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Disability update
 
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Ignorant_Florist
Daycare Manager
Pipebomb Monkey

P: 04/25/2018 21:19 EST
    Well, my Disability hearing was yesterday.

I had met with my lawyer on Monday to go over how the hearing would go, but he admitted to me that he didn't know that particular judge that was assigned to my case.

From what he told me, each judge does the hearing differently, while staying within the guidelines of such things. The one I got seemed like a nice easygoing one(unlike the judge at my brother's sentence modification hearing... but I digress). There was also a "career counselor" there to evaluate my conditions, and see if there are any jobs that I could do.

The judge hadn't been involved in my case before, so everything was new to him.

For those who don't know, the vertebrae in my neck and lower back(I forget their exact designations) are eaten up with arthritis, there is no "padding" between them, and the spinal canal is closing off. That last bit is causing all sorts of problems by itself, not to mention the pain from those bones rubbing and jamming together.

My knees are shot(no padding there, either), and all of my major joints have arthritis. These issues have been building up over time, and I was on some very strong medications when I was working(180mg of morphine per day, plus oxycodone for "breakthrough" pain). I stopped working at the end of 2013, when it became apparent the level of damage I'd done to myself.

My doctor at the time, who had been writing me the medications to keep me working, had told me that if I kept doing what I was doing(busting my ass at work), I would end up in a wheelchair within 5 years. He wasn't wrong. That was 2 years before I stopped working. I now use a cane to walk with, and sometimes a "rollator", which is a walker with wheels and a seat.

The nerve issues are really as much of an issue as the pain is. Because of the stenosis(closing of the spinal canal), the signals don't make it from my brain to where they are supposed to all the time. This means my hands shake, my fingers twitch randomly, and my legs will go out from under me without warning.

So, back to the hearing. The weather here was horrible, rain in the area, which made my pain levels go nuts. My lawyer had advised me not to take my meds until after the hearing. The pain caused me a bit of a distraction, but both the lawyer and my wife(who was there) thought I had handled myself well during the questioning.

I'm an Aquarius.... I'm "detail oriented"... which served me well during my working years. However, that also means that I tend to want to convey as much information as possible when I'm talking to someone. I was advised against "rambling" during the hearing. Short and concise, I was told. Oy-vey.

How do you describe how many things you were responsible for at a job where you literally did everything except office work during the year? I kept it brief, though... the pain probably helped with that.

One thing I did get to mention is; "Who would hire me knowing I am basically a workman's comp case looking for a place to happen... on my first day?" My lawyer(who led me into that statement/question), then asked if I'd ever had a workman's comp case against any employer I'd ever had... nope.

While my issues are due to how hard I worked, I don't blame the employers. I could leave at any time. Staying was my own choice, but the nursery was a place I literally loved being at. I was happier working 80 hours/week there in a week than I was working 24-40 hours/week anywhere else. I never woke up and dreaded going in.

The career counselor was asked questions relating to a couple of hypothetical people(one of which was spot on, me).... and for the "younger" me, there were plenty of jobs I could do. I kept thinking, "if I COULD work, I'd BE working, and not sitting in here", but I kept that to myself. The "now" me.... nothing. Even he admitted there is nothing I could do as gainful employment. Not in the condition I am in now, and with a highly respected neurosurgeon telling me that surgery should be held as an absolute last resort, there's basically no hope I'll ever get better. I will live in pain for the rest of my life.

So, while it looks very promising that I'll get it, I still have to wait for the official letter. Until then, I'm going to remain guardedly optimistic.

Until that first check arrives, I'll be limping my poor old PC along. It looks like the boot drive is starting to go. I've got another identical size drive I can use, but I really want to get this one "mirrored" onto that one, so I don't actually lose anything.
  
