Unfit for Work: the startling rise of disability in America

[SUXBNME 1,515]

It wasn't an opinion. It was directly from the article.

 

Holy focking hell.

 

This is really why you need to stick with cat videos and stories of crapping yourself.

Ok...Fair enough. I didn't read the article, so please quote me from the article where it stated the below opinion. (which is the only thing that I responded to)

 

You're becoming more and more like phurfur and RP.

 

You know this isn't an Obama issue. It's a problem in the country. It's a humans looking for handouts problem. The percentage of disability cases in relation to the unemployment rate, is on par to where it's always been. Yet, just like that retard, Phurfur, you want to jump on the Obama-is-bad bandwagon.

[mobb_deep 920]

Which Chris? Be careful here

 

Also,m I'm gonna go kill people in a few minutes...You game?

 

I might hop on for a few.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

I might hop on for a few.

[nikki2200 4]

Ok...Fair enough. I didn't read the article, so please quote me from the article where it stated the below opinion. (which is the only thing that I responded to)

 

http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

[jerryskids 6,827]

Weird that you're all talking about back pain, because I'm going to get an MRI on my back tomorrow. Been dealing with crippling pain down my back and right leg for 3 months straight. Been seeing a chiro, massages, acupuncture, etc. etc. with no improvement. Finally went to my dr. this week.

 

All sorts of jacked up on norco and valium right now. Wheeeeeee.

 

 

Herniated disc? Or rather do you just THINK you have a herniated disc?

There probably is a structural problem in his back. Most people over 25 or so have some abnormalities in their spinal structure.

 

Mobb, if you can read this through your haze... your MRI will show a problem. They'll suggest surgery. Go ahead and schedule it. You are a techie, my wife and I are both engineers, so I understand your skepticism. Do yourself a big favor and get the book, read it, and truly try to internalize it. All you have to lose is $10 or whatever the book costs. All you have to gain is avoiding surgery and a lifetime of back pain.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

I got an MRI 5 years back an they said I had something called "disc extrusion" in my L5/S1 and "degenerative disc disease". Not really sure what either of those are.

 

Degenerative disc disease is when the disc between two of your vertabrae gradually wears down until it eventually pops. When it pops a bunch of stuff from inside the disc leaks out anc basically causes something like a chemical burn. So that's where some of the pain may be coming from. The rest is from the vertebrae pinching on the nerve, which in particular causes shooting pain down your leg and may cause weakness in the leg as well.

 

At least that's what happened to me. Sucked fora while but the burn goes away and you can often prevent the nerve from pinching through physical therapy. You may also want to ask about a steroid epidural injection, which can really provide a lot if temporary relief while you recover. But make sure you don't get a tainted one like those unfortunate souls who got meningitis last year.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

Thank you.

 

I will still stick to my original statement that I believe it has been easier under the current admin to falsely get disability $$$ than anytime else in our history.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

Thank you.

 

I will still stick to my original statement that I believe it has been easier under the current admin to falsely get disability $$$ than anytime else in our history.

 

You have absolutely no idea whether that is a true statement.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

You have absolutely no idea whether that is a true statement.

Of course I don't, you focking retread. Read my original post

Let me help you out...

 

I don't know for a fact, but I'd be willing to bet that it is alot easier to get paid for falsely claiming disability during our current administration versus any time else in our history.

[mobb_deep 920]

There probably is a structural problem in his back. Most people over 25 or so have some abnormalities in their spinal structure.

 

Mobb, if you can read this through your haze... your MRI will show a problem. They'll suggest surgery. Go ahead and schedule it. You are a techie, my wife and I are both engineers, so I understand your skepticism. Do yourself a big favor and get the book, read it, and truly try to internalize it. All you have to lose is $10 or whatever the book costs. All you have to gain is avoiding surgery and a lifetime of back pain.

 

I will man. Thanks for the link.

 

Degenerative disc disease is when the disc between two of your vertabrae gradually wears down until it eventually pops. When it pops a bunch of stuff from inside the disc leaks out anc basically causes something like a chemical burn. So that's where some of the pain may be coming from. The rest is from the vertebrae pinching on the nerve, which in particular causes shooting pain down your leg and may cause weakness in the leg as well.

 

At least that's what happened to me. Sucked fora while but the burn goes away and you can often prevent the nerve from pinching through physical therapy. You may also want to ask about a steroid epidural injection, which can really provide a lot if temporary relief while you recover. But make sure you don't get a tainted one like those unfortunate souls who got meningitis last year.

