I have not yet received the denial, but I am pretty sure it is coming. My wife and I sent our applications in on the same day, and our checks cashed around the same day as well. She received her card within 3 weeks.
I began thinking, and then my heart sunk. Since Jan 2010, I have had 4 major lower back surgeries. I am a 33 year old male who was previously healthy, but had Degenerative Disc Disease. It got bad enough that I required a 2 level fusion to feel some pain relief.
After the long recovery (8 months), my pain symptoms were worse. I ended up getting another major spine surgery (laminectomy w/ ligament removal). Incidentally, they tore my dural sac while they were in there. That required another major operation a week later that kept me in the hospital for a while.
I ended up getting a spinal infection, and had to go home with a PICC line for antibiotic infusions 2x daily. My pain was unbearable, and my surgeon told me that I needed to look into disability full time. I was devastated.
A man loses a lot of pride through these types of ordeals, and I was at an all time low. My wife was having to bear the weight of the house duties as well as taking care of me. I was really depressed, and went to see a counselor.
Herein lies the problem. I never told her I was going to kill myself, but I said that if I was ever even contemplating it, I would seek help, which I did. I ended up feeling better after talking for a few sessions, so I no longer needed to go. She never thought I was a danger to myself, and always let me leave on my own.
I ended up having another major surgery which seems to have taken care of things. I am able to move freely and am not taking pain medications. I am returning to work in November, and things are looking great.
However, I think I may be flagged for seeing a LCSW. Is there any way I can appeal that? I am not, nor have I been suicidal. If someone could point me towards the right documents/procedures, I would really appreciate it.
I began thinking, and then my heart sunk. Since Jan 2010, I have had 4 major lower back surgeries. I am a 33 year old male who was previously healthy, but had Degenerative Disc Disease. It got bad enough that I required a 2 level fusion to feel some pain relief.
After the long recovery (8 months), my pain symptoms were worse. I ended up getting another major spine surgery (laminectomy w/ ligament removal). Incidentally, they tore my dural sac while they were in there. That required another major operation a week later that kept me in the hospital for a while.
I ended up getting a spinal infection, and had to go home with a PICC line for antibiotic infusions 2x daily. My pain was unbearable, and my surgeon told me that I needed to look into disability full time. I was devastated.
A man loses a lot of pride through these types of ordeals, and I was at an all time low. My wife was having to bear the weight of the house duties as well as taking care of me. I was really depressed, and went to see a counselor.
Herein lies the problem. I never told her I was going to kill myself, but I said that if I was ever even contemplating it, I would seek help, which I did. I ended up feeling better after talking for a few sessions, so I no longer needed to go. She never thought I was a danger to myself, and always let me leave on my own.
I ended up having another major surgery which seems to have taken care of things. I am able to move freely and am not taking pain medications. I am returning to work in November, and things are looking great.
However, I think I may be flagged for seeing a LCSW. Is there any way I can appeal that? I am not, nor have I been suicidal. If someone could point me towards the right documents/procedures, I would really appreciate it.
