any links to those articles about annular tears i'd love to read them.

[ingelein]

I think that there are MANY MANY nurses out there who have ruined their own health taking care of others.Some have ended their carreer by being forced out by unnscrupulous, uncaring employers.Then they have to face the long arduous task of getting approved for SSDI,which takes up to two or more years( if denied on initial application).In the meantime their health continues to go down the tubes and the lack of healthcare access slaps them down even harder.Cobra costs a fortune. OK, OK I know I sound bitter and I guess I am, but I choose to believe that we have it in our power as voters and Americans to change the federal programs that dont work, we can join the health care reform movement by voting for those who dont work for special interest groups with GREED as their agenda.I am one of those with DJD, DDD of spine and DJD of bilat. knees,inflammarory arthritis of hands and inflammatory ocular disease.I am waiting for over a year now for my SSDI hearing.Thank God for my children or I would be out on the street. Lost everything but my will to go on.

[mpolice]

For any nurses out there with herniated discs - have you heard of the new spinal decompression table? It's like a computerized traction that is supposed to alleviate the herniation and prevent surgery. I urge anyone with a herniation to check it out. I've been at my chiropractor's office for help with some arthritis in my back and I noticed several people going to and from this table over a course of 5 weeks. Lumbar and cervical herniations were being totally relieved! At the end of 5 weeks, these people were walking out of there on their toes! All of them looked 100% better. They didn't need their back braces or neck braces anymore, they were smiling and happy. The table is a DMX-9000. It must be amazing cuz all these people looked totally painless. I am amazed at what this table can do. I guess you could just type in DMX-9000 or Spinal Decompression on the internet and get info. I hope this helps someone cuz percutaneous fusions and laminectomies are so permanent. Marie

[Hoozdo]

Originally Posted by mpolice

For any nurses out there with herniated discs - have you heard of the new spinal decompression table? It's like a computerized traction that is supposed to alleviate the herniation and prevent surgery. I urge anyone with a herniation to check it out. I've been at my chiropractor's office for help with some arthritis in my back and I noticed several people going to and from this table over a course of 5 weeks. Lumbar and cervical herniations were being totally relieved! At the end of 5 weeks, these people were walking out of there on their toes! All of them looked 100% better. They didn't need their back braces or neck braces anymore, they were smiling and happy. The table is a DMX-9000. It must be amazing cuz all these people looked totally painless. I am amazed at what this table can do. I guess you could just type in DMX-9000 or Spinal Decompression on the internet and get info. I hope this helps someone cuz percutaneous fusions and laminectomies are so permanent. Marie

My husband had a herniation at L5 and tried this treatment. I don't want to be discouraging, but this therapy actually made him worse. He ended up with a diskectomy and his pain is 90% better. This tx is not covered by most insurances and is expensive to.

With chronic back pain, almost anything is worth a try. He tried and it didn't work