I'll start off by saying that I'm a 25 year old male. I am in decent health(My opinion). However, I have several problems that I'm concerned about. Any info would be appreciated.I'll start off with the simplest ones.1- My Knees: I've never participated heavily in sports, nor anything that'd really strain my knees. However, for about the last 11 years, my knees, especially my left knee, begins hurting and aching after only a few minutes of standing. Usually 5-10 minutes of standing gets it to its fullest. I'm kinda used to it by now, but just wondering if it may be something simple.2- Scoliosis(Sp?): Twisting of the spine. I have it, was diagnosed at 10 years old. The chiropractor(Sp?) said it was a fairly bad case. He noted that my spine was twisted to the point that my head wasn't on straight(Feel free to make jokes). In my natural relaxed position my head is always facing left by about an inch more than it should. Just wondering if this gets worse as I age? Will I need to keep a look out for anything specific as I get older?3- Rib pain: I think this mau be normal, but sometimes I get a "catch" in my ribs, and I can't move or take a deep breath without a piercing pain. I can usually manage to work it out. Just wondering if this may be a sign of something more serious? Once I had Bronchitis and coughed and it compressed my ribcage to the point that seperated one of my ribs and pushed it out of place. Now onto the more serious ones. These may take some explaining because they have some previous causes.4- My back: I was in a horrendous car accident when I was 9, the seatbelt caused me massive injuries(I'll get to more these soon). But it also impacted my spine and caused an unknown ammount of damge to it(The 1 or 2 vertebrae in the small of my back). It is an unknown ammount because I was young and my parents decided to keep it a secret, and now they don't remember(Or at least they claim). Like my knees, it begins aching and hurting with 5-10 minutes of standing. sometimes causing very bad pain, I can hardly stand to stand up for longer than an hour(Unless I walk a lot). I can manage to force myself to handle it if needed(A job). But no matter what, even after it stops aching and seems fine, it will attack me at night while I go to bed. Only the days where I get it to hurt by standing usually though.Should I look into this more? Or just accept that its an injury and will hurt?5- My stomach: The same car accident that hurt my back completely severed my intestinal tract in half. One of the comments I remember hearing was me being "Nearly cut in half, If his spine had snapped he would've been completely cut in half". As if that wasn't bad enough, I was mis-diagnosed. I went untreated, suffering, in extreme pain, unable to eat, or drink anything without vomiting, no sleep, for like a week. After repeated hospital trips they finally found out what it was. By this time I had developed Intestinal Gangrene and was dying. They rushed me into emergency surgery, removed a large portion of my intsetines.Ok, ever since then(16 years ago), I occasionally get extreme stomach cramps. I'm talking EXTREME pain, sometimes even worse than the pain from the accident. Crippling pain, when it hits(Seemingly randomly) I can't move or walk, I can hardly breath, and once i passed out completely from the pain. I've been to the dr's over this several times, but they just dismissed it as "normal". >.> I know it is NOt normal. lolI may not know what it is, but its far from normal. The best guess from the Drs was that the scar tissue was causing my intestines to twist... but isn't that lethal unless treated? I don't know what to make of this.6- More stomach: This one may be another mis-diagnosis though. The Urologist said I likely have "Nut cracker" XD. I forget the actual name of the condition, just wondering if theres anything in particular to watch out for over this? I know it can lead to infertility, but i'm not sure I even have it. He did nothing, no exam at all really, just threw that term out and said I had it.7- Social anxiety: Okay, its not a physical condition. But i have extreme social anxiety, I have not been diagnosed with it because I have not gone to a psychiatrist(sp?). I can't stand to see anyone, even people i know and like. I hate it. I've basicly been a shut-in for the last 7 years of my life(Except for 2 jobs I got, which lasted about 6 months and 3 months respectively). 2 years ago I quit my job, and haven't realy been out since. Anyone know what i should do to get over it? I'm getting lots of pressure to get over it, but I don't think it'll be easy.And finally... I hate to even ask this for fear of being labeled a freeloader or scum or something... but, From what I listed, Do you all think it's possible that I qualify for "disability"? Take note that the ones that truly affect my day to day life are my knees and back and anxiety. The rest is either non-painful, or hits randomly. I don't know where to ask about disability, or the requirements. I mean, I CAN work, its just very painful and very stressful from the anxiety. Stress causes my stomach pains to increase in frequency.I'm just gathering info now, I think I'd be too ashamed to actually apply for disability, and I honestly think I'd be refused anyway. Is it a costly process? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.
