AboutLeslie Hartman Expertise In 1995, a car wreck left me with a c7 spinal cord injury. I am female (which I note as it is fairly unusual with SCI), age 33. I have a working knowledge of physiology and a degree in Rehab and Psychology, and I can answer questions concerning adaptive equipment, the mental and emotional states/changes, physical changes, travelling (via car or airplane) and obstacles you might encounter at home or in the world. I can also tell you, based on past experience, several things NOT to do...
Experience neuroscience- spinal cord injury
Education/Credentials bachelors degree, rehabilitation and psychology
Expert: Leslie Hartman Date: 7/20/2008 Subject: Possible Future Disability Issue
Question Hi Leslie,
I was sitting in a computer chair about two weeks ago, and after getting up I had a burning pain from inside my right buttock to down and over the top of my right leg down to just above the knee. I was given Flexeril,(muscle relaxer), by my physician but it hasn't seemed to help much more than Ibuprofen.
The pain comes and goes and I'm thinking about seeing a chiropractor for x-rays and possible adjustment on Monday.
I am an over the road truck driver and I fear this may soon or eventually keep me from driving. If this is a degenerative condition and my doctors think I should not drive as an occupation, is there any way I can draw disability through any government agencies such as Social Security? I don't have disability through my employer as of now.
Could you possibly give me any further advice or state agency names to contact regarding how I might draw some type of disability income in case I become unable to drive and need to retrain in a new occupation?
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Mike E.
Answer hi Mike-
sounds like you have something pushing on a nerve in your lower back (i'm not a doctor, just an educated guesser). Best way to tell for sure would be to get an MRI- be wary of chiropractors. Some are good, some cause further problems
if you have something like a swollen disc, it may well not be degenerative. Hard to say until you find the cause of the pain. If you'd like to ask about your options though, I'd contact your state's unemployment agency or a state funded rehab (ie, in Texas we have the Tx Rehab Commission- they can do various vocational tests and see what your abilities qualify you for, work-wise). you might also check out social security's disability website and see what the qualifications are
