[gruvingal]

I want to know if anyone here has multiple disabilities and did you get disability? I have been diagnosed with bi-polar, fibromyalgia, and now since my MRI the other day I have four herniated discs in my neck and three in my lower back. The neck is worse. I'm at my wits end. I can barely work when I feel O.K. but now I'm out of commission. I have to go back to community health and fill out paperwork for state help because project access will take up to six months to get me into a neurosurgeon. The appointment with my provider is at the end of the month and if I qualify he can sent me to a neuro guy. I'm seriously considering applying for disability and I just need to know what I'm up against. HELP!

[lunario23]

My half-brother is still in the process of it for physical and mental disabilities, and my aunt actually JUST got approved yesterday for physical and mental disabilities! She pretty much put for every single body part you could possibly imagine. If you ask me sometimes it's a little harder... They have more to verify and check on, you know? So it might be a little harder/longer. My half-brother applied well before her and is still ongoing because of the multitude of things he listed.

But yes, it's very possible! Just don't get discouraged from a few rejections! My aunt got rejected once, and I've got rejected more times than I can count! (It took me four years to get approved!) What everyone tells me is that the disability office really wants people to give up and it seems like it's true...

[Rose76]

My main disabilty is Major Depressive Disorder, and I did get SSDI last year. Besides the depression, I have other problems like chronic neck pain related to deteriorated disks in my neck.

When I filed, I followed the advice of lawyers that I read in books and on-line, and I put down EVERYTHING that was affecting me, physical and mental. I think that is why I got approved for SSDI in 3 months. I would urge you to do the same if you file for disability social security. They are interested in the total picture. My doctor had implied that they wouldn't be and that I should focus on the depression as my disability. Well, they sent me for X-rays to substantiate my physical complaints. Those X-rays showed me that I had more wrong with me than even I knew.

Sometimes there might be no one problem that is big enough to warrant a disability claim, while all problems taken together do. Tell the whole story. Not only did I get SSDI, but I got it in 3 months, which my doctor said was practically "unheard of." I believe my success was due to laying out all my problems.

The social security people do add it all together. It sounds to me like you have an excellent case. How you handle it is the key. You're welcome to PM me if you like.