Yikes, sabby!
I can relate to your difficult time dealing with pain and hoping that SS will come through. Some times, SS just seems to take their sweet time at making necessary decisions that we rely upon! I hate that!
I do know that the process is difficult due to all of the paperwork, rules, and regulations. SSI/SSDI always seems to have more and more of those things as time passes, trying to catch the stinkers "using the system". Just try to take one day at a time, and trust that the system will be there for you. Maybe not tomarrow...but they'll be there eventually. Just hold onto that small faith.
(((hugs)))