-
Hmmm. Several things.
-
What a terrible burden to have to bear such pain. I would imagine most of it, perhaps all, stems from the car accident, and the pain caused by the internal scar tissue.I don't know about how applying for disability works in the US, but if there's any justice and you are suffering as you say, you ought to be eligible for disability. Applying for disability should also mean that you get at least some proper medical examinations - it seems that you haven't been getting much professional attention lately, and you really need it. It may well be possible for a lot of the pain to be reduced, and there are also treatments for social anxiety that can help you be able to get out in the world again.
-
I haven't been getting much medical attention lately, mostly because I have no money to pay a doctor. And when I do go, they mostly just brush off all my problems without really checking into them.Honestly, the only thing any of my recent doctor visits did was check for a hernia. No other tests or exams or anything. She did send me to the urologist thinking my stomach pain might've been from a bladder infection or something. But then the urologist just said it was normal and sent me home.About disability: It seems it is incredibly hard to get the benefits, at least where I live. I know of many people, who are truly disabled and are refused.On the other hand, many people with no problems at all seem to get it no problem. My uncle tried for years and was constantly denied. Then finally they discovered his back was broken in 3 different places and were forced to give disability benefits. Then he died a few months later... The hospital gave him medication to make him stop breathing and let him die. >.>No one could sue the hospital, because his kids had already signed the "do not rescuscitate(sp?)" thing, so once it was over, it was over.Also, people are in a panic over the economy here in the US. So I'm not exactly sure how that would affect things like this.Oh well. I don't know whats going on. lol
-
you would technically qualify, but good luck. my mother has type 1 a charcot marie toothe syndrome and can't get it. I have that, plus severe back problems due to a car accident a few years ago. I can't lift over 10 lbs, and I still can't get it.
-
Heh, that's sort of what I figured. I've always heard how hard it is to get.Is it an expensive process to attempt to get it? What all is involved? I have basicly no knowledge on the subject.Good luck on your endeavors, I'm sure one day they'll open their eyes and actually help the people they're supposed to.
-
Oh, and I forgot to ask. What do you mean "technically" qualify? Is there some sort of accepted injuries/requirements or something? Ugh, I don't really know how to word my question. Maybe I should ask, how exactly did I "qualify"? lol
-
...are you still employed and able to work? If yes, they won't take your claim. If no, you have to get a doctor's written statement that you are unable to work because of your disability. then ... then you "technically" qualify.from the looks of it you should have very few problems with getting that letter.
-
Ah I see.I am not currently employed. I quit my last job 2 years ago because of 2 things. The main reason was because I was unhappy working there and being mistreated by my bosses. Secondly was because I was having many stomach attacks while working there and just forced to work through them. Once, I was sick and on medication that caused dizzy spells, and my bosses learned that... and decided it would best to send me up on a ladder to hang signs. >.>I nearly fell off the stupid thing. lolAnyway, I am currently looking for a job, and I am able to work. Its just painful and stressful.btw: Any one know if my other problems will get worse as I get older? Or if there are any vitamins or such to help with my knee pain?