 

I did the epidurals for a couple years, after my first MRI. I was doing pretty good, until a few months ago. Definitely going to explore all avenues before I consider going under the knife. I just want to know WTF is wrong, before I dump a bunch of money into PT.

 

Thanks for the info.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

Of course I don't, you focking retread. Read my original post

Let me help you out...

 

So you don't find it at all dumb to express a viewpoint knowing full well that you have no idea whatsoever whether it's backed up by fact?

 

I mean, we all talk out our ass here, but usually we at least pretend to have some minimal knowledge on the suspect. Or at least read the g0ddamned article we're commenting on.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Weird that you're all talking about back pain, because I'm going to get an MRI on my back tomorrow. Been dealing with crippling pain down my back and right leg for 3 months straight. Been seeing a chiro, massages, acupuncture, etc. etc. with no improvement. Finally went to my dr. this week.

 

All sorts of jacked up on norco and valium right now. Wheeeeeee.

Unless you have neurologic deficts (usually strength, or severe sensory problems), or rarely, problems with incontinence, the MRI isn't going to change the management of your back pain. This assumes you are under 50 and haven't been having unexpected weight loss, fever or major trauma associated with your pain.

 

The majority of people have bulging discs or other abnormalities on MRI, but only those with persistent neurologic deficits or intractable pain warrant consideration for surgery. Weight loss, physical therapy and pain management (try scheduled (as opposed to as needed) ibuprofen and/or Tylenol before narcotics if you haven't already done so) should all be tried before resorting to surgical options. Long-term (~2 year), the outcomes are the same for surgical and non-surgical management of lumbar disc disease.

I got an MRI 5 years back an they said I had something called "disc extrusion" in my L5/S1 and "degenerative disc disease". Not really sure what either of those are.

Your spine is composed of stacked bones (vertebral bodies) with cushions (discs) between them. The spinal cord runs through a canal formed by bony arches attached to the vertebral bodies, acting as a conduit connecting peripheral nerves to your brain. The discs are mushy in the center, with a tough outer covering. With age and repetitive trauma, the outer layer of the disc degenerates and the gooey center can eventually ooze (extrude) out. It may then compress the nerve roots which attach to the spinal cord, which causes the pain and/or the neurologic deficits I mentioned above. So you had back pain 5 years ago?

I did the epidurals for a couple years, after my first MRI. I was doing pretty good, until a few months ago. Definitely going to explore all avenues before I consider going under the knife. I just want to know WTF is wrong, before I dump a bunch of money into PT.

 

Thanks for the info.

You already know what's wrong. I predict the MRI will show slight progression of your degenerating, bulging discs, but the indications for surgery likely won't change based on radiographic findings.

 

Interesting how you don't want to pay for PT but are willing to get a second MRI - are the copayments different?

[penultimatestraw 473]

Ok...Fair enough. I didn't read the article, so please quote me from the article where it stated the below opinion. (which is the only thing that I responded to)

There used to be a lot of jobs that you could do with just a high school degree, and that paid enough to be considered middle class. I knew, of course, that those have been disappearing for decades. What surprised me was what has been happening to many of the people who lost those jobs: They've been going on disability.

 

…

 

But disability has also become a de facto welfare program for people without a lot of education or job skills. But it wasn't supposed to serve this purpose; it's not a retraining program designed to get people back onto their feet. Once people go onto disability, they almost never go back to work. Fewer than 1 percent of those who were on the federal program for disabled workers at the beginning of 2011 have returned to the workforce since then, one economist told me.

 

People who leave the workforce and go on disability qualify for Medicare, the government health care program that also covers the elderly. They also get disability payments from the government of about $13,000 a year. This isn't great. But if your alternative is a minimum wage job that will pay you at most $15,000 a year, and probably does not include health insurance, disability may be a better option.

 

But, in most cases, going on disability means you will not work, you will not get a raise, you will not get whatever meaning people get from work.[2] Going on disability means, assuming you rely only on those disability payments, you will be poor for the rest of your life. That's the deal. And it's a deal 14 million Americans have signed up for

What I didn't copy is most relevant: a couple graphs which show how disability very closely parallels unemployment, and has done so for decades.

[penultimatestraw 473]

There probably is a structural problem in his back. Most people over 25 or so have some abnormalities in their spinal structure.

