Re: New to Group --- A big concern

[Guest guest]

Hi Ellen... I am in Canada so things are a bit different here but yes you

can get medical leave for scoliosis. You can also get permanent disabled

through your social security although the process is so different from here

I will leave it up to the experts to answer. I believe enough people in the

medical community recognise the pain issue associated with scoliosis.

However you should perhaps get checked out for Flat Back Syndrome. You are

exhibiting a lot of the pain and symptoms of Flat Back. Again I will leave

it to the others to direct you on that. I just wanted to let you know that I

know how you feel. Good luck in class.

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, Ellen.

I try not to be too outspoken in this group, but I just have to say it

is a disgrace how people are treating teachers these days.

I sure wish I could help answer your questions, but I am in Chicago and

do not know how the school system here, let alone in New York, would

respond to a teacher with pain relate to scoliosis, flatback syndrome,

or a previous automobile accident. Since they are apparently

encouraging senior teachers to retire, maybe they would be glad to grant

you your pension? Could you get in on any incentives for early

retirement?

I have not heard of your doctor, which doesn't necessarily mean

anything. We learn about excellent new flatback specialists every few

years. I o think it's imperative to make sure that he is this kind of

spinal specialists -- that he is thoroughly familiar with complex

secondary deformities beyon scoliiosis. You need to be sure to get

long-cassette spinal films -- X-rays showing your whole spine -- and

comprehensive assessment from someone who deals with iatrogenic spinal

deformity on a regular basis. I say this hecause some spine surgeons are

still ignoring the sagittal plane and are even causing new cases of

flatback sydrome.

It might help you also to see a physiatrist, that is, an MD-specialist

in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This type of specialist would

be most likely to give you a through functional evaluation. With medical

records documenting the severe toll that your pain has taken on your

physical functioning, you would have the strongest possible case for

going on disability leave or retiring from teaching.

I can not give you statistics but do know that many members of this

group are on early retirement pensions or disability benefits, quite

often Social Security Disability Insurance. SSDI is sometimes mistakenly

thought of as a welfare program, but it is actually an entitlement

program covering those of us who paid plenty of taxes into the fund when

we were still able to work (and who saw more and more of our salaries

going to FICA throgh the years). The only safety net of any kind for

people who were not covered by this program or other pension or

disability programs is Supplemental Securitu Income (SSI), also

administered by the Social Security Administration. I don't know how

anyone manages to survive on SSI benefits, which are much smaller than

those under SSDI -- although people on SSI are eligible for Medicaid,and

it seems to me that Medicaid provides better coverage than Medicare, for

some reason. Also, when you are awarded SSDI, sometimes not until going

through several appeals procedures, you still have to wait two years to

qualify for Medicare! I would hope that any benefits you might be

eligible for through the school system would trump these other programs,

providing you with adequate support and medical insurance. I'll be

interested to hear what your union says about your situation. I think

your position will be much stronger once you can get definitive medical

diagnosis and evaluation of your functional impairment.

Should you want a second opinion, our members can recommend several

topflight spinal deformity specialists in Manhattan.

I would also urge you to shop around for an excellent pain management

program that meets your needs. Pain medicine is now a specialty in its

own right, often chosen by MDs who are already Board-certified in

anesthesiology. There are so many innovations in this field that you owe

it to yourself to see what it can offer you. Too many of us put up with

too much pain for too long. You have an absolute right to the best

available pain relief, and you should ignore any of the many ignorant

and frightened people who still obsess about " saying no to drugs "

indiscriminately, confusing legitimate patients enduring daily agony

with " recreational " drug abusers and " street " addicts. You might want

to subscribe online to the newsletter of the American Pain Foundation or

another pain advocacy organization. The APF website has lots of

information on various approaches to pain management. You can find

resources of all kinds at our own website by clicking on " Files " or

" Links. " I am still longing for someone to volunteer to update and

reorganize this information, but despite the need to do that, we still

have some useful stuff archived.

Hang in there, and please let us know how you are progressing.

Best.

>

> Hi

>

> I just joined this group a few days ago. I spent a lot of time

looking at the previous posts. I am hoping you can help me with advice

and support.

>

> As I wrote before I had my surgery in 1976 at Hospital for Special

Surgery in NYC... Dr. B. Levine. At the time he was supposely one

of the best surgeons for scoliosis. I did pretty okay most of my life

till an auto accident in 2002. I broke a few ribs and had a bugling

disc with a lot of pain and stenosis of lumbar. I went to see Dr.

