What do you think constitutes "disability"?

[BadgeBunny]

Dave, I don't think anyone in their right mind thinks you are part of the problem here.

As for the neighbors seeing you in the yard, people tend to forget all the times they DON'T see you leading a "normal" life (which can be days, weeks or even months) and focus on that ONE good day you had, back in 1993 ... I know because I've seen it too. My little disability placcard has gotten me glared at, cussed at and even spit on one time. I just take it in stride now. They have no way of knowing that I only use that placcard when I'm hurting. The rest of the time I park out in the south 40 because I enjoy walking ...

I don't look like I have any problems. Even when I'm hurting so bad I can't literally can't read the street signs, much less what's written on a piece of paper, I look fine to folks who don't know me. GC told me recently that it took him a long time to figure out when I was hurting because I don't act "normal" ... Maybe it's because you just get used to it ... I dunno ... I do know that on the days that I have periods of time that I'm completely pain-free it's like a 2-ton boulder has been lifted off me. I wish it would happen more often ...

 

[Glocktogo]

I will read the info at the link a bit later, on my way to bed now.

This is what I dealt with, it may answer a few questions.

I suffer from EDS (Ehler-Danlos syndrome if anyone is interested I have HEDS you can find info at WWW.EDNF.ORG ) It messes with more than just faulty collagen, I would be happy if frequent dislocations were all I had. It also messes with the my heart, (SVT, Palpitations) digestive tract, liver, migraines (due to neck) kidneys and I also have wild fluctuations with my diabetes. Oh lets not forget I have arthritis in each joint I have hurt over the years, that is most of them. Top that off with a spine that on a good day "slips around" and you get a small idea of what EDS can do to you. Plus for a kick in the butt I also get all the normal crap everyone gets.

I was working and my last injury lead to surgery on my hand, I had torn the muscles in the palm. Now the workman's comp started with a new to me mess. They claimed pre existing condition, it took 9 months of legal fighting to get approval to have my hand fixed. Then another 6 months of not being able to work for rehab. The 15 months of down time was bad. My body went from decent shape, allowing me to work, even with multiple dislocations per month, most reduced with a bit of help from a fellow worked or a trip to the ER.

After sitting 9 months the Dr that worked on my hand said due to the amount of scar tissue it was a real mess and he had little hope for it to be "normal." My Ortho Dr had suggested I file for SSD years before, but to me I was still able to work. So like most I worked. I was a sandblaster/painter. I had no idea what my work was really doing to my body. But hey it felt good to care for my family and earn my paychecks. It was nice to have a few dollars in my pocket.

After the surgery on my hand I could not use it enough to work, the people from workman's comp suggested I apply for SSD. Well after trying several different jobs and failing at all of them I let the state send me to Tulsa for 5 days of rehab, vocational testing. The results were a shock to my ego. They said due to my medical downward spiral I was not worth retraining, they would not help with school or any other method of helping me find work I could do.

Off to the SSD people, first application, wow I get denied due to age, second time (appealing) denied due to lack of medical reason. I was sent to several Dr's for the SSD people, I was not allowed to see these tests results nor the reports that went with them, those belong to SSD. When I made it to see a judge, and we are talking almost 3 years after applying, he showed me the medical reports from SSD, each one of them said the same thing. We can not treat EDS, just deal with the problems as they occur. Yet they drug this out while their own people wanted me approved.

After the Judge approved me I find out that they will pay me to the date of the first application. Then that gets changed, they went back to the date of my last injury while working, they could go back 24 months prior to applications date at that time. Now none of this was my doing, that is just done on the SSD side. I get no info at all, just a check in the mail one day. Then a Medicare card, they said my 2 year waiting time had been served while waiting on approval. The money was nice, but by this time we had lost everything but our house, and we had that because my in-laws paid the payment each month.

