Re: Hello all, introducing myself, new member here

[Guest guest]

At 11:53 PM 12/5/2008, you wrote:

>That's about it. That's me. Thanks for listening.

>

> in Oregon

Welcome to the group . My name is Dave I live in PA. I just

turned 48 today. I have a similar story, without the Jaw pain. The

pain in my right shoulder blade, or more like under it drives me

insane. If you got to our groups main website you can read my compete

story, and that of Jennie another member. I just got tired of

rehashing it everytime we got a new member, so I wrote out the whole

spiel. Here is the link:

neck pain/files/Neck%20%26%20Back%\

20Pain%20Stories/

I fought for my disability for 2.5 years. I was awarded it in Feb

2007 and got my first paycheck in July. I'm sure it varies from sate

to state. Since I waited 2.5 years, I got a nice backpay and also had

put in my waiting period so in September of that same year I was

awarded Medicaid. I turned it down because for now I have better

coverage under my wife.

When we were waiting for SSDI we were on foodstamps, State health

insurance, got food from the foodbank, help with our electric, one

months rent covered. We took advantage of all that was offered

because we truly needed it, and We both had paid in for a combined 50

years. I know you will find friends and support here. Dave

[Guest guest]

,

I am sorry to hear about your trials... My pain does not match your levels

although the last two days have been especially bad. I am guessing that having

no insurance means having no meds.. wow..

That will make a huge differance by itself. I have pain in all areas of my

back but do not reach the " 8 " level but a couple of days a week. But just

being in constant pain by itself is really hard. People have a hard time

understanding why you might be a bit grumpy sometimes...

Although I am sure it is beautiful in Oregon I am guessing the constant rain

might be a contributing factor to the pain. I live in Utah and when the

weather changes I have my worst days...

Of course the hardest part is how your life changes because of all the

things you can no longer do..

I am starting to have a hard time reading because of the pain it creates and

that will really be a bummer..

Hopefully you have a brighter highway coming through medicare...

Tom

In a message dated 12/5/2008 9:54:12 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,

ladyluvvylinda@... writes:

I have chronic pain from the bottom of my jaw on the right side,

down to the bottom of my right shoulder blade in the back. in the

center of my right chest when I breathe. under my right arm inside

the chest, burning pain inside my right arm at the elbow and stabbing

pain in the pinkie and finger next to it.

all from arthritis in my neck (the MDs say), C5/C6 & C6/C7, cervical

stenosis,

cervical spondylosis, cervical radiculopathy, and post operative with

a

reduction of about 50% of the pain. I am able to have a few good

hours a day

where pain level is below 8.

I worry constantly that the pain is from something else, some

undiscovered cancer or aneurysm since it seems to be spreading. I

lost health insurance about 18 months ago.

The resulting weight gain from being unable to move without pain has

added to

the blood pressure problem already in existence from the pain, and am

severely

depressed from all of it, naturally.

Hoping to get some comfort from talking with others in this group to

keep me sane this upcoming winter. I came very close to ending it

last winter.

Contributed often to a disabilities online group, but found that too

general to

be a lot of help for the effort.

I woke up one morning 4 years ago with debilitating pain unable to

move to the right or left to get out of bed and it has changed my

life, as I'm sure you all know. In full disclosure, I had right side

arm shoulder pain that I self managed for 12 years before this.

I thought that was natural for someone who keyboarded and moused on

computers since they were invented 10 hrs day for 20 years. I also

was injured in a motor vehicle accident 5 years before this happened

but thought it was just a typical whiplash. I have learned there was

more damage than I realized.

I went from being a professional who paid taxes, owned a home,

raised my children, sent them to college. I thought I had enough

insurance, but employer's illusory long term disability insurance

wasn't worth squat. I was denied with no possibility for breach of

contract

lawsuit due to ERISA. I had six month emergency savings, money in a

retirement

account.

I thought I had done everything to protect myself and am now

indigent, with 0

funds, on food stamps, living with relatives today, no health care

and suffering

from my disability.

Thank God my SSDI was been fully approved recently at ALJ hearing

level in September however no actual money yet, not through appeals

council yet. I applied May 2006.

I've already identified how I'm going to proceed obtaining medical

care once I get some funds/medicare. When I first had to move to the

area, had no way of knowing where to start finding a new doctor and

with cobra insurance running out, not much happened before I lost

funds. I've been here 2 years now, and have some good datapoints.

I've also

been on food stamps for a year and a half.

That's about it. That's me. Thanks for listening.

in Oregon

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[Guest guest]

Dave wrote:

> If you got to our groups main website you can read my compete

> story, and that of Jennie another member. ,

all that was offered

> because we truly needed it, and We both had paid in for a combined

50

> years.