-
Alright, not to repeat everything that Pete and Leigh have said, but yes, you should qualify for disability coverage, and I don't think you're trying to be a freeloader. It's not expensive, just writing and filling out forms, it's just getting accepted that's the hard part, even if it's undeniable, i.e. if your in a wheelchair (won't that be a fun thing to do in 2 more years..can't wait! ). This is what your looking for. Supplemental Security Income, specifically mentioned in transition handbooks, etc. for disabled. Even though you work, you work through pain, etc. and I would assume you take breaks, often-ish, yeah? If you CAN work, chances are, insurance and SS being insurance and SS, they'll exploit you to the fullest, but it's still worth a try, again and again. Get a lawyer or attorney if you have to. Okay, now that I've got the extent of my knowledge of SSI out of the way... Your back Scoliosis does tend to get worse as you age, due to the amount of weight pushing on that side, making the spine bend farther. I know...when I was 4-ish, I had a 10 degree curve, now it's like 60... For that, there are braces you can get, but not much else. After [whatever it was that caused scol.] happened, and it's not treated, and done the best to be healed, there's not much to do to fix it, back surgery aside.Your kneesThis might be just twisted something or another, and it's positioned the wrong way? Have you had any x-rays recently?Your stomachIf you can, ever, you should go back to the doctor, and when they say it's normal, DON'T take their opinion. Yes, they're doctors, but doctors can be wrong. Tell them everything, and if they still say it's normal, just keep up. Ask them for tests, etc. If you have health insurance, that'll cover most of it, I would think. Something that causes THAT much pain, isn't normal... Lower stomachYou don't mean testicular torsion, do you? If that's the case, that could be bad, and they could've fixed it, and infertility and such wouldn't happen. But I'd go back when you can to see.AnxietyGet over it in your own way, and time, if you can. Don't worry about other people, just worry about you, and take it one step at a time. If you have to, do go see a psych. or get a consult, something. They could probably help more than you think.Alright, all of those are options for when you can, when your able. I know you were saying that it's difficult to go see a doc., I understand, totally. But when you can, it'd be in your best interest. If you apply, and get accepted for SSI, they help with that too, in addition to the stipend you get per week (as far as I know).Oh yeah! Almost forgot. Something my nureo. prescribed me to help with my hips, and may help your knees, etc... brand name is FOSAMAX, but it's, checking..., alendronate sodium? I think that's the name of the medicene itself, ask for that. It's for osteoporosis, but it may really help where some of the bone was taken out, or moved, etc. Take calcium, and vit. D supplements, too. I never do, , but was told to, to help with my hips. I need a 1000/2000mg dosage, I think, but I'm not sure if you'd need more or less, since your older, bigger, etc.
-
No, it wasn't testicular torsion. It was... um... Well the name constantly slips my mind, but he described it as a vein connecting at a 90 degree angle and causing some sort of issue that causes pain.Thanks for all the info. All the posts have been really helpful.I know I really should visit the doctor more often though. I'm just not good with people, especially one on one. I usually do whatever I can to get out of the situation, even if it means accepting their obviously wrong diagnosis. lolI know I should've asked for more tests. Actually the Urologist was supposed to do a sonigram(sp?), but he didn't.I'm kind of conflicted over the Disability thing. I mean, Everything I posted is true, and if I were seeing another person in my situation I'd say they should attempt to get it. But I just don't feel right about it, Undeserving kind of. But it never hurts to gather info.It sure would make life easier though. I dunno what to do. lolbtw: I like cats and Bleach, so I like your avatar and username as well. ^^
-
sighMy stomach is hurting now.It's just a medium ache for now. So I can still move and stuff.
-
Hmmmm. My bstomach was hurting last night too. Not real bad though.I helped my mom put hay today and hurt my back. It's ok now though. Hopefully it won't bother me when I go to bed.I talked to my mom about the possibilty of me applying for disability. She was against the idea. She seemed to change her mind later though. She suggested maybe talking to the doctor that goes to our church.I'm still unsure if I even want to bother, I don't want to be looked down upon by people. Many people in my area look down on anyone getting "Something for free" even though they pay for it with physical pain. >.>Anyway, I'll keep updated if I do decide anything. Thanks again for all the posts.