New here, need to apply for SSDI but uncertain about some things. Stopped working on Feb 1 this year. Need suggestions please.
As I said I’m new here. I’m a 60 yo female, I’ve always worked, unskilled jobs. I had to stop working in February bcuz I could no longer do my current job. Symptoms started way back in 2004, with numbness tingling legs and feet, back of neck and lower/mid back pain from severe DDD.
I’ve been to many, many doctors over the years from several different neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologist, you name it, I’ve been. Had all the tests MRIs biopsies for neuropathy, electrical nerve tests invoked potentials etc, neurological, everything. Fast forward, to today, I have all my records, from the last 22 years, when it all started including a recent May 1st PCP appointment just for a physical but she wrote in her notes it was for my demyelination disease of the spine that was diagnosed back in 2020. She ordered new MRIs of my brain, neck and spine bcuz I was dx with MS by my, now retired 🙄neurologist 6 years ago. She retired in 2023.
I had to leave my 26 year job this year because I was an aircraft engine mechanic and I could no longer do the job. Couldn’t lift the 50 lb parts, bend, kneel, twist, handle the tools, my accuracy is gone, etc to do the job anymore, and they allow us to leave at 60, so I left. I became more of a liability to them and a few coworkers did the heavy lifting for me, my last 4 months there, though they watched me struggle for a long time before stepping in to help, or before I gave in. I miss them.
Current and long standing issues of today: Demyelination of spine, MS, severe DDD L4-L-6 with stenosis, numbness/tingling/burning both lwr legs, ankles & feet, polyneuropathy, brain, neck and thoracic lesions, tremors in both hands, bowel/bladder urgency/incontinence, off balance, fatigue, Myalgia, bad sciatica. I can’t stand for more than 15 minutes bcuz of my back pain and lower leg pain and stiffness, burning, balance etc, I can’t sit too long bcuz of my sciatica, I can’t walk without shoes bcuz of my neuropathy, or on uneven surfaces bcuz my balance is off. My lower legs and feet are so bad it’s hard to walk any distance at all, and sleeping is awful. Hard to fold clothes, stand to do dishes, even hard to get dressed.
One of my worst issues is I HAVE to be near a bathroom bcuz of my b/b issues or I’ll have an accident, I drop things frequently, I have falls. It’s all documented in doctor visits, MRIs and records.
But, after 2023, after my neurologist retired, I needed to reevaluate my life as it was. I was so tired and sick of doctors that I took a break for 3 years bcuz they could not fix lesions or nerve damage or digestion issues, they just offered more meds, or surgery (for my spine) I was done with it all. And since my BEST neurologist was gone, it meant going out and trying to find another good neurologist and tell my history for the thousandth time bcuz most didn’t care about my past records, they wanted their own, to start all over again, “so tell me when this all started….”. I felt lost and helpless. MS is sometimes years and years of test after test after test. I refused the lumbar puncture bcuz I had so many symptoms and lesions everywhere and my neurologist finally gave me a diagnosis. I cried I was so happy. Some will understand this. Most won’t.
I guess some things were getting worse, I had a bad fall after leaving work in February, so I decided to go back and see my PCP two weeks ago. She ordered new MRIs to see if the disease has progressed, but it’s actually been stable/unchanged (lesions) since 2023, so I don’t expect any surprises, but who knows. I asked her if she could put me out on disability quite a few years ago, she said she doesn’t do that 😫.
I have a 3 year “gap” in MRI records, but I’ll have updated ones soon for my lumbar stenosis and brain, neck and spinal lesions. My questions are, do I have a chance at SSDI?, what documentation would I need to upload to the portal, how much and how far back do I go? Should I wait for my new MRI reports before applying? Am I too old?
Im nervous, I’m scared and I am so tired. My income went from a 6 figure salary to next to nothing (small pension) and it’s extremely difficult right now with inflation etc. Does anyone have any advice for me. And no, after my neuro retired, I never sought out a new one bcuz I was so tired of not getting anywhere and having to keep paying big health bills…. Thanks in advance to everyone who might chime in. Sorry for the book, guess I got carried away.