Any disabled members?

Buck_Fan

Buck_Fan

Basic Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2008
Messages
958
Hi all,
I am 42 and disabled. I was wondering if there are others on this forum that are as well?

I figure I should tell my story. I will keep it as short as possable. My disability is from injury and disease. My problems are with my back. But those who have severe problems with their back know it causes other problems. I have broken my back twice. First time was 28 years ago in a sledding accident. Second time was after I had become disabled. It was last spring. I have a mobility scooter and accidently backed it off our back deck. I also have severe degenerative disc disease. Severe arthritis, and bulging disc. All this is all throught my back. Not in one area like most people get it. So far all the doctors I have seen, I have lost count, have said it is to extensive to do anything for. Some of the degenerative discs are pressing on my spinal chord pinching nerves. Also the arthritis has grown spurs that are pressing on the spinal chord. This casues problems with my legs. And incontinence. I am in constant pain, but sometimes it is worse. I can not sleep in bed. I have to sleep in a recliner.

I think I have said enough. I am sure you all get the picture. I applied for SSDI on 06/07 and finally got approved on 11/08. I had to go in front of a federal judge for a hearing.

I was worship leader at my church. But I had to step down due to pain and my mind seems to be going down hill fast. I have not touched my guitar in 5 months. I really am itching to play. I got to pull one out. But I can not play long till the pain gets to be to much.

Maybe we could all keep this going to try and encourage each other and a place for us to vent for all the things we can no longer do. A place where people understand what you are going through. Just a thought.

God bless,

Bill
 
God bless you sir. I am sure you miss being a worship leader. I am only mentally disabled :), but God has my extremeties still functioning. I had a pinched nerve in my back for about a year, but it healed up, and makes you appreciate your health all that much more. This I can fractionally empathize with you. I pray for you and wish you the best. Hey Bill, I just realized it was you as the OP. See I told you I am mentally disabled!!!!
 
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Never give up. I've got a prosthetic right foot. As far as I'm concerned, that makes me crippled, NOT handicapped.

Extensive back injuries like yours are more restricting, but if you work with it, you may find a way to brace yourself, to sit where you relieve a lot of the pressure, you may find a doctor with a clue, instead of the ones who can't see a lot of money in it, so they shuffle you off.

Definitely find old activities that you can work your way back to. Not just because they're fun, but because they will build you up to be able to do other things you're blocked from now.

At one time, I used to walk home from work, three miles through New York City streets, five days a week. On my days off, I routinely hiked four to six hours, often without stopping for more than a couple of ten minute breaks.

Shortly after I lost the foot, I moved out to the suburbs here, and at first a half mile was more than I could handle. The only way to beat that was to walk every chance I got, going out several times a day, eventually doing a couple of miles routinely, as a relaxing stroll.

Guess what? It still hurts! Too much pressure on the stump will set the nerves off, with pain like an absessed tooth. If I let that slow me down, I would be handicapped.

Ask Ken C. People in this town know me as the guy who walks around town for hours, day and night. (I need the breaks from Bladeforums! :D )
 
Message sent bill-
My dad had to "retire" and deal with all of the headaches of SS d. insurance in his early 40's too. He was a big knife nut, and one of the main reasons I joined bladeforums. I think we've got a damn fine supportive community here. Hang in there buddy!
Cheers,
Casey
:)
 
My grandmother had some of the back problems you're talking about. You've got a lot of friends here, so hang in there.

I just found out that I probably have arthritis in my upper back, right arm, and also my knees. My family has a history of it, but it was a shock to me. According to my doctor, it's about the only explanation for the pain I have. Most days it's tolerable, some days, well, that's the reason I'm posting here at 3am sometimes. The forums gives me something (educational) to do when I can't relax & sleep.

thx - cpr
 
I have a pretty messed up lower back from falling off a roof a few years ago...Sometimes it hurts so badly that when I sit for too long, my back hurts so much that I can't even get up, and when I stand too long, I can't sit down (I can't bend). I also have a bad heart-valve, which gives me a slight cough and dizzy spells. I also have Gout. I also have high blood-pressure.

Dang, at only 54 I guess I'm a mess.
 
