PMR- Disability | Arthritis Information

Are any of you on either permanent or temporary disability and what is your experience with it?

Have been Diagnosed with PMR vs Lupus for 1 1/2 years now. Have not been able to work since last November due to flare up of symptoms- for me- flu-like symptoms - terrible headaches and joint pains as well as exhaustion.

I have about 3-4 hours in the morning before the train hits and things go down hill.

The doctor I just started seeing at Stanford really encourages meditation/positive thinking and regular exercise. I have been kept on prednisone for the last 1 1/2 years at 13 mg and higher. He is adamant about tapering me off the prednisone- or down at least.

My primary MD is encouraging the permanent disability as it is hard to be approved the first goaround.

Want to hear how any of you are dealing with the 'work' vs disability issue- which for me is very BIG!

I am a hospice nurse who wants to go back to work.

Thanks for your input.

i'm a 50 year old female just Diagnosed with pmr in jan 2007 it's been a night mare my job is getting upsit because i take off to much work the dr started me on 20 mg for a week then 10mg for 30 day then off all i though i would die he went on vacation and no one in his office would put me back on the prednisone they said i was on it to long i guess they didn't understand about pmr one dr told me to go to the hospital and i did and all they would do is tell me to take pain med. that did not help so i missed another two weeks of work my dr is back and he put me on 30mg for 3 day then 20 mg for 3 day then 10mg until i can get to a rheumatologist he know thinnks i need i go on the 30 i also have a bad case of gerds and with the prednisone is alot worst now and i get the jiggy's all to time and tghe head explostion are getting worst sometime i think my head well blow off it''s hard to read the computers at work with the headaches so i'm hoping they can put me on temporary disability i was hoping someone would let me know if they can work with this or not i love my job but most of the time i can stand to go in because of the i fell

thank you

vicki

Vicki-

What state are you in? I am in CA. I was able to get temporary state disability by just having my doctor fill out the form. They have the forms in their office or you can get one on-line. Check with your doctor. I am considering applying for permanent disablility at this point. That is through the social security department.

Sounds like you need a rheumatologist and soon! They should not have stopped your prednisone like that! It's very important to taper more slowly.

Hope you are getting the help you need. Hang in there!

Karen

Lupus was also brought up with me those years ago.
I got a disability lawyer after the third refusal.

It's a must. Should have done it right away.

Many of them take a small retainer and don't get paid unless you win and they get a percentage of that amount you are awarded.

You may have to do some of the leg work so to speak.
Get your own records and things like this.

~KewaneeDear Rosey,
I was diagnosed Dec 05 ,was a community nurse, but only worked 2-3 days per week. I did a few shifts until Feb06 but because of leg pain and behind knee pain, it became obvious that getting in and out of a car was difficult and attending dressings in the home was hard.

I then started on methotrexate and felt that my immune system was comprised. I have not been able to work, but I have been very lucky that my husband is able to support us. I miss the nursing very much but now have a grandson day and a day with my Mum who is a carer for my Dad, and with other family things I find that allows me to have a down day if i need it.

I do not know how I would have coped if work was a necessity. i find this PMR does not like you to push your limits, which may have just been all the normal stuff we fitted into a day pre -PMR.

So I would definitely be going for a disability pension, so you can look after yourself....but be very careful of locking yourself away, as it does have its depressive days, and you sometimes need things that you just have to do to keep your chin up.

Love Zali Karen,

About the disability. I know I would never be able to go to work with the way I feel, like you said about the train, well, I feel like I got run over by a train then it backed up and ran me over again.

This disease has been very debilitating to me, my activity is 90% less from this horrible PMR.

Maybe you should check on the disability that is available to you.

If it wasn't for my kids I do not know what I would do, even the smallest chore is exausting,

If I could qualify for disability I would certainly be looking into it, but I do not think I do.

Good luck &n bsp; Georgiana

ROSEY

I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY

I DID NOT KNOW IF A DR WILL PUT YOU ON DISABILITY FOR IT DUE TO FACT THEY CLAIM THE PREDNISONE IS TO HELP WITH THE PAIN AND ALL THE OTHER FUN THING WITH THIS BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET

I WORKED TODAY AND WANTED TO COME WORK AFTER WAY THROUGH THE DAY BUT I COULD SO NOW I'M PAYING FOR IT BIG TIME AND II STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE VET WITH MY DOG BECAUSE MY HUSBAND ON A FIRE CALL IN WHO KNOW WHAT TIME HE'LL BE BACK SO MAYBE I 'LL NEED TO TALK TO MY DR

THANKS

VICKI

Vicki-

don't give up on the disability. Talk to your doctor and check with your state program for disabled workers. I guess each state is different regarding what is offered. California has a good program of compensation.

I just know how the push-crash cycle can drag you down.

Take care-

karen

Vicky when I was on prednisone I too felt my head would blow off. Also had presuure behind the eyes. Found 2 aleves at night to be very helpfull in the morning.Vicky...glad you have a dog I have 4 and found they helped me get tru this. l

marianne

i have two labs one is yellow and he's 12 we get around about the same way very slow the other is a choc. lab 9 months old and full of life but we just found out he has no left hip cup so he alone got three legs to use but it doesn't stop him at all i'd me lost without him

I'd be lost without them aswell!

here are 2 of them crazy girls! (actually one of them looks like your avatar

http://www.geocities.com/marianne_erikson/Stinkie.html