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There's a lot of disorders out there that have generalized names. Transverse Myelitis is a good one. Usually given a spinal cord patient when the doctors can not determine the cause for the immune system to attack the myelin sheath. Fibro years ago may have been known as Rheumatism to many who had it. Or it could also be another disorder which the doctors have not pinned down yet. Insurance companies like diagnostic names {codes} in order to give payment to the doctors. To receive payment without such in most cases is impossible. It's just like the term Epilepsy. Most persons immediately think falling on the floor trying to swallow tongue convulsions. That is the most severe form of it and there's about 40 or so different types that can cause anything from daydreaming to grand mal seizures. Cancer is another catch all name believe it or not but people except it. Cancer is a class of diseases. How many persons would dare question anyone who says they have cancer? Not many. Most would not even ask what type.

I've been reviewed at least twice myself to continue SSDI. My wife I think once but after 25 years she's not going to walk. Her hand function is good enough for her to do a lot of things for herself eventually but not good enough to work. If I could work I would but I would now have to hire a sitter for her. No family can't do it for me. My sibling is in bad shape and has to have 24/7 constant monitoring. Strokes do that to a person. Yea that person is fixing to go on SSDI. Sibling didn't need it till wage earning spouse passed a few weeks back.

Freepers I can likely say in all honesty except for the poster who is a wounded vet I have likely been around and seen far more disabilities and disabled persons than anyone on this thread. I went to school with them. I don't mean one kid out of the school disabled I mean the entire school student body was there due to disabilities. Some were obvious some were not. It was a regional school in Oak Ridge Tennessee now closed due to mainstreaming. I'm glad it was there. Without it I would have missed out on a lot. It taught me some important lessons that stuck with me. Persons with disabilities no matter how mild or severe are usually just trying to make it in life. They hold no grudges and they have their dreams and wishes.

That school would prepare me for a life in my distant future in loving a disabled spouse. It would prepare me for military service so well that the doctors missed everything. It gave me enough coordination where I could up till I retired climb a ladder safely to do my work.

Years later I would spend my evenings at a local rehab hospital with my wife being trained for being her caregiver. When she came home I was ready. Some want to look down on me that's fine. Lets see you be a caregiver for 25 years. You better hope disability never hits you. Most marriages where a spouse becomes disabled during the marriage do not last. The healthy spouse can not except the disabled ones limitations. We were dating when this happened to her and married after the fact. No regrets.

There's been many things we could have gotten including home health nurse visits once a week we turned down. We've asked for nothing except for what we need to get by. Any of you no matter your position in life are likely one catastrophic illness or injury from SSDI.

Are there abusers? Likely so. Self inflicted like addicts should be tossed off. As well a catastrophic illness will send many to bankruptcy court. Went there once 23 years ago. When mine hit it required no hospitalization for me. My wife though with hers spent six months in the hospital at which her insurance was canceled 30 days after her last sick day.

Be thankful for your health if you have it.

I agree with FReeper “kaila”.

Why do I have to pay you for your hardships? I am sorry for your woes, but to be blunt...we all have them.

I have sympathy “cards” I could play. I’m a vet, I have anxiety, I do have grand mal seizures, hell my knee hurts most days.
So what. I go to the doctor, I try to take care of myself, and my husband loves and supports me. That is what most everyone does. They don’t expect others to carry the load.

I got into debt taking on the care of my elderly mother and disabled brother. I didn’t ask the govt. for help. I just took it on.

The more symptoms and woes you tack on to your posts aren’t going to get you any more sympathy.

There are disabled people who need help. That is obvious. But for you to deny that many people are gaming the system for money is ridiculous.

This thread started with the stat of “1 of 19 Americans are on some kind of disability”. That statistic was shocking to me and made me mad. You accepted it and expect conservative FReepers to be OK with it as well.

I will never be OK with it. I pay a crap load of my money to fund this sham. I want it to stop.