HELP! I NEED ADVISE

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm a 35 year old female from CT. I've had scoliosis since I was

about 8 or 9. I was suppose to wear my brace, but fought my parents,

so sooner or later my curve got so bad I needed surgery. Had surgery

when I was 14 in 1986. Have a double curve, can't remember the

exacts, but I know one of them was 98 degrees. My doctor at the time,

Dr. Banta, said that if I didn't have the surgery I would be in a

wheelchair by 21 and most likely be dead, from my lungs being

crushed. In any case had the A/P surgery. Spent a month in the

Newington Children's Hospital and came out with a 48 degree curve. I

was fused from about T-1 to L4. Life seem to have gotten better for

a while. But I always had pain in my right lower back even after the

surgery. Dr Banta said it was from the bone graph.

After many years I started to have major muscle spasms in my neck and

upper back. Most likely around 1992. Went to a chiropractor that

seemed to help for a bit. Then in 1994 had my son. Which was most

painful by the 8th month. Almost couldn't get an epidural because of

the scar tissue in my back. In any case pain was increasing through

the years.

Went to various doctors but no one seemed to find anything. So I

basically ignored it as much as I could and ate a lot of Advil.

Finally I decided to go back to Hartford Hospital to the Orthopedic

group. Since I don't qualify to go the Children's Hospital now. I

found a great Doctor that I love. Dr. Kime and his PA, Art Welch.

Went to them in 2003 due to increasing pain and numbness that was

starting. At that time he sent me for CAT Scans. I had degentative

discs and arthritis in my lower back. But he said nothing of the

numbness and said to come back if it got worse. Well a year later I

was back. This time my legs would completely give out on me. Had to

lean on the grocery cart for support and well shopping became a major

hassle. The diagnosis was severe spinal stenosis, degentive discs,

flatback and more, I can't quite remember the exacts. So I had to go

in for another major surgery in 2004. Had part of my lower rods

removed and added onto. I am now fused to S1. They did an Anterior

and Posterior this time also. During all of this I was not working.

I had been up to this time until I got laid off from another job.

I applied for disability and got it first try.

After about 4 to 5 months I went back in to have the battery they put

in taken out and then another 6 months I had part of the screws taken

out because they were petruding and rubbing on one of my ligaments or

muscles and that same right side was still killing me.

I started working again in 2005 because I didn't want to live off the

system, but it wasn't full time. In 2006 I had a review for my

disability at which this time I started working at a company that new

of my situation, still can't stand for long or sit for long. Can't

do any manual labor and let me lay down when needed. I still take

pain killers and muscle relaxers and shopping is still a major pain.

I ache all the time and life pretty much sucks. In any case I told

the case manager everything that was going on and they approved me

again.

From 2006 to now, I was working as much as I could until I got laid

off from that job, May of 2007, while I was on a medical leave,

because they made me do something at work that made me have a major

muscle spasm in my neck and shoulders and had a doctor's note saying

I was to be home resting. This was a small company and the owner

could be an asshole when he wanted. He didn't believe I was

disabled. But he did let me get away with a lot, like barely making

all my hours needed.

Now since my 2nd surgery I've been having more major muscle spasms

and then my left foot started to really hurt. I lean to the left so

I put more pressure on that foot. I finally decided to go to a foot

doctor because my Orthopedic didn't really help me. (I also have a

lift in my left shoe because of my leg differance) So the foot

doctor said I had sesamotitis. Which is a little bone in the bottom

of the foot between the end of the toe and the ball of the foot.

Mostly dancers or catchers have this because their foot is always

bent. So after many differant boots and cortisone shots, I just had

surgery on it. They took the bone out in hopes that this would help

my pain. I'm now in a surgical boot. Just had the surgery on

December 19th.

I did decide to try to work again and have been there for about 3

months. I still get up a lot and I'm not sure if I'll be able to

stay there. I just don't want to live off the system. But I don't

want to lose my disability either. It's more of a I'm going to lose

everything thing either way.

So I the whole point of this post is that I got a letter in the mail

the other day saying that Social Security wants to take away my

benefits and wants me to pay them back since 2005! Of course I'm

freaking out. But in the letter they say I'm still working for the

prior company that I got laid off of and I didn't try working again

for another 6 months. They also don't know that I had foot surgery

now because of the scoliosis and stenosis. My issue is that I'm only

35 and that's pretty young to be in such pain and be disabled. I do

as much as I can, but I get weared down quick. I don't want to go to

jail, nor can I pay them back. I used it to pay my mortgage. I just

think that I'm going to be back on it again if they take it away.

Plus they knew of all that was going on when I had my review in

2006. So I have to call them tomorrow and a lawyer. According to my

husband and father I should call a lawyer first.

I need advise, please help!

Sorry for such a long post. But I wanted to give you guys the whole

story.