Taddanino who recommended revision surgery at the time. I got totally

freaked and scared out of my mind. I was raising my son age 8 at the

time. Being a single mom and the only source of income it was not an

option. So I did physical therapy and it got better.

>

>

> Life got better and so did the pain... met a great guy and got married

in 2007.

>

> Now jump to about 4 months or so ... the pain has returned worse than

before. At first I thought it was stress as I was taking care of my

older brother who was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He had 80 % of

stomach removed but as of today he is cancer free. But the pain was

still with me. I feel shooting electrical pain in left outer thigh. At

night I wake up in pain from turning in my sleep. I get pins and

needles in both hands and legs. The pain in my lower back and leg is

with on and off daily. I have an appt with Taddanino in October.

>

> However, the thing that totally is freaking me out is that I got a new

job assignment! I only found out 3 weeks ago! I have been a Literary

Coach for the last 18 years. I used work with small groups of

students. However, due to budget and a not so nice asst. Principal I

now have my own third grade class of 30 8 year olds. I don't know how

I am going to manage this! After a total of 27 years working in NYC

public schools this is how someone is treated just thrown back into a

classroom with no supplies etc..... My son came in last week to help me

move furniture and clean. I spent close to 2,000 just to get supplies

and books for the room.

>

> Even just keeping up with putting all the decorations and bullentin

board displays up is going to be nearly impossible. You get written up

if your displays are not perfect! The standing, walking, bending, and

talking will all surely do a number on my back even on it's best day.

>

> I never mentioned anything about my scoliosis for the simple fact that

the less said usually is the best in regards to work. Now I guess I am

going to have to I am sure no one at work will believe me either.

>

> I am wondering before I even ask..... is it possible to get a medical

leave of absence if the pain becomes to much? Am I within my rights to

ask for a my old position (it still exists the asst principal wants to

get rid of all senior teachers) because of my condition?

>

> I work in the NYC school system. I do plan to speak with someone in

the union but I doubt they know a lot about scoliosis and the pain we

go through.

>

> Even my husband who I love dearly.....really has no clue how much pain

I have been I guess if you look okay on the outside you must not be

that sick?

>

> Ladies and I am so afraid of going back to school.....tomorrow

is the first day! Wish me luck!

>

> Ellen

>

[Guest guest]

Ellen....

We had our first surgery at the same time. I went to Hugo Keim. After years of

agony and doing all you have done, 2 years ago I decided that I could not take

the pain any longer. I am now 2 years post op. You can check out my photos on

facebook under peri basel. I have a whole new life and I am a new person. I went

on disability while I was out.... i was ready to go back to work after 4 months.

My email is peribasel@... if you would like to write me.

>

> Hi

>

> I just joined this group a few days ago. I spent a lot of time looking at the

previous posts. I am hoping you can help me with advice and support.

>

> As I wrote before I had my surgery in 1976 at Hospital for Special Surgery in

NYC... Dr. B. Levine. At the time he was supposely one of the best

surgeons for scoliosis. I did pretty okay most of my life till an auto

accident in 2002. I broke a few ribs and had a bugling disc with a lot of pain

and stenosis of lumbar. I went to see Dr. Taddanino who recommended revision

surgery at the time. I got totally freaked and scared out of my mind. I was

raising my son age 8 at the time. Being a single mom and the only source of

income it was not an option. So I did physical therapy and it got better.

>

>

> Life got better and so did the pain... met a great guy and got married in

2007.

>

> Now jump to about 4 months or so ... the pain has returned worse than before.

At first I thought it was stress as I was taking care of my older brother who

was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He had 80 % of stomach removed but as of

today he is cancer free. But the pain was still with me. I feel shooting

electrical pain in left outer thigh. At night I wake up in pain from turning in

my sleep. I get pins and needles in both hands and legs. The pain in my lower

back and leg is with on and off daily. I have an appt with Taddanino in

October.

>

> However, the thing that totally is freaking me out is that I got a new job

assignment! I only found out 3 weeks ago! I have been a Literary Coach for the

last 18 years. I used work with small groups of students. However, due to

budget and a not so nice asst. Principal I now have my own third grade class of

30 8 year olds. I don't know how I am going to manage this! After a total of

27 years working in NYC public schools this is how someone is treated just

thrown back into a classroom with no supplies etc..... My son came in last week

to help me move furniture and clean. I spent close to 2,000 just to get

supplies and books for the room.