Now jumping to present day, I am looking at several more surgeries, both hips need replaced, both knees a neck fusion that will include 4 vertebrae, also disk problems in 7 locations along with bone spurs, they hurt the most. I have a rather large blockage on the back of my heart. I also need my shoulders worked on, would be nice if they did not hang out of socket all day, plus one elbow and several fingers. The part that sucks is my body does not hold sutures, they just pull out. When I had to have my gall bladder out it turned into a real mess, now 4 years later I must have it done again just to fix the results of the first surgery. So I am a mess. Because of the suture problems both my Dr and me are scared to do anything until I have absolutely no other option.

Some people ask me why I dont work, after all they saw me in my yard one day. They forget that I spent the last 3 months stuck in the house completely, just leaving for Dr's appointments, I understand that they just see me when I am out. On the days I feel well I do what I can and what I want until I cant, most times that is about 3 hours and I am done for a week or more, some times I over do it and spend 3-4 days in bed to recover.

I agree way to many people abuse the SSD system. I know of people that are on SSD and work, call the SSD people and tell them, the basic reply is it is cheaper to pay them than it is to check on them and kick them off SSD. Well I suggest a bounty to be paid for each one I can turn in, that will also include workman's comp and welfare.

Few of you people know, but web sites like this are my social life. I do not go out very often, most times I stay home and the wife and daughter go out, that way they can have a nice time without my pain cutting the event short.

I am not sure if I would qualify for disability to some, but I worked as long as I could and now I get SSD and in one month I get less than I made per week when I had a job that I enjoyed doing.

I started paying taxes at age 13, I am now 47.

Thing in my life that hurts the worst is I have a daughter that is awesome in every way, yet by sheer bad luck I passed the EDS genetic flaw to her. I look at her and know the pain to come in her life, she started dislocating at 14 months old. All she wants in life is a fair chance, but each time she tries for anything her body lets her down. My son is lucky, he is EDS free.

Got to go, it has taken me three tries to type this, and my neck is screaming.

This is a legitimate SSI-D issue. Quedtion is, how do you separate the good cases from the bas in a timely manner?

 

[caojyn]

this guy was on disability before...

 

[Mad Dog Patriot]

Brother you should get the SSD for youre family. Sounds like they could use the benefits. Your not taking &^%* from government, your just making them pay you back for all you have given them over the years.

Remember, Pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction. You are not haughty, but don't be to prideful of taking what you are owed by those bastards.

Well BANG has just moved from hobby to 2nd job.

Wife is sick, no idea what is going on, no disability, no unemployment, no food stamps.

Daughter dignosed with a disability.

I dont need no stinking SSI

I will pick up the slack for now by doing the same thing I have been doing.

Working 24/7 as hard as I can.

I dont want s**t from the government.

 

[RETOKSQUID]

I get spun up as well when I see and or hear about someone playing the system. Especially after the hell we had to go through in order to receive my benefits. MEB, VA, social insecurity exams, year and a half waiting and fighting with the red tape.

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

Or it certainly could result in disabilities.

So could riding a motorcycle.

 

[Billybob]

This is a legitimate SSI-D issue. Quedtion is, how do you separate the good cases from the bas in a timely manner?

Maybe you concentrate on the system and those in it instead of just the individual cases, people worried about Dave being in his yard or B.B. not looking like she's hurting enough are missing the big picture.

 

[Glocktogo]

Maybe you concentrate on the system and those in it instead of just the individual cases, people worried about Dave being in his yard or B.B. not looking like she's hurting enough are missing the big picture.

Unfortunately, in reality the big picture is who can game the system the best. Honest people don't think that way, so they get "lost" in the system. It's the ones who know they're playing a game that learn how to work the rules to their advantage.

 

[Billybob]

Unfortunately, in reality the big picture is who can game the system the best. Honest people don't think that way, so they get "lost" in the system. It's the ones who know they're playing a game that learn how to work the rules to their advantage.

Very true, but if the system is so broken that it can be gamed so much and so often then maybe it needs fixed.

 

[Glocktogo]

Very true, but if the system is so broken that it can be gamed so much and so often then maybe it needs fixed.

Sure, but do you know what it actually takes to "fix" a bureaucratic institution?