You're right, I have Medicaid. I get the two confused constantly.

I would apply for SSD but I haven't worked enough/put enough money into the system to qualify. But the lawyer I have is working me through all this... hoping to come away with something.

I'm going to a new doctor on Thursday, but before I was treated for my sciatica with a combination of steroids, muscle relaxants (either valium or flexeril) and a painkiller (usually vicodin). For now I'm only taking Aleve and Tylenol. I'll see how the new doctor handles it.

I will make sure to do that, thank you.

Hi, I'm new to this website and I didn't know where else to put this so I'm putting it here.

My name is Corynne, and I'm 21 years old. I weigh 365 pounds (guessing) and am 5'10". This is the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Why? Because I can barely move.

I have been heavy all my life. Depression from a broken family and rape didn't help the fact, and I have always been gaining weight. In January of this year, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and was told this may be the cause of why I am so heavy.

When I was fourteen, I was diagnosed with Genetic Spinal Stenosis. It didn't dampen my life until May of 2008, when I decided to kick up my excercising by walking a mile every day. Sadly, three days into my excercising and I developed sciatica. The sciatica would come in episodes: bad ones that would land me in the ER after hours of pain. But they lasted a week or so, and were never keep me out of comission for very long.

Until July of 2009, I was active. I went to Curves three times a week, and was heavy, but was keeping my weight in check. What happened to make this all end? My sciatica kicked up again, and this time, it stayed.

I had to drop out of college (I was a senior) because I cannot sit up for long periods of time anymore. I can't sleep without being heavily medicated. I walk with a cane. I cannot stand up for more than three minutes and that's on a good day.

My life as been stolen from me. I now lay in bed on a heating pad most days. I cannot work (currently battling Social Security for SSI). I have medicaid, but that will not cover a bariatric surgeon (but I have found one for when I get medicare- if, I get medicare). But in the meantime I cannot excercise, and I'm sad so what do I do? I eat.

Lately, I have started to try and do things. I'm going to start an aquatic exercise program designed for people with arthritis and bad pain such as mine next week, and have decided to start reintroducing myself into sitting up by taking driver's education.

I'm sharing my story in hopes someone could relate and tell me what they did to get through this.

One things for sure: if I can ever walk normally again, I will never, ever take it for granted.

 "Word on the street" is that replacements only last 15-25 years before you have to have another one.

Please get a second/third/fourth opinion about what can be done before you go the replacement route.

(Sorry if this is a repeat of other comments.)

  I too suffer from Psoriatic Arthritis and have for about 10 years now.  I have been very fortunate to have great relief from Enbrel alone for the past 5 years, after no success with methotrexate or arava.  Coming across this post almost a year later, just wondering how you are doing with your PA.

Hope you are doing well.