>

> Even just keeping up with putting all the decorations and bullentin board

displays up is going to be nearly impossible. You get written up if your

displays are not perfect! The standing, walking, bending, and talking will all

surely do a number on my back even on it's best day.

>

> I never mentioned anything about my scoliosis for the simple fact that the

less said usually is the best in regards to work. Now I guess I am going to

have to I am sure no one at work will believe me either.

>

> I am wondering before I even ask..... is it possible to get a medical leave of

absence if the pain becomes to much? Am I within my rights to ask for a my old

position (it still exists the asst principal wants to get rid of all senior

teachers) because of my condition?

>

> I work in the NYC school system. I do plan to speak with someone in the

union but I doubt they know a lot about scoliosis and the pain we go through.

>

> Even my husband who I love dearly.....really has no clue how much pain I have

been I guess if you look okay on the outside you must not be that sick?

>

> Ladies and I am so afraid of going back to school.....tomorrow is the

first day! Wish me luck!

>

> Ellen

>

[Guest guest]

thank you all joe of the ukFrom: PERIB <peribasel@...> Sent: Friday, 9 September 2011, 17:56Subject: Re: New to Group --- A big

concern

Ellen....

We had our first surgery at the same time. I went to Hugo Keim. After years of agony and doing all you have done, 2 years ago I decided that I could not take the pain any longer. I am now 2 years post op. You can check out my photos on facebook under peri basel. I have a whole new life and I am a new person. I went on disability while I was out.... i was ready to go back to work after 4 months. My email is peribasel@... if you would like to write me.

>

> Hi

>

> I just joined this group a few days ago. I spent a lot of time looking at the previous posts. I am hoping you can help me with advice and support.

>

> As I wrote before I had my surgery in 1976 at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC... Dr. B. Levine. At the time he was supposely one of the best surgeons for scoliosis. I did pretty okay most of my life till an auto accident in 2002. I broke a few ribs and had a bugling disc with a lot of pain and stenosis of lumbar. I went to see Dr. Taddanino who recommended revision surgery at the time. I got totally freaked and scared out of my mind. I was raising my son age 8 at the time. Being a single mom and the only source of income it was not an option. So I did physical therapy and it got better.

>

>

> Life got better and so did the pain... met a great guy and got married in 2007.

>

> Now jump to about 4 months or so ... the pain has returned worse than before. At first I thought it was stress as I was taking care of my older brother who was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He had 80 % of stomach removed but as of today he is cancer free. But the pain was still with me. I feel shooting electrical pain in left outer thigh. At night I wake up in pain from turning in my sleep. I get pins and needles in both hands and legs. The pain in my lower back and leg is with on and off daily. I have an appt with Taddanino in October.

>

> However, the thing that totally is freaking me out is that I got a new job assignment! I only found out 3 weeks ago! I have been a Literary Coach for the last 18 years. I used work with small groups of students. However, due to budget and a not so nice asst. Principal I now have my own third grade class of 30 8 year olds. I don't know how I am going to manage this! After a total of 27 years working in NYC public schools this is how someone is treated just thrown back into a classroom with no supplies etc..... My son came in last week to help me move furniture and clean. I spent close to 2,000 just to get supplies and books for the room.

>

> Even just keeping up with putting all the decorations and bullentin board displays up is going to be nearly impossible. You get written up if your displays are not perfect! The standing, walking, bending, and talking will all surely do a number on my back even on it's best day.

>

> I never mentioned anything about my scoliosis for the simple fact that the less said usually is the best in regards to work. Now I guess I am going to have to I am sure no one at work will believe me either.

>

> I am wondering before I even ask..... is it possible to get a medical leave of absence if the pain becomes to much? Am I within my rights to ask for a my old position (it still exists the asst principal wants to get rid of all senior teachers) because of my condition?

>

> I work in the NYC school system. I do plan to speak with someone in the union but I doubt they know a lot about scoliosis and the pain we go through.

>

> Even my husband who I love dearly.....really has no clue how much pain I have been I guess if you look okay on the outside you must not be that sick?

>

> Ladies and I am so afraid of going back to school.....tomorrow is the first day! Wish me luck!

>

> Ellen

>