Re: Re: tripping/falling & employment

June 25, 2000

I also fall, it seems, a few times a year, but it really isn't due to

tripping. When I over-fatigue my legs, I'm more prone to it. I was

shopping for a new couch (one I could get out of!) and the repeated movement

of sitting down and getting up to try out different ones really wiped out my

hamstring muscle, apparently. Standing and working in my kitchen for too

long will do this, too. In a split second I get the sensation that my knee

has lost all muscle support and I can feel myself suspended in the air

waiting to go down and there's no stopping it. I just got a new primary

care dr. and I warned him that I do suffer injuries now and then. Sometimes

I'm more worried about what a bad fall could cause than I am about my CMT.

The thing I hate most about falling is when it happens at work. I do not

like this part of me to be seen in front of co-workers, nor do I like to put

them at any risk by helping me to get up. When it does happen it makes me

want to exit the work force, as in, apply for disability. I've worked for a

lot of years and have been thinking about that a lot the last 2. When is it

time to call it quits, anyway?

I have Short term disability and Long term disability coverage and don't

know if I would qualify for SS. Do I have to wait until I hurt myself so

bad that I literally can't work?

Thanks for any input.

Melody

Re: tripping

> --- Hi Gretchen!

>

> I also trip and fall alot. And I guess we fall very heavily, because

> our legs just gives in. I read that 's knees doesn't get tanned

> because of scarring. Mine is the same, they have a permanently dark

> (not tanned) colour because of all the falls over the years.

> The biggest trouble is that I'm unable to get up from wherever I have

> fallen - and sometimes feel quite stupid lying on a pavement or in a

> shop unable to get up unless I got something near me to grab hold of.

> I am in the prosess of getting one crutch to take with me on travels

> etc. because I fall more after walking for a while. Also with a

> walkingaid people take more care not to push us and they can see that

> it is something wrong - and that we are NOT drunk...

>

> Best wishes to all of you!

> Love, Nina Cat.

>

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>

June 26, 2000

Hi, Melody ...

I have a friend who has severe chronic pain from neck surgeries. He went

through Hell and back to get the government to agree to give him disability.

They finally did agree and he has been on disability for several years now. I

wish you luck, I've been thinking about doing it myself.

June 27, 2000

Hi Melody and ,

I have just started the process of getting disability, and I mean process. I

am disabled by all my doctors standards, but the Social Security Admin. says

as long as I can walk (not that it matters that I fall almost dailyand can't

get myself up without help), I am still employable. If you are planning to

get disability, start soon, before something bad happens and your financial

well being is dependent on the SSA. Trust me, it takes a miracle to get the

money you put in from the SSA. I wish you both luck. Many Blessings, Michele

June 27, 2000

Hi Michele,

I'm not sure what you mean by " start soon " . Whenever I become unemployed

again, I would like to start the ball rolling. I have once already lost a

position due to a merger, and now I am working for a company that is up for

sale - no telling how long this position will last - I'm hoping a long time.

This is the way of the world these days - there are many changes in the

workplace. When you have to consider accessibility and accommodation each

and every time, it gets old and is very stressful.

I'm tired :-)

Melody

Re: Re: tripping/falling & employment

> Hi Melody and ,

> I have just started the process of getting disability, and I mean process.

I

> am disabled by all my doctors standards, but the Social Security Admin.

says

> as long as I can walk (not that it matters that I fall almost dailyand

can't

> get myself up without help), I am still employable. If you are planning to

> get disability, start soon, before something bad happens and your

financial

> well being is dependent on the SSA. Trust me, it takes a miracle to get

the

> money you put in from the SSA. I wish you both luck. Many Blessings,

Michele

>

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June 28, 2000

Melody,

I thought it would only take a few months to start, so I kept putting it

off, a form of denial I think. Last year, when I couldn't do my job anymore,

and there was no way to accomadating me, I quit. I know I could have pushed

and my employer would have had to do something, but, I didn't.(another form

of denial). Anyway, I started applying for disability, last year, and now

it's almost July and I again have to wait until the powers that be decide. I

have many doctors helping me, and after this decision, if life does not turn

my way, I will be hiring a lawyer to help me. So, when I said, soon, I meant

that it takes a long time and total strangers will decide whether you are

disabled or not. I wish you luck.

Just a note: Even though I sound bitter sometimes, I still have faith and I

do take comfort that I'm not the only one out there with CMT and there are

people that are going through the same things I am. Many Blessings, Michele

June 28, 2000

this is Jeanie. I have been on SSD since I was about

28 years old. I had been working as a

Receptionist/Switchboard opertor at a bank. I started

as a full-time employee and had to cut back to

part-time because of the fatigue with my CMT. Then my

hands feel apart on me. My hands were now affected by

the CMT. I couldn't hold onto a pen to take messages.