 

Mobb, if you can read this through your haze... your MRI will show a problem. They'll suggest surgery. Go ahead and schedule it. You are a techie, my wife and I are both engineers, so I understand your skepticism. Do yourself a big favor and get the book, read it, and truly try to internalize it. All you have to lose is $10 or whatever the book costs. All you have to gain is avoiding surgery and a lifetime of back pain.

Few people with back pain have a lifetime of debilitation. But I agree with skipping the MRI until he's tried conventional non-surgical therapies. Your self-help book probably won't hurt in conjunction with medical treatment.

[NewbieJr 541]

So you don't find it at all dumb to express a viewpoint knowing full well that you have no idea whatsoever whether it's backed up by fact?

 

I mean, we all talk out our ass here, but usually we at least pretend to have some minimal knowledge on the suspect. Or at least read the g0ddamned article we're commenting on.

Actually, I give sux credit here. He's admitting that he's

talking out of his ass based on nothing but his disdain for Obama and based on zero facts. Most ofthem won't admit it.

[drobeski 3,061]

Actually, I give sux credit here. He's admitting that he's

talking out of his ass based on nothing but his disdain for Obama and based on zero facts. Most ofthem won't admit it.

Of them

[DankNuggs 305]

Liberals are claiming obama is tough on disability because it is just as easy to get on Obama disability as Bush?

The logic is always strange with the hippies.

[DankNuggs 305]

Actually, I give sux credit here. He's admitting that he's

talking out of his ass based on nothing but his disdain for Obama and based on zero facts. Most ofthem won't admit it.

Are you arguing that Obama has been tough on disability? or just that he's done nothing and blame bush? Cause i think its that blame bush thing, its kinda old, guy is on his second spin around the block. Maybe take off the training wheels of expectations at SOME point?

[cbfalcon 825]

I blame our nation's drug problem on Bush.. Too many teens smoking pot and whatnot.

[NewbieJr 541]

Are you arguing that Obama has been tough on disability? or just that he's done nothing and blame bush? Cause i think its that blame bush thing, its kinda old, guy is on his second spin around the block. Maybe take off the training wheels of expectations at SOME point?

Bush, Bush, Clinton, Reagan......

 

Not blaming any of them Or, I'm blaming all of them. Your choice.

[NewbieJr 541]

Liberals are claiming obama is tough on disability

Show me one. I haven't read a sinle post where anyone indicated anything of the sort. Phurfur Jr

[jerryskids 6,827]

Liberals are claiming obama is tough on disability because it is just as easy to get on Obama disability as Bush?

The logic is always strange with the hippies.

 

I don't see where you draw this conclusion. The consensus here is that every president has punted this issue. I suppose it would be politically challenging to be the president who picked on disabled people.

[The Moz 69]

I don't see where you draw this conclusion. The consensus here is that every president has punted this issue. I suppose it would be politically challenging to be the president who picked on disabled people.

 

They aren't handi-capable they are focking handicapped stains on society fock em all. --- Oh please Obama say this as your leaving office... Unfortunately I think thats the only way a GOP gets elected maybe ever again with all the minorities who want freebies.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

Liberals are claiming obama is tough on disability because it is just as easy to get on Obama disability as Bush?

The logic is always strange with the hippies.

 

Where did anyone say Obama is "tough" on disability? The point is that the system exists and is managed irrespective of who sits in the White House.

 

You really are turning into an RP/drobeski clone. Bummer, you used to be a pretty good poster.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

I actually wonder if maybe most politicians aren't OK with this. It gets people out of the job market so they aren't reflected in unemployment statistics, which has the overall effect of making our economy look healthier than it may actually be.

 

Or maybe it's just that nobody wants to pay for these people, so getting them off the state rolls and on to the federall rolls--where the costs are much more easily hidden--is a palatable solution for many.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

So you don't find it at all dumb to express a viewpoint knowing full well that you have no idea whatsoever whether it's backed up by fact?

 

I mean, we all talk out our ass here, but usually we at least pretend to have some minimal knowledge on the suspect. Or at least read the g0ddamned article we're commenting on.

In this article, does it provide facts that prove my opinion wrong? If so then please link it so I can stop having a wrong opinion. tia

Still haven't read it.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

In this article, does it provide facts that prove my opinion wrong? If so then please link it so I can stop having a wrong opinion. tia

Still haven't read it.

