You have provided an amazing wealth of info on filing a disability claim, Happyslug.
I posted this in another thread, so please pardon the duplication, however you seem to be the one in the know, so I wanted to post again to this thread...
My sister has had increasing problems with nerve pain for some years now. She is trying to file for disability, but is having a problem finding a doctor that will do the disability forms. I'm not a doctor, but I believe she needs some neuro testing in order to document the problems and show the severity of them. Despite our pleas to do so, she did not seek help while she was working and had insurance, so her problems are not documented very well. She is one of those people who does not like to admit she is not well.
She is now trying to find a family doctor to begin the process of getting tested and getting the needed medical records, but every doctor's office she calls states that they do not do disability paperwork because it's too extensive and takes too much time. This has astounded us.
She quit her job in July of 2010 to see if being away from all of the computer work would help heal her issues. It did not, and in fact her symptoms have escalated. Her nerve pain began in her hands and moved into her arms. It is now in her feet. She cannot even write now, due to pain, numbness and cramping, and standing for more than 10 minutes causes her great pain in her feet and toes. Her savings have run out, and she now must do something to get income to pay her bills.
What is she to do when she cannot find a doctor that will agree to file the required forms?