I suffered from severe depression during this time

and at times would call my doctor from work begging

for help.

She told me I needed to quit my job and start the

Social Security papers for SSD income. So I finally

quit my job due to my hands and the fatigue and

depression. I went to my doctor and she did her

paperwork and then sent me to a very good Neurologist.

When I went into the the Neuros office he looked at me

and asked if I was dead. He said that SS was nearly

impossible to get onto unless your Dr's know how to

word and fill out the paper work. He then did the

neccessary tests to prove my hands and legs were not

responding well.

He then told me not to worry about it.

I was immediately put onto SSD after the required

waiting period.

I truely believe that alot of people don't qualify for

SSD because thier Dr's did not put the wording correct

on the paper work that they summited. This is very

unfortunate. In order to be put on SSD you can not be

able to work. So if you have bad legs but good hands

you are still able to work in the SS eyes. It is up to

your Dr's and yourself to do the paperwork in a way

that there is no doubt that you cannot work a job. You

can have friends and relatives and nurses and your

pastor write letters and submit them. But, they all

must say you are unable to do any work due to the

extreme fatigue or what ever it might be.

Good luck to all that applies for SSD.

If you get turned down, maybe you cuold start over by

finding different Dr's that might have a better

understanding of how SS works.

(This is only my opinion and my experience)

Jeanie

****************

--- Grmifo91@... wrote:

> Hi Melody and ,

> I have just started the process of getting

> disability, and I mean process. I

> am disabled by all my doctors standards, but the

> Social Security Admin. says

> as long as I can walk (not that it matters that I

> fall almost dailyand can't

> get myself up without help), I am still employable.

> If you are planning to

> get disability, start soon, before something bad

> happens and your financial

> well being is dependent on the SSA. Trust me, it

> takes a miracle to get the

> money you put in from the SSA. I wish you both luck.

> Many Blessings, Michele

>

__________________________________________________

June 28, 2000

Melody,

As for when to apply for SSD. You should apply after

you have had to quit working due to your CMT. If you

apply while working it will not go good in your favor,

because your susposed to not be able to work....

Jeanie

**************

--- Grmifo91@... wrote:

> Melody,

> I thought it would only take a few months to

> start, so I kept putting it

> off, a form of denial I think. Last year, when I

> couldn't do my job anymore,

> and there was no way to accomadating me, I quit. I

> know I could have pushed

> and my employer would have had to do something, but,

> I didn't.(another form

> of denial). Anyway, I started applying for

> disability, last year, and now

> it's almost July and I again have to wait until the

> powers that be decide. I

> have many doctors helping me, and after this

> decision, if life does not turn

> my way, I will be hiring a lawyer to help me. So,

> when I said, soon, I meant

> that it takes a long time and total strangers will

> decide whether you are

> disabled or not. I wish you luck.

> Just a note: Even though I sound bitter sometimes, I

> still have faith and I

> do take comfort that I'm not the only one out there

> with CMT and there are

> people that are going through the same things I am.

> Many Blessings, Michele

>

__________________________________________________

July 19, 2000

In a message dated 6/26/2000 1:49:13 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

oregonpapa@... writes:

<< Hi, Melody ...

I have a friend who has severe chronic pain from neck surgeries. He went

through Hell and back to get the government to agree to give him disability.

They finally did agree and he has been on disability for several years now.

I

wish you luck, I've been thinking about doing it myself.

>>

Sorry for this late response, but just got married last month and too busy to

keep up with all of the CMT mail. I've dedicated this day to catch up on 450

mails before I get too disgruntled.....lol I too am toying with the SSI, but

hate to think of all the bureaucracies involved. I take care of my mothers

paperwork with Medicare/Medicaid and it is an enormous project. You go first

and then I will hire you to do mine....hehehehe Hey it's a big job just doing

all of this mail....lol

From Indiana

July 19, 2000

...

I get my first Social Security check in two months, so that will help me a

lot. I have been paying into Social Security since I was 14 (had my first

full time job when I was 12), so I will be getting near the maximum. I have

spent the past couple of years trying to simplify my life. I used to have a

very high living standard, but with the health problems and lack of energy

that goes along with it ... I decided to cut everything back. I don't think

the SSI would be any more money than my Social Security payments, plus I can

still work, albeit at a slower pace. I wish you luck though.

July 19, 2000