Are You Required To Undergo Major Surgery Before Doctors Can Certify You Disable Or Is It Up To The Patient ?
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Question: I have Degenerative Arthrosis on my knees & feet & Ive being offwork for over a year, but I havent being certified disabled by my doctors. As much as I would like to go back to work & make my regular little $45k a year working,(wich at least would be more than the zero $0.00 Im doing now) the pain Im going thru is too much & it doesnt allow me to stand or walk for more than a few minutes without having to sit or lay down or without having my knees & feet to sweell.To make this worst my lower & middle back is hurting a lot since almost a year now.Not to mention my right hand, because all the strees I put into it when I have to use the cane or crutches to walk.
My question is if Im required to have a knee & feet joint replacement, or an arthroscopy on my knees or any type of risky surgery, before I can apply for SSD or SSI or that the doctors can say Im disable ?
Is this up to the patient to undergo this major surgeries,or is it the doctor’s call ? Im very afraid of major surgery.
2 Comments
October 17th, 2009 at 4:18 am
no you are not required to get surgery, that is always YOUR choice, you need to talk to your DR and get him to write a letter stating your disability and the % it affects you. then go apply for benefits. to help with the wrist pain, try a walker instead of a cane, then you use both hands
October 17th, 2009 at 4:41 am
My mom had become disabled and had to go on disability, but unfortunately I can’t remember all the details.
I think that the powers-that-be in the SS world will probably look for you to try any and all alternatives before going on disability. It may be scary, but if your pain is hurting you so bad, it might be the right thing to do. Look at the success rate and if that is high, go for it.
Ultimately, no one can make the patient do what he/she doesn’t want to do, but if you either want to go back to work or go on disability, I’m afraid you’re going to have to listen to someone. If not your dr, a SS dr may also need to evaluate you. It might be good to get a second opinion anyway.
Good luck.