Yup, I've had seven spinal fusions, My lumbar back is fused from L-1 through L-5 and then L-5 through S-1. Two of the surgeries were on my neck, fused from C-3 through C-7 the second neck surgery was because the 1st set of hardware failed.
I had a Medtronics Intrathecal Pain Pump implanted April '08 and was told I needed another low back surgery towards the end of last year, November IIRC. I have managed to dodge that bullet because I had an opportunity to try "Low Level Laser Therapy" with no cost to me and so far so good.:thumbup: :cool:
The LLLT isn't well known here in the USA but is quite well known in Europe and has changed both the duration, amount, and placement of the pain.
I credit the LLLT and the pain pump for allowing me to cut way, way, back on the amount of oral pain meds I was having to take!
Now because of continuous lower leg edema I have developed a pressure sore and have sprung one heckuva leak!
I get to break another doctor in this Wednesday for this new problem.;) :rolleyes: :D
 
Buck Fan -

My back problems mirror yours except yours are more advanced than mine but my doctors predict nothing but doom and gloom for my condition. My injuries originated from a service connected injury so I at least have the VA on my side. I understand that quality of life can quickly decline as you find more and more limits on what you are able to do. I know it sucks, I am in the same boat but I refuse to let it stop me from finding other activities to replace the ones I cannot do anymore. Hang in there guy...everytime God closes a door he opens a window.
 
Attached is from my 27 year old daughter, Kimberly, a true knife nut. She was a hit and run victim in 2002. She had severe head and bodily injuries. Given no hope of living, then to always be comatose, then always in a vegetative state, today she takes care of herself for about 95% of her needs. I have not tried to correct her grammar and spelling.

Dear Bill,
I feel-ya man!
Haveing things to do, without the ability. Gets, no, leaves you earked. Perturbed, grasping for help. Knowing were to grasp, often times is a wonder.
It sounds like, there's no wonder.
Here's my deal- In 2002, I went with my then boyfriend, to this thing we both really enjoyed. It was called NATIONALS.
An event, recognized around town, surrounding area's.
What it was, was a group of people getting together, to race there car. For me, it was just a viewing thing.
Now, my boyfriend was a racer. He had the car, appropriate attitued, bull-headedness.
That was one of our favorit things to envolve ourselves in.
Well that night, there were no races.
Just a bunch of folks hangen out.
I was turned around talking to Reeves, (my boyfriend)
and he noticed something going on, behind me .
Not in my view.
A car had come out in the road,were we where.
It was like a regular traffic road. With alot less traffic, at that time of night. Bed time, for most.
Ok, so theres a car. It was going fast, at this time, allone,where it seamed to be pointed, rubbed him the wrong way. Scared him. He was sitting on his car, I was ground-level, talking. All of the sudden, he squipped me up, from the underarms. Pulled me up with him, on top of the car. The comeing car was too fast, still hit me. Grabbed my lower half, I went in the winshield. I was carried for 100 yards. it spit me out. I went up real high, then head-butted/boddy-butted the ground.
Everyone thought I was dead.
Twas not in God's plans! I know them not, I know him, much better.
As frustrating as it gets, haveing things ready to be done, us haveing the knowledge, with our uncertan ability. Will we ever be able? Who knows? God. What we're able to mustar, with an up-to heart, measures up.

I love, sharing my story. I would really like to give you a verble vewing, of what I was like before Satan got smacked out!

talk to you soon?
Kimbo/ Kimberly Hammonds
 
I took early retirement after major surgery that left me with a colostomy bag for the rest of my life due to Chrons. Lost some bowel, which has lead to food uptake problems. This has caused arthritis to spread over my body- painful. I still do many things but they take much longer than in the past. Life has really slowed down and my body prematurely aged.
 
20 years I gave Uncle Sam and the last several of that I really was toughing it out. But, I didn't speak up much 'cuz they would have medically discharged me with a severance pay. For me, it was more important and made more sense to retire with standard benefits. I'm now waiting for said "Uncle" to decide my level of disability. My package is sitting on someones desk. All on the heels of the big VA Shredder scandal. see below...


VA Watchdog dot Org - Printer Friendly Page
© V2.0 - CJ Website Design
http://www.cj-design.com/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



OUT OF HARM'S WAY: VBA PROMOTION SENDS WRONG

MESSAGE -- In the wake of the shredder scandal,

manager of the Cleveland Vets' Service Center

gets promoted to VA's Central Office.






For all articles about VA's mishandled documents and the shredder scandal... go here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/VAshredderscandal.htm

Your comments accepted at bottom of page.



-------------------------

by Larry Scott



In October of this year, we reported about documents critical to veterans' claims found in shredder bins at the Detroit Regional Office (VARO) of the Veterans' Benefits Administration (VBA), the benefits arm of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). That story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-1.htm
foct08/nf101308-1.htm

Later we learned the problem was much more widespread as shredding was stopped at the VAROs and managers searched for critical documents. That story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf102308-7.htm
ct08/nf102308-7.htm

41 of 57 VAROs found critical documents in shredder bins. The three worst offenders were Columbia, SC (105 documents), St. Louis, MO (96 documents), and Cleveland, OH (58 documents).

The VA's Officer of Inspector General (VAOIG) continues to investigate.

