I Have Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis?

in my hands and hips. And it shows that my hands are gnarly and bent just upon viewing it. They hurt and are painful. Since I have no med. insurance, I have gone to clinics and the county hospital for pills and x-rays. All the doctors and x-rays claim there is no arthritis or any problems at all which they are all denying.

I have applied for disability and they denied me, and said I am o.k.,
I know I cannot work, use my hands that well as every job requires the hands.
What do you recommend? How can I fight this when I do have a disability and is getting worse and worse amongst other medica problems.

NOTE: ARE DOCTORS IN CLINICS AND COUNTY HOSPITALS WORKING TOGETHER SO I CAN'T GET DISABILITY? I know it is this way? Your thoughts.

Only 35 years of age...

If you were denied disability, you have the right to appeal. They will send you to more doctors. You have the right to appeal and have your case heard again. Don't give up. They almost always deny everyone on the first try.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a debilitating auto-immune disease. So if all the doctors say you don't have it, then who is diagnosing you and saying you do have it? Obviously you cannot go on disability (SSA disability Payments) unless you have a medical reason.

http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_ar...

Have you EVER been in the military? You might try going thru the VA. If you can't find decent doctors to treat you there isn't much else you can do except keep trying.

Good Luck

you always get denied on the first try. this is their effort to prevent people with bumps and scratches from getting it. You need a disability lawyer. It is always denied on the first go-round. GET A LAWYER AND BE PATIENT. YOU'LL GET A BIG FAT BACK-PAYMENT CHECK ALSO starting from the date you first filed.

You just need to file an appeal. It is standard for them to reject any first filing except for say a paraplegic who obviously cannot find gainful employment.

Just file your appeal, you will get the paperwork or may have gotten it with your denial.

FILE IT...FILE IT...FILE IT!!!

Being turned down with initial filing is nothing to be concerned with. If you have the medical records to back up your claim, you just need to "play the game" and do what is necessary.

Don't worry, you will get backpay from the date you filed. Even if that is 3 years from now that you get approved. They will pay you for all of that time.

I know that doesn't necessarily help you today and your financial situation, but it's the truth.

I just hope you have some support somehow. I was lucky, as I had a long term disability insurance police - aka Aflac, but it wasn't Aflac. They paid me until my Social Security was approved.

Also, there are lawyers that will file your appeal for you and save you some headaches. And will also go with you to your Hearing.

They will charge you probably $4000, however it will be taken from your award. Many people find this worth getting!! Again, I was lucky in that my Long Term Disability company paid the $4000 for the lawyer. Cause if I wasn't approved for Social Security, they would be paying the entire claim and not just the small portion they are paying to make the difference between my Socail Security and the 60% of my pre-tax income my LTD is based on.

GOOD LUCK! But don't let this discourage you. I promise, if you are in the shape you are in and have the medical records to back it up...approval will come. Eventually.

Just MAKE SURE you go to all of your doctor's appointments. It's vitally important!!! Having those records are what is going to give you the outcome you need.

I was fortunate yet again in that my disability is chronic pain and fatigue, and doctors demand that anyone on pain medication come in to see them every single month. My Medical History file was AT LEAST a rheam worth of paper :-) You should see it now after 11 years...LOL!! My current doctor who has only been my doctor for about a year, but has some prior records from my last two doctors, my file is again, almost a rheam of paper thick!

When I have to go through reviews, they order my records and when they see that I am showing up at my appointments every single month to get the powerful medications I need in order to maintain even the most basic of lives...I only leave my house 3 times a month or so because that is all I can handle...it makes it so my reviews are processed without anything extra or questioned at all!

Just do whatever they ask of you, and make sure to do all of the filings and go to any doctor appointments they demand...and you will be approved. I am willing to almost promise. I can't give you a guarantee of course because you could be making up your health condition! LOL!! But if you aren't, there shouldn't be anything that prevents you from eventually being approved as long as you do whatever they require!

One of the things you need to DEMAND is bloodwork. Because Rhuematiod Arthritis is something that is detected through bloodwork and the proper tests. That is really the only way to be diagnosed properly with RA anyway. They can do x-rays and show the degenerative process but the bloodwork is what defines what is actually causing the degeneration! I am wondering if you have had a positive bloodtest for RA? Including that bloodtest result should go a long way to proving your case as well as the copies of those x-rays! DEMAND a copy of your entire file of records from every doctor you have seen. You may have to pay for it. Normal copying costs is $.15 a page. I am telling you, this is so important and you need to bite the bullet and pay for those records. That way, when you file your appeal you can include them yourself as you have no idea if the original filing ever got those records. This is the ONLY WAY to guarantee that Social Security actually has the proper records of your health issues.

Good luck to you!

When you apply for disability you have to to have documentation stating/proving your disability from your doctor and sicne all the doctors are saying youre fine...you got denied. Simple. I mean, that is why you got denied. But, how would come to a conclusion that it is arthritis? It could be anything! You need to find the right doctor and get a proper diagnosis..and just because you are 35 doesnt mean you can't get arthritis. Im 19 and Ive had it since I was 2, give me a break..

If you have seen multiple rheumatologists I would be shocked to if they were all wrong.

Doctors don't get paid more less to put you on disability. While there are definitely some quacks out there, it is unlikely that they are all wrong.

I have seen this many times.

Please review information on Fibromylagia. Many people are disabled and feel they have subjective arthrtis (to them) and have this disease.

These people that state "you always get turned down the first time" are wrong. I collect myself, have for over fifteen years. My sister is a claims officer. Most people that have to refile have filed wrong to start with or, have not followed directions.

Either your wrong or, your doctors are. There not sending through the proper paper work or ?

Get another doctors opinion, a neurologist or a Rhumaotologist. Get a complete report. You can make a phone report.
Call you local office of the Social Security administration, the local office, and tell them what's happening and ask for an answer as to what to do.

Try seeing a different doctor and tell them you need to know what is causing this problem. Be sure to tell them you cannot use your hands to do work. Do not tell them on the first visit you are seeking disability, save that for after they give you the diagnosis. You should still apply for public assistance of any type, and since you have to see doctors regularly, you should be able to get insurance liked medicaid (which is used for people who have health problems, are at poverty level and need healthcare). If you have considerable assets, such as savings, you will not get medicaid. My mother has rheumatoid arthritis, but she is not able to be disabled because she is married and has no work credits. Do you know how many credits you have? There are many factors to consider in this situation. The more health problems you have, the easier it is to become disabled. If a family doctor is willing to say your disabled (or not able to work), can give diagnoses and is willing to complete the paperwork you should not have a problem unless your problem is because of work credits.

You need to appeal your disability and get a lawyer to help you with the process.