Recently, I had a patient in physical therapy who had been mildly injured an an auto accident. The car accident had been well over 6 months old and the patient was functioning rather independently. She would tell me about how her and her husband were unable to work so they had no money. The power steering rack had gone out on her car, they had trouble paying for gas, car insurance, etc. Her family also has no medical insurance and is waiting on a settlement from litigation on this auto accident. On the last day of her therapy she reported how much better she was doing and said she had no pain at all. Then she tells me that she is seeking social security disability income because she can’t work without pain like other people. While I have no doubt that she has some discomfort and pain from her auto accident, there is no physical reason why she cannot find a job with light duties. I got news for you…we all go to work with a little bit of pain. Social security disability income is not for people who are walking around with no difficulties, smiling, laughing, going grocery shopping, and basically functioning independently. I wish she could see some of the people that I’ve seen who really deserve disability. For instance, my patient with MS who couldn’t hold her head up so her husband would hold it up for her. My 40 year old who was hit by a car when he was 2 whose extremities are contracted so he can’t straighten his arms or legs. There are too many out there just abusing the system.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