But, before any official investigation has been released, the VA has begun to get those in charge out of harm's way.

Christine Alford, the Manager of the Veterans' Service Center at the Cleveland VARO is being promoted to a position at the VA's Central Office (VACO).

This might seem like a strange time for a promotion. And, it is. Why wouldn't the VA wait for the outcome of the VAOIG report on the problems at Cleveland before issuing a promotion? Unless, they already know the outcome and are sheltering Ms. Alford.

Ms. Alford will be the new Assistant Director of Veterans Services in the C&P Division at VACO. Nice move!

The memo is below... click it for a larger view...


This sends a bad message to all veterans.

It is suggestive of the "Peter Principle," simply put, "Screw Up, Move Up."

At the very least, VA should have waited for the VAOIG report on shredder bin documents and any hearings that might be held by Congress before giving a promotion to a manager at the center of some very serious problems.

But, we have come to expect nothing less from the VA.

-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------END

This Christine Alford lady is the one who, so far, has been put in charge of expediting my disability package. Can you imagine how it feels to actually converse with her over the phone when I know this?
For 2 or 3 months they were "obtaining" my medical records from the AFB I parked them at. I'm still getting calls and letters saying they are trying to obtain my records. And, could I please fill out a form signing my records over to the VA, AGAIN!!! Oh, and can I get copies made of my records and send to them. I didn't even put down any of my Gulf War/OIF stuff. You'd think this would be easy. I should be used to it by now...

Gibby
 
Hey ya'll,
Thanks for all the well wishes and encouragement. That was not what I was hunting for when I wrote this, but it must have been what I needed. Thanks. I know I am not alone. And there are many worse off than I am. But I have found it better to talk to others who understand. My wife is one of the healthiest people I know. Might get colds. But nothing more than that. All her life. She just has no clue what I am dealing with. I really enjoy reading this forum. It is a great place to learn and share.

God bless,

Bill
 
Gibby,
I really feel for you man. I went through the same crap with the VA. Lost my file several time etc. Now I am %70 plus IU. My DAV worker is putting in the paper to make me permanent %100.

My disability is PTSD. I hear that the VA is being told to stop diagnosing PTSD, instead to diagnose as a personality disorder... that way it's pre existing and they don't have to pay on it. I guess I got lucky. I find it hard to talk about my disability to most people because I don't want to scare them. I'm a shut in for the most part. I won't go anywhere unless I'm sufficiently armed. Being sober has not made these problems go away and has in some ways made them worse since I'm no longer self medicating. I feel like I'm always waiting for something to happen. I'm always wired up, so that if I have to, I will be able to neutralize any threat. It's almost impossible for me to relax.

OTOH, all of this has made me who I am today. Stay alert, stay alive... hoo-ah? It's who I am.
 
She's got degenerative disc disease. She's been under the knife once for her neck and five times for her lower back. Now she's got titanium plates and screws in her neck and back. The doctor said the arthritis in her spine looked like a woman of 60 (she's 32). Hang in there, Bill. God bless.

Frank
 
Oh no. I'm so sorry to hear about the extent of your disability, Buck_Fan. I also suffered from severe spinal stenosis but I was one of those you mention whose problem was mostly located right in my neck. I had surgery 3 months ago that gave me a lot of relief. I consider myself among the lucky ones. I'm 53 years old.

My wife suffers, as you do, with degenerative disk disease that does not lend itself to easy treatment like the neck surgery I had. She has gotten some relief from a Pain Management doctor - a combination of physical therapy, exercise, weight loss, counseling, and medications. It has helped her on several levels.

Hang in there, bud. You're not alone.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Never give up. I've got a prosthetic right foot. As far as I'm concerned, that makes me crippled, NOT handicapped.


Ask Ken C. People in this town know me as the guy who walks around town for hours, day and night. (I need the breaks from Bladeforums! :D )
Click to expand...

After a merry 2.5 years at Bladeforums, I just can't picture Esav as either handicapped or crippled.

I can, however, picture him roaming the streets of his New Jersey town, one eye out for trouble.:)

After all, he's the Sheriff around here.:thumbup:
 
Disabled AF Vet. DAV handled everything and the VA has been great about treatment and training programs.



j
 
Mine is minor, with hope of healing - I have a venous stasis ulcer on my right leg. Was REAL bad from May 2006 till about 8 weeks ago, when all of a sudden, there was some dramatic healing, coinciding with them diagnosing some other health problems I had/have (which are now well under their way to being controlled)

Qualified for a handicapped tag, and I drive into work because I can't stand the rocking of the train/standing waiting, but with luck, at the rate it's been healing since mid January, maybe by this May, I'll get to throw the tag out - I have not had to use my cane in 3 weeks
 
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