Can I be denied disability benefits for refusing to take pain medications?

Would taking pain meds allow you to work? If a strong case can be made for that, then refusing could complicate things for you. From what you've described, I don't think that's at all likely.

Disability decisions (in the U.S.) hinge on two things: 1) having a diagnosis, doesn't matter how accurate, they just need a name to hang it on; and 2) ability to work. You have the first, so your concern now is on demonstrating, via the forms etc, your problems with the second.

Every time you fill out the forms (refusals and appeals are unfortunately part of the process), write from the point of view of your WORST day. Forget all of the coping strategies you use. And then do something really nice for yourself, because it's bloody demoralizing to look directly into the eyes of what we go through.

SS physicians aren't the nicest bunch. But don't worry about that, it's par for the course. As long as you have the rheumy on your side, you'll be fine. (SS docs won't care enough to take the time to discuss much in the way of treatment options. S/he'll just look for signs and ask lots of questions. And remember -- confusion is an excellent reason why you can't work. If you get confused in the doctor's office, use it. :-)

Best of luck.

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You sound as if you have more than enough problems to deal with that you should qualify for disability. You do not have to take medications unless you find they hep you and you need them. Some prefer to put up with the pain, have learnt techniques for coping and need to feel when it gets worse, which may be masked by some medications. The illness is apart form what you take.

However, disability may not be easy to get. Some can mange quite well and get awarded it; others have severe difficulty and cannot lead a fairly normal life but get turned down. It makes no sense. But keep on trying if you do not succeed at first.

I am disabled (among other things, extensive osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia). I found that 99% of all disability claims are denied the first time around. They do that as there is a good chance people won't appeal during the time period allowed and then they are automaticly denied, even if they would have qualified (a money-saving move). So...if and when you are denied, APPEAL it.

Please note also, that the disability people lied to me and said the doctor said I was well. I said show me the doctor's letter (it was non-existent, just a bluff on their part) so I can appeal it and they backed down! In other words, just because they tell you something, doesn't mean that it is true...so verify everything independently!

As for your medication, all you have to do is fill your prescriptions (for safety reasons, put the pills in the garbage (out of the bottles) and mixed up with dog poop (get it off the sidewalk) to keep druggies from fishing them out of the trash) and keep the receipts as proof that you are co-operating with your doctor, and don't volunteer any information. They aren't likely to check your blood to see if you are taking the pills.

The other thing you can do is talk to your doctor about pain medication. Many pain pills are addictive and others are unsafe. And if you are on them for decades, they all are habit-forming, as well as damaging the body! Instead of the pills, you could ask to be referred to a pain management clinic where you can learn biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and other non-medication-based methods of pain control!

Good luck!

I have a disability pensions and I dont take pain medication, and refuse to. I am very sensitive to medications and I wont take anything that makes me feel drugged. I wont take them because of the side effects as well, and because I dont believe in taking medications other than antibiotics when absolutely needed. I also refuse to add an addiction to my problems.

Generally they won't turn you down for refusing narcotics, but as has already been said, they will turn you down the first time. And yes, you should get a disability lawyer. It took me about 18 months to get my disability payments started, but it may take less for you, since your conditions are purely physical and mine are mostly psychological.

I can understand perfectly your refusal to take pain meds until you absolutely need them. In the past year and a half, I have gone from Vicodin 5 to Vicodin 7.5 to Norco, and now the Norco isn't doing it anymore. I can eat them like babby aspirin.

Good luck.

Okay... I have a friend who regularly does medical exams for social security, SSI and SSDI... not using pain meds should not affect the outcome of a disability determination. They go by diagnosis and the evidence (in/on your body) for that diagnosis, and then what the prognosis is.

What you describe should ensure that you will be one of the few that gets an award the first or second time around.

Make sure you get copies (on paper) of all of your medical records going back for years and take them with you to your exam. Give them to the doctor yourself... that can help alot! People assume the doctor has received the records, and they often have not. Then... just be yourself and tell the doctor just what you've told us... it'll be fine.

(((((Red Queen)))))

Many insurance companies will not pay LTD benefits if you are not actively working to correct the situation or find other accommodations. Your doctor will have to fill out information for the LTD claim (usually yearly) and if he says you've been prescribed meds that would work and you refuse to take them, you will likely lose your LTD.

The federal gov't seems a bit more lenient, but you will still have the same problems. You will have to prove you are unable to work and that the meds do not help. In the mean time, you'll (unfortunately) have to find another way to survive.

I think that only applies to medication for depression or other mental issues.

If that happens,I'm in deep dookie too. I have had back surgery for scoliosis, and found out I am allergic to so many pain meds it's not funny. I also have many other issues.

My husband has gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I understand how painful it can be.

As to what you can expect from the physical. I get more of a check up when my psychiatrists nurse takes my blood pressure and weight. Very sad.

Well...... sighs... The Government does not just pass out money like candy. I was denied three times before I was finally able to get my disability case won by a lawyer. Social Security actually lost my big fat case file (because I ran off from MI, to FL to IN, to MI and at least two different counties there.) Not on purpose,or anything. I don't particularly enjoy travels. I rather missed having a nice steady place to call "home". I was bouncing around partially employed staying with relatives and paying some form of room and board. It was a pretty awful existance to be passed around like unwanted.... ah, what's the word? like a washed up used not even a human being?

Now at least I have a steady income , and a roof over my head. (I was in a homeless shelter, once!) THAT is probably how I actually , finally, won the disability case, oddly enough. My relatives stopped caring for me. : /

: (

At least now I have a home.

I've been locked up at least 3 times in the mental ward. (Two other brief stays, add up to five times.) wow. I'm only 32. I did not have my first (non sleeping for days on end) episode until I was 28 or 29, so, I was diagnosed "NOS: Not Otherwise Specified" a lot. No, Now I am "Bi Polar Manic Depressive" (I don't know if I am a I or II, cycle fast or slow? I tend to be euphoric, not ever angry and not depressed. I tend to be anorexic, and way too happy/energetic.)

I was not on meds at the time my lawyer won my case! wow! * I am not currently on meds, so maybe I will not get my disability money again when my case is reviewed in two years!! So, your question interests me! My "friends" are all like "Oh, yeah, man, just take the meds! get the free gov . money! Don't risk losing that!" but I'm not going to falsify my "condition". I'm sort of stable now. lucky me. but what about tommorrow or next week? or next month? my Therapist says that "Bi Polar, Manic Depression, mental illness, it NEVER goes away, but a person can be stable, or not show signs of it for a while, it can be dormant. " that sort of thing. Interesting, huh?

What if meds were against your religion???? That would be discrimination, wouldn't it? Can we sue? the gov?

Oh. You need to have a Doctor (Doctors) with forms and writing and documentation of all kinds to agree that you can not perform substantial work to earn a living. to verify your claim for disability. You want to claim that you can not work, so, now, you must prove it, right? OK.

I'll be on meds again soon. It's just a temporary transition between meds , with my Doctor's advice and permission!!!!!