Prelude to Agony
Super Regular
Sniper Harassment
Duty

P: 04/25/2018 21:36 EST
    I hope it works out for you man. What a drag to have to put up with that....getting old is the pits!  
LGMB95033
Super Regular
Deadly Dispenser
Man

P: 04/25/2018 23:10 EST
    I sure hope all this works out for you, arthritis is a very painful way of life.
I have an extra HD lying around if you want. Also there is a program I used to mirror HD’s is free and it’s called Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition. It works great run it and you are up with the same O.S.
Best wishes, hope to see you on Drippy's!
  
Lews Therin
P: 04/25/2018 23:24 EST
    Damn...  
Ignorant_Florist
Daycare Manager
Pipebomb Monkey

P: 04/25/2018 23:24 EST
   
Prelude to Agony wrote:
I hope it works out for you man. What a drag to have to put up with that....getting old is the pits!
Thanks, man. And yeah, it does suck. You know I'm big on "personal responsibility", so I own up to the fact that I did the damage(though not intentionally). I just loved that job more than I can put into words. When I talk to people who are "stuck" in a job they hate, I keep telling them to "take the reigns, and find a job you'll love." Someone once said, "find a job you love, and you'll never 'work' a day in your life". I forget who, but the sentiment is correct.
  
Ignorant_Florist
Daycare Manager
Pipebomb Monkey

P: 04/25/2018 23:26 EST
   
LGMB95033 wrote:
I sure hope all this works out for you, arthritis is a very painful way of life.
I have an extra HD lying around if you want. Also there is a program I used to mirror HD’s is free and it’s called Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition. It works great run it and you are up with the same O.S.
Best wishes, hope to see you on Drippy's!
I've got a spare drive that's the same size as the boot drive, I just need to clone it. When I bought the system, is came with two 320gb drives. I pulled one and installed a 2tb drive. That's the "dead" data drive from before.

But thanks for the tip on that clone software, I'll give that a shot!
  
-[IBSC]-iLluSiON-
Daycare Manager
Killer Scout

P: 04/26/2018 08:45 EST
    Hopefully everything works out, man.
  
gg#4
Super Regular
Killer Scout

P: 04/26/2018 08:51 EST
    I know people who collect disability for anxiety.

Fucking shame that you have to go through so many hurdles to collect.

Hope it all works out for you
  
Trooper
Super Regular
Rocket Jockey

P: 04/26/2018 09:14 EST
    Hope it all works out for you Iggy.

I agree about Macrium Reflect. Good stuff!
  
Ignorant_Florist
Daycare Manager
Pipebomb Monkey

P: 04/26/2018 09:43 EST
    Thanks, guys!

gg#4 wrote:
I know people who collect disability for anxiety.

Fucking shame that you have to go through so many hurdles to collect.

Hope it all works out for you
I think I know why the process is so arduous, to prevent "abuse". People who aren't legitimately disabled collecting just because they want to.

My case shouldn't have gone on this long, as everything has been well documented. My work history speaks for itself, as does the progression of my issues. I can only guess some assbag "rubber stamped" the denials in between naps and masturbating in his office.

  
Rain
Peon
Medic

P: 04/26/2018 11:25 EST
    Hi. As I understand it, with everyone applying for disability it is an automatic denial on the application, that is just part of the process.

Sounds like you should certainly get it, but good luck anyways!

  
-[IBSC]-iLluSiON-
Daycare Manager
Killer Scout

P: 04/26/2018 12:01 EST
    1 hour if playing time nearly 2 months ago and you're posting on the forums? Welcome, Rain!   
Rain
Peon
Medic

P: 04/26/2018 12:18 EST
    Thank you! This is a nice forum.  
Ignorant_Florist
Daycare Manager
Pipebomb Monkey

P: 04/26/2018 14:11 EST
    Welcome, Rain. I don't know you, but yeah, this forum/community saved my life a long time ago. I appreciate your words, too. Feel free to look all that up.

As it stands, I'm just waiting for word that I've been approved or denied. If the latter, it's off to federal courts. I will NOT let this go.
  
Rain
Peon
Medic

P: 04/26/2018 14:28 EST
    Thank you. A good online community can be a big help, glad you had one when you needed it.

Awaiting the good news then. Good to hear you wont let it go, if it is otherwise.
  
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