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Thank you for your reasoned response. I was injured on the job when a car ran a sign & Tboned my car. I rarely go out. I use a cane outside the house. Inside I can only be on my feet for an hour/ hour & a quarter. My husband took me shopping today because I needed to use the wheelchair in large stores.

I get nerve blocks every two - four months, I don't(can't) wear shoes or socks. I wear open-toed sandals or slippers year round. I live in North central Indiana (it gets cold here) & wear Capri pants 90% of the time because I can't tolerate things touching my feet or lower legs. In addition to the nerve blocks I take controlled substance pain meds, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, & anxiety meds every day. But to see me you would not guess how much pain I have. No one sees the insomnia I suffer from because of my injury.

I am disability retired, and receive SSDI which is subtracted from the amt of retirement pay I get. My husband & I live frugally because of health insurance premiums & costs beyond our health insurance. I couldn't afford to lease a new car. Wouldn't if I could.

I have paid into Social Security since I was 16. Which was nearly 45 yrs ago. You are right disabilities are not always visible. Not everyone is getting a free ride. And this is not what I imagined my retirement yrs to be.

I'm grateful to God that I survived the accident, He has blessed me even through these trials. I am able to be with my husband & spend time with my G’children .

Bless you! I almost didn't read your reply this morning because so many tend to be hostile in a thread like this. Anyway, best wishes to you and your husband. Your attitude seems to be exemplary and Lord-centered. I'm not formally disabled but experience several chronic disorders. Am lucky, though, to occasionally have a really good stretch when I can get out and play like a young man. I understand that your pain and anxiety never really leave and yet aren't very visible to others. This is truly a weighty cross to bear. Bless you again.

Our little trial, at the moment, is finding out we will be caring temporarily for an additional FOUR grandkids in this little two bedroom house. They are lovely, easy to take care of kids but just the thought makes me a little nutty. My wife takes it in stride, though. For me, it is not that I can't handle the kids — I can't seem to handle THINKING about having to take care of the kids. Oh, well.