United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Since I am aware that there are many still fighting with SS to prove that they can no longer work without great risk to their health. I thought I would do some research on the http://www.ssa.gov/ ( I hope this is a link)

One of the pages I read was the Blue Book...
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professio ... ntents.htm - It helps to understand the method used to define disability.

Disability Planner is another page to read when planning on applying for Disability.
http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm

A major problem for those of us who are birth injured and functioned at such high levels is to prove what this function has cost us on the wear and tear of the unaffected arms... and how many have cut work hours... job activities and preformance and even gone part time to protect our "healthy" arm... One of the most important issues of overuse is that there is a real chance of damaging our unaffected arms because of compensation over our lifetime... many are already suffering from this overuse ... we need this arm to maintain our independence and to use for the simple normal functions of life... eating drinking hair ..brushing our teeth... etc...

Just thought I would post these pages for those who are interested. I hope they are links... I tried...LOL

Kath

Kath

thanks so much for the links. i forwarded them onto my sister who is still fighting with SS !!! uggggggg

poor thing they are running her in circles as only they can do and she is very depressed over this whole thing.

sad, how they make us fight for something that we should have been getting all our lives!! isn't it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T baby

I am glad they can help... I hope Tammi finds the stuff she needs in the Blue book...

It is such a pain... If I had not read all the things I would not have known how to apply... Also I had to wait 5 months as if I just got injured because I worked part time still while I was so miserable....
Please remind her to get copies of all medical records... and read them over... I found several mistakes in mine and had to go to the doctor to get them corrected... LIKE... I am right handed... and I was in an accident 4 years ago... duh not so... so please remind the kid sister to do it...

Kath

Tina, How is your sister. I tried to email her awhile back with no results. Did she ever get anywhere with the U of M ??? I see you posted she is fighting for her disabilityl Your can email me if you prefer not to talk abbout her on the board. I understand. Just concerned about her.
Sharon

Sharon:

I thought the best way for me describe her situation was to cut and paste and let her explain herself
She was probably moving when you tried to email her and offline at that point. If you would like to mail her words of support or advice please feel free to do so at
tammie3840@hotmail.com

I have asked her to post here or on the Trauma board as someone might be able to give advice or as we all KNOW, at least find an ear that understands but, she is just getting used to using her puter and I think between the newness of the computer and the anger,pain and confusion of her injury it is still toooo much for her
THANK YOU for asking about her.......and please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.


hey tina, good to hear you are recovering!!
Well were doI begin, the surgeon I went to see was actually for my
degenerative spine disorder which was inherited and agrivated from the
accident, my family doctor sent me to him, so he want's an update on the MRI
and EMG on both arms. He said the pain should be on my right side and he has
no idea why my left shoulder is hurting. My family doctor has never
concluded the pain as an B.P. accident. The spine speacialist in ann arbor
and my occupational therapist has said it is and the Myofacial Pain Syndrom
my family doctor has labled me is the result of the accident... In other
words I have medicaid medical coverage and workmans comp is refusing any
payment so therefore let's just ignore her and maybe she'll go away!!
And yes mom was right I had to fire my lawyer and hire another, and of
course let's put my records in the mail and What? You havent received them
yet?? Workmsns comp and the company want's to settle so I give my lawyer an
amount I will settle for and well since your " DOCTOR" can't seem to give me
a specific date when you'll be better, I of course did not offer them the
amount you asked for because I knew they would not accept it. Ok why am I
here and what exactly did I hire you for, and oh buy the way remember the
legel document I signed stating that your fee is contingent on my
settlement, I forgot to mention you'll be getting your fee in FOODSTAMPS!!!!
So the new lawyer is suggesting that I not settle for an amount because this
is a long term medical need, and if I were to settle than workerscomp would
be able to put a lean on the money and of course take there share, go
figure. So there fore let's just keep going back and fourth until we can
come to an agreement. UGH.......
OH did I forget to mention that I do not qualify for any cash assistance
because I have to much money in my savings account, and oh by the way since
your son has now turned 18 years old he has to sign your apartment lease and
his income is now counted as household earnings and counted in your
subsidided appartment rent?
And by the way your household for the time being is qualified for food
stamps. Wow I can eat but I cant brush my teeth, I can eat but I cant go
anywere,I can eat and gain weight, but I cant leave the house because I have
nothing to fit me any more????
Can you tell I had enough? Well dont get me wrong and sorry for sounding
deppressed, were not that bad of shape it's just aggrevating
Well time to go , thanks for writting and talk to ya again love ya tammie