I always come to this site for questions about CRPS and you all have been great. I am wondering what your experiences have been with getting Social Security Disability?

I am currently not working because of CRPS and am on Short Term Disability. I hope to return but honestly I feel amazing the last week and I am able to control my pain more by not working 9 hour days and doing an hour commute both ways.

I know I need to realistically check out disability so I know my options. I've worked all my life for my career and now it is possible I may lose it I know in the end everything works out but this transition is a scary one!

Thanks for all your input and hope everyone is having a low pain day!

Kelly

I have not gone on SSD myself do I can't really speak to that. I know that many people have but do not know how many of them are still active on this forum. There is a SSD forum here on neurotalk and there is a lot of great information and support for people looking into it and filing for it there. Here's the link:

Social Security Disability

Hope that helps!

Be sure to explore the sticky threads for tips on our SSDI forum - like how to best start a claim..tips etc.
Better to learn about it first so less chances of technical snafu to slow things down.

Lit Love used to be very active over on the Social Security part of NT. She went through the disability process a few years ago and has CRPS, but she has not been active in a month.

I am still finishing going through the process myself. I filed my original claim in October of 2014 and was just awarded a fully favorable decision on June 1st of this year after my hearing in front of an ALJ on April 20. I did live in Metro Detroit when I filed, so that may be part of why it took so long. I was told the Social Security office closest to my old house is the busiest office in the Nation. My first payment is supposed to be coming sometime in the next week, and back pay may be as late as November, but having the whole process over with relieved a lot of stress. and worry.

Chances are, you will be denied on your first application, but you never know. Just keep at it, file your appeal right away, hire a good representative or lawyer but act as if you are representing yourself, submit all medical information and problems, even those not related to CRPS, keep track of all of your paperwork, go to any appointments they want you to go to, and go for a Functional Capacity Evaluation if you can. Try to stay with your treating physician through the entire process. The longer you keep a relationship with your doctor, the better it looks to Social Security. If you do qualify for Disability, these will all help you in the long run and it will be difficult for an ALJ to deny you if you should get to that point.

rsd is recognized as a disability and there is alot of info about it on this forum as well as online. if you feel that you can't work because of rsd and/or the depression and anxiety that goes along with it then you may want to learn as much as you can about rsd and ssdi and get a ssdi lawyer to help assist you. also keep a daily log of all your dr visits, pain levels and symptoms each day, see your drs and take your meds on a regular basis and take photos of your symptoms as well. don't give up hope that you can qualify. if you can't function because of the pain from rsd then you may want to consult with an ssdi attorney about what they think. i have been disabled since diagnosed with rsd. i was initially on temporay disability and then on permanent. there were alot of forms to fill out and i had to meet with a ssdi lawyer and the disablity office but was approved shortly after being diagnosed with rsd. i cannot work and the disability people were very kind and helpful to me. i was required to go through a full disability review again earlier this year and though it was stressful gathering dr reports as well as having alot of forms to fill out i was told that my disability would continue but would be that i would reviewed again from time to time. i was not given a specific time but always have my daily log filled out on my calendar and continue to see my drs and take my meds on a regular basis. i know it's very scary and stressful because we have an illness that is very rare and not very well understood by most people, but don't give up hope. just make sure not to let the stress get the best of you because it can cause your rsd to flare up and your anxiety to rise. i know its hard but try to remember that your health comes first. i hope all goes well for you. soft hugs.