peripheral arterial disease and disability

I have had Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) for about 3 years now. I had one bypass already on one leg. The rest of my arteries are also clogged. I have been on Plavix since the surgery. At the time of surgery I was also referred to a back specialist because the vascular surgeon found something wrong with my back. I have degenerative discs. The back specialist told me it wasn't serious and to just live with it. I have always worked but with severe pain on some days.

I decided to try and file for SSDI but was refused. I ended up having to quit my job because I have problems with standing or walking for periods of time with my right leg. On the left leg, the one with the surgery, I now have what is called foot drop. I can't walk well without tripping. After I was refused SSDI I gave up on it and went back to work and that is the job I had to quit. I found a doctor then that believed I should be out on SSDI but he said it was really hard to get approvals as he has tried many times. So I searched for any attorney willing to take on my case before reapplying. I found now that I have reapplied that Social Security is actually looking into things because I have an attorney behind me.

Actually, I applied and then the attorney contacted them. So with my first interview they had no idea I had an attorney to represent me. Lo and behold, the questionnaires they send out were sent out to everyone on my list. Last time only one person received it. I made a list of my problems and gave that to the attorney along with all medical information for the past 5 years relating to my problem.

The best thing you can do now is keep daily notes of your life and medical visits. With any health issue, there are always good and bad days. Luckily for me the bad days have always happened when going to the doctor or talking to Social Security or the lawyer. I have had a few strokes and have many days of not being able to remember things. Never go at filing alone. Always get an attorney. If the attorney feels you have a good enough case they will take it and then there is hope. An attorney get 25% max of what you get in back pay (the point of filing or quitting your job). An attorney won't take the case unless they can make some money off of it. They go to the court hearing for you also and if they have to fly somewhere, airlines aren't cheap.

I don't really like the fact of having to file for Social Security but I feel I deserve it as I have worked for the past 34 years and paid into the system. Now because of doctor error I am unable to work so why should I pay for what a doctor did wrong. I am used to having an income and not being able to work has really effected me mentally. I am unable to get insurance because of a previous problem so I need to pay for my medical some how and this money will help me do that. So the money I get won't be going to junk. It will be going back into the medicines and doctors to try and help me live a better life.