Hi Dave-

and thanks for the welcome. I promise to work on " my story " and add

to the files. It will be therapeutic to do it.

I feel like I'm in shock still. It's been 3.5 years since I got

sick, 2.5 since I applied for SSDI, lost the house, job, 401k. It's

been 80 something days since I was fully approved for SSDI, no money

yet. I still can't believe that the surgery or having had medical care

didn't " cure " my pain. I'm only 50. I've led a lot healthier life than

some of my friends.

I also can't believe that I need help. I've had to accept help from

my family, friends (believe me I've found out who my true

family/friends are).

I think I need treatment for depression as well. Coming soon. I am

so happy to be living where I am. It's in the mountains, I always felt

like I belonged in the mountains. It's a lot less rainy here in

southern Oregon than in Portland where I lived when I got sick. I have

a good bed, clean air and clean water. That is good living to me.

Thanks again and I'll work on that history.

in Oregon

[Guest guest]

Tom wrote:

> I am guessing that having

> no insurance means having no meds.. wow..

Hi Tom-

I went to a federal clinic and it took a year of going there before

they would prescribe darvocet for me. Then the cost was $44 for the

prescription, when I had barely scraped up the $30 to go to the

appointment (they charge based on my folks income since I live with

them, as if they give me money???)

Needless to say, yes, basically no insurance means no meds. I can't

wait to be able to start treatment at the pain clinic again.

> understanding why you might be a bit grumpy sometimes...

I'm not very good when I'm hurting. Noone wants to be around me and

I don't blame them. It took me awhile to realize that. Now I just

hibernate, go off by myself if I'm hurting really badly, never mind

what holiday or visitor is here. Then they talk about me. I don't

care.

> Although I am sure it is beautiful in Oregon I am guessing the

constant rain

> might be a contributing factor to the pain.

There is less rain here than Portland, you are right, it did affect

me when I lived there. It is warmer here in southern Oregon, but the

cold still ratchets up my pain big time.

> I am starting to have a hard time reading because of the pain it

creates and

> that will really be a bummer..

That's the other thing! I used to read voraciously. I start hurting

from holding the book now! I agree....it is a bummer....I lay in bed

and read now and dread the day I can't even do that.

Anyway thanks very much for the welcome.

in Oregon

[Guest guest]

well I hope that when you are able to get into see another doctor they are

able to help more than " Darvocet " ..

What the doctor is supposed to do is to allow you the best life possible..

We all live in pain and sometimes the pain is really bad(like over the wekend)

but we all need some hope that there will be some days that are not as bad

and we can function at least at a minimal level...

welcome

: )

Tom

In a message dated 12/8/2008 2:17:27 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,

ladyluvvylinda@... writes:

Tom wrote:

> I am guessing that having

> no insurance means having no meds.. wow..

Hi Tom-

I went to a federal clinic and it took a year of going there before

they would prescribe darvocet for me. Then the cost was $44 for the

prescription, when I had barely scraped up the $30 to go to the

appointment (they charge based on my folks income since I live with

them, as if they give me money???)

Needless to say, yes, basically no insurance means no meds. I can't

wait to be able to start treatment at the pain clinic again.

> understanding why you might be a bit grumpy sometimes...

I'm not very good when I'm hurting. Noone wants to be around me and

I don't blame them. It took me awhile to realize that. Now I just

hibernate, go off by myself if I'm hurting really badly, never mind

what holiday or visitor is here. Then they talk about me. I don't

care.

> Although I am sure it is beautiful in Oregon I am guessing the

constant rain

> might be a contributing factor to the pain.

There is less rain here than Portland, you are right, it did affect

me when I lived there. It is warmer here in southern Oregon, but the

cold still ratchets up my pain big time.

> I am starting to have a hard time reading because of the pain it

creates and

> that will really be a bummer..

That's the other thing! I used to read voraciously. I start hurting

from holding the book now! I agree....it is a bummer....I lay in bed

and read now and dread the day I can't even do that.

Anyway thanks very much for the welcome.

in Oregon

**************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and

favorite sites in one place. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)

[Guest guest]

well I hope that when you are able to get into see another doctor they are

able to help more than " Darvocet " ..

What the doctor is supposed to do is to allow you the best life possible..

We all live in pain and sometimes the pain is really bad(like over the wekend)

but we all need some hope that there will be some days that are not as bad

and we can function at least at a minimal level...

welcome

: )

Tom

In a message dated 12/8/2008 2:17:27 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,

ladyluvvylinda@... writes:

Tom wrote:

> I am guessing that having

> no insurance means having no meds.. wow..

Hi Tom-

I went to a federal clinic and it took a year of going there before

they would prescribe darvocet for me. Then the cost was $44 for the

prescription, when I had barely scraped up the $30 to go to the

appointment (they charge based on my folks income since I live with

them, as if they give me money???)

