(no subject)

[sprinklethief]

my dad is trying to get me to go on temporary total disability until i get my spine under control (lumbar and neck). the pain is classified as debilitating (i'm assuming that's why they give me so much percocet) in my lower back and hasn't been examined by a neurosurgeon yet in my neck (in a few weeks - sooner if i can get in) tho they've already recommended me for surgery based on the MRI's and symptoms.

i'm in so much pain most of the time i don't get out of bed or off the couch unless i have to - then i get real good and doped up and top it with an adderall so i can keep going. it's a miserable existence, but i have to keep full time status at work in order to keep my benefits.

does anyone have experience with this or any advice?

Comments

[lucidrebellion.livejournal.com]

yes and no. Mnd you we send servicemembers to the medical boards for fitness to serve all the time,...but thats the miitary.

Im kinda surprised that you havent been referred to neuro yet....

[paroxysm-cycle.livejournal.com]

i'm starting to think that the pain clinic i go to is a little too holistic and conservative. i appreciate trying not to dive in and start cutting shit up, but after what, about 4 years of misery with this back injury i'd think they'd be a little more aggressive. they just dropped a $1300 bill on me for all of this stupid bullshit that hasn't worked - AND THAT'S JUST THE COPAYS!!! the first thing the doc always says every time she sees me is "i don't understand how someone your age could have such terrible degeneration! it just doesn't make sense!" I DON'T CARE IF IT MAKES SENSE JUST FUCKING FIX IT!!!

the neurologist referred me to to neurosurgery after seeing the state my neck is in via MRI ("severe" herniation that's messing with my spinal cord) but there's AT LEAST a month waiting period for new patients. I think it's time for me to start looking at other doctors because frankly i'm fucking tired of ALWAYS being in so much pain. i don't think these assholes realize that it really doesn't respond to pain killers, and the ones that are powerful enough to at least do a little something knock me so fucking loopy i can barely function.

that's why dad says i need to seek disability until something is done because a) they might actually get their asses in gear and stop dragging me along for months at a time waiting for an appointment and b) it'll take a TON of stress off not having to work 40 hours on top of a 19 credit hour school schedule.

[ciani.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how this works out. When I was completely out of my mind my psychiatrist tried to get me to apply for it, but I didn't. I was actually kind of worried about the stigma of being considered so mentally fucked up I was disabled. :P

The good thing about being considered disabled is that you'll get social security. Considering it's not likely to be there when we actually retire at least you'll get some of what should be coming to you. I also think you would qualify for additional medical insurance from the state, but that might depend from state to state. At the very least it would mean that you won't have to work and can devote the bulk of your less painful time to school.

I also think you need to get another opinion about your back.

[paroxysm-cycle.livejournal.com]

that's sort of what i was thinking he meant - get taken care of so i can still go to school while getting my back under control.

i agree about the back, though this is my second opinion. now after all this time of doing useless little surgeries they're all about fusion. fusion fusion fusion. no replacement - FUSION!! this coming from the people that swore physical therapy would fix me.

[ciani.livejournal.com]

My aunt had fusion done :( For her it had the opposite effect.. she's now permanently disabled. They tried putting electrodes in her back for the pain, but it didn't work so she's been on oxycontin for years. I'd definitely get yet another opinion before you go that route :(

[paroxysm-cycle.livejournal.com]

according to them we've tried everything else (which i believe since that was procedure #9). i'm trying to find as much info as i can on the disk replacement surgery because it maintains motion and doesn't put added stress on the adjacent disks like fusion does. its just that no one wants to do it because it's relatively new and "we don't know the long term outcomes yet" even though they've been doing them in canada for the last 10 years at least and even longer in europe.

i *did* find a surgeon at lutheran who specializes in that tho, i'm going to try to talk to him. turns out he's even covered by my fickle insurance PPO network.

if i get in there i expect visits from all the cleveland peeps during my little stay dammit!

[ciani.livejournal.com]

I hope he has good news for you. Who are you going through now? Cleveland Clinic?

[paroxysm-cycle.livejournal.com]

right now i go to western reserve spine and pain down here in kent but the guy i'm going to try to get into is with cleveland clinic/lutheran.

[ciani.livejournal.com]

oh good! I can't keep track of who was absorbed into Cleveland Clinic.

[transmission00.livejournal.com]

maybe it's all something else that is affecting your spine and you can eventually go on mystery diagnosis on discovery health. (sorry, i'm obsessed with that show now)

[indy-skies.livejournal.com]

your benefit package at work should include short-term disability (or long term... they may classify it as either) benefits. you would still get paid (although sometimes at a reduced salary) and you would be able to stay home from work and you would be able to collect benefits while on disability. i'd phone your benefit provider - not the store you work for - but the actualy insurnce company and talk to one of their claims specialists about your situation. they will advise you on what to do and if you qualify. i'd say you do. and i'd follow your dad's advise and go for it. once you've gone through your insurance company then you can bring it up with your boss at work. in most cases the insurance company will be able to liason with your boss on your behalf in order to prevent discrimination. ask about that when you talk to them. a quick net search should provide you with the contact information you need to get ahold of your benefit provider. i know my benefits at through a company called Standard Life. you should have an employee number that would be your policy number - or if you have a prescription discount card your group policy number should be on that. you can also call your pharmacist to find out your group policy number - they will have it on file. good luck.