 

Read it or STFU

[Mike Honcho 5,294]

In this article, does it provide facts that prove my opinion wrong? If so then please link it so I can stop having a wrong opinion. tia

Still haven't read it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkoPq5AOCOA

[NewbieJr 541]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkoPq5AOCOA

He's not fat

[nikki2200 4]

In this article, does it provide facts that prove my opinion wrong? If so then please link it so I can stop having a wrong opinion. tia

Still haven't read it.

 

Do you have to wear a little sticky note pinned to your shirt all day long reminding you to breath?

 

 

 

Seriously.... why do you post in these threads? It's embarrassing.

[OldMaid 2,130]

Do you have to wear a little sticky note pinned to your shirt all day long reminding you to breath?

 

 

OMG!

 

 

I think it's breathe. And Sux does it through the mouf.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

He's not fat

Actually, I'm a tad overweight right now.

[DankNuggs 305]

Where did anyone say Obama is "tough" on disability? The point is that the system exists and is managed irrespective of who sits in the White House.

 

You really are turning into an RP/drobeski clone. Bummer, you used to be a pretty good poster.

be nice to see govt take ownership of their domain, R or D... its their responsbility to manage these things for the public good (i.e. taxpayers)

 

We are at a point where all our issues are untouchable. That seems unreasonable and illogical to me.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

be nice to see govt take ownership of their domain, R or D... its their responsbility to manage these things for the public good (i.e. taxpayers)

 

We are at a point where all our issues are untouchable. That seems unreasonable and illogical to me.

 

Agreed

[DankNuggs 305]

I actually wonder if maybe most politicians aren't OK with this. It gets people out of the job market so they aren't reflected in unemployment statistics, which has the overall effect of making our economy look healthier than it may actually be.

 

Or maybe it's just that nobody wants to pay for these people, so getting them off the state rolls and on to the federall rolls--where the costs are much more easily hidden--is a palatable solution for many.

precisely. The more out of control it gets the bigger the mirage of it being positive.

[NewbieJr 541]

be nice to see govt take ownership of their domain, R or D... its their responsbility to manage these things for the public good (i.e. taxpayers)

 

We are at a point where all our issues are untouchable. That seems unreasonable and illogical to me.

I don;t think there's anyone here who would argue any of that. It's also not what you've been saying up till now.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

Read it or STFU

Guess I was correct.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/06/04/add-disability-to-obamas-anti-jobs-policies/

 

Why have disabilities increased by 20 percent under the Obama administration? Have Americans have suddenly become less healthy or more accident prone? Under normal conditions, we expect disabilities to rise with the population, which would be a four percent increase, not a 20 percent increase. It should be noted that disability is meant only for long-term health problems. Unemployment insurance and worker compensation are there for short term issues.

 

A study by the super-non partisan National Bureau of Economic Research explains the reasons for the rise in disability.

 

First, the Social Security Administration now places more weight on self-reported pain and discomfort, has relaxed the screening of mental illness, and accepts medical evidence from the applicant’s own doctor. The share of awards for mental illness rose from 16 percent in 1983 to one third in 2010, while the share of back pain rose from 13 percent in 1983 to 28 percent. Together they account for more than half of disabilities. Of the 2.7 million workers on disability for mental disorders, 1.7 million have “intellectual and mood disorders.” Even young people can be declared disabled if they get nervous at work or school, have attention deficit disorders, or are not very intelligent.

 

Second, the application process has been streamlined. Applicants can begin on line, and they are entitled to a free call from a lawyer. Slick law firms specialize in navigating clients through the bureaucratic maze, and their appeals for clients fill the airwaves. If applicant claims are denied, they can appeal to administrative judges, who overturn examiners in half of their cases. Some administrative judges achieved notoriety by never turning down a disability appeal. No wonder. They can be reprimanded and their decisions set aside for “talking down to claimants” or for “lack of respect.” To cite one superior court verdict: “Applicants for social security disability payments, most of whom are truly ill or disabled, are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity no matter what the merits of their respective claims.”

 

Third, the relative economic attractiveness of disability has increased. The NBER study finds that, for low-income workers, disability (plus Medicare) replaces almost 90 percent of working income. During recessions, wages decline, and workers at or near the minimum wage receive almost as much income through disability as by working. The system itself raises disability claims during recessions.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

Guess I was correct.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/06/04/add-disability-to-obamas-anti-jobs-policies/

Worms? Nikki? anyone?

[Recliner Pilot 61]

Sux is dangerously close to winning his first thread.

[SUXBNME 1,515]

Sux is dangerously close to winning his first thread.

I read the post it note on my forehead this morning.