Needless to say, yes, basically no insurance means no meds. I can't

wait to be able to start treatment at the pain clinic again.

> understanding why you might be a bit grumpy sometimes...

I'm not very good when I'm hurting. Noone wants to be around me and

I don't blame them. It took me awhile to realize that. Now I just

hibernate, go off by myself if I'm hurting really badly, never mind

what holiday or visitor is here. Then they talk about me. I don't

care.

> Although I am sure it is beautiful in Oregon I am guessing the

constant rain

> might be a contributing factor to the pain.

There is less rain here than Portland, you are right, it did affect

me when I lived there. It is warmer here in southern Oregon, but the

cold still ratchets up my pain big time.

> I am starting to have a hard time reading because of the pain it

creates and

> that will really be a bummer..

That's the other thing! I used to read voraciously. I start hurting

from holding the book now! I agree....it is a bummer....I lay in bed

and read now and dread the day I can't even do that.

Anyway thanks very much for the welcome.

in Oregon

**************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and

favorite sites in one place. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)

[Guest guest]

well I hope that when you are able to get into see another doctor they are

able to help more than " Darvocet " ..

What the doctor is supposed to do is to allow you the best life possible..

We all live in pain and sometimes the pain is really bad(like over the wekend)

but we all need some hope that there will be some days that are not as bad

and we can function at least at a minimal level...

welcome

: )

Tom

In a message dated 12/8/2008 2:17:27 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,

ladyluvvylinda@... writes:

Tom wrote:

> I am guessing that having

> no insurance means having no meds.. wow..

Hi Tom-

I went to a federal clinic and it took a year of going there before

they would prescribe darvocet for me. Then the cost was $44 for the

prescription, when I had barely scraped up the $30 to go to the

appointment (they charge based on my folks income since I live with

them, as if they give me money???)

Needless to say, yes, basically no insurance means no meds. I can't

wait to be able to start treatment at the pain clinic again.

> understanding why you might be a bit grumpy sometimes...

I'm not very good when I'm hurting. Noone wants to be around me and

I don't blame them. It took me awhile to realize that. Now I just

hibernate, go off by myself if I'm hurting really badly, never mind

what holiday or visitor is here. Then they talk about me. I don't

care.

> Although I am sure it is beautiful in Oregon I am guessing the

constant rain

> might be a contributing factor to the pain.

There is less rain here than Portland, you are right, it did affect

me when I lived there. It is warmer here in southern Oregon, but the

cold still ratchets up my pain big time.

> I am starting to have a hard time reading because of the pain it

creates and

> that will really be a bummer..

That's the other thing! I used to read voraciously. I start hurting

from holding the book now! I agree....it is a bummer....I lay in bed

and read now and dread the day I can't even do that.

Anyway thanks very much for the welcome.

in Oregon

**************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and

favorite sites in one place. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)

[Guest guest]

well I hope that when you are able to get into see another doctor they are

able to help more than " Darvocet " ..

What the doctor is supposed to do is to allow you the best life possible..

We all live in pain and sometimes the pain is really bad(like over the wekend)

but we all need some hope that there will be some days that are not as bad

and we can function at least at a minimal level...

welcome

: )

Tom

In a message dated 12/8/2008 2:17:27 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,

ladyluvvylinda@... writes:

Tom wrote:

> I am guessing that having

> no insurance means having no meds.. wow..

Hi Tom-

I went to a federal clinic and it took a year of going there before

they would prescribe darvocet for me. Then the cost was $44 for the

prescription, when I had barely scraped up the $30 to go to the

appointment (they charge based on my folks income since I live with

them, as if they give me money???)

Needless to say, yes, basically no insurance means no meds. I can't

wait to be able to start treatment at the pain clinic again.

> understanding why you might be a bit grumpy sometimes...

I'm not very good when I'm hurting. Noone wants to be around me and

I don't blame them. It took me awhile to realize that. Now I just

hibernate, go off by myself if I'm hurting really badly, never mind

what holiday or visitor is here. Then they talk about me. I don't

care.

> Although I am sure it is beautiful in Oregon I am guessing the

constant rain

> might be a contributing factor to the pain.

There is less rain here than Portland, you are right, it did affect

me when I lived there. It is warmer here in southern Oregon, but the

cold still ratchets up my pain big time.

> I am starting to have a hard time reading because of the pain it

creates and

> that will really be a bummer..

That's the other thing! I used to read voraciously. I start hurting

from holding the book now! I agree....it is a bummer....I lay in bed

and read now and dread the day I can't even do that.

Anyway thanks very much for the welcome.

in Oregon

**************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and

favorite sites in one place. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)