To:      YYYY@YYYY      
My name is Tyris Redo. I’m a 37 year old male who lives in Indianapolis, IN. In
October of 2007 I was diagnosed with cervical disc disorder. As a result I had 2
surgeries. A laminectomy and a cervical fusion. The reason I’m writing is
because after the last surgery I’ve been suffering from chronic pain and
problems with my hands that has left me unable to work and provide for my
children. The day I was released from the hospital after the second surgery I
start feeling a horrific pain around my stomach and back. I went to the
emergency room a few times soon after but they could tell me nothing. I went to
the neurosurgeon who performed the surgery and to my surprise he had no idea
what was wrong with me. He sent me to a neurologist who diagnosed me with
intercostal neuralgia. The neurologist prescribed neurontin and gave me lidocane
injections. This lasted until March of 2009 when I could no longer afford my
insurance. I don’t know if the neurontin was effective but the lidocane shots
helped a little. Nothing took away the constant pain entirely, the shots only
numbed the pain. I have been denied social security benefits citing insufficient
evidence to prove intercostal neuralgia. There are no test out there that can
prove this which is very discouraging for me. I’ve researched intercostal
neuralgia and I have some of the symptoms but I’m in constant pain that never
goes away. I can’t stand for long periods of time, maybe 2 or 3 minutes at a
time and I can only walk a short distance without stopping due to severe pain. I
have become very inactive and spend large portions of my days lying down and
sitting. I really need some ones help because I don’t have any source of income
to provide for myself or to get treatment. Nothing would be better than for me
to receive treatment and be cured of this condition but I haven’t come across
any information that has given me hope that this is possible. My ssdi claim is
being appealed and if I don’t get a favorable decision I don’t know what I’m
going to do. I’m not asking for money or hand outs I just need a free
consultation with a neurologist or specialist who can tell me what’s wrong with
me because I’m not even sure if I’ve been diagnosed properly. The reason that I
don’t know if I’ve been diagnosed properly is because I haven’t come across
any information where someone is describing constant pain or not being able to
walk or stand for a reasonable amount of time. Is it possible that there is
something else wrong with me? Is it possible for me to submit some type of
information to the ssdi board explaining my condition in more detail? To further
help in determining what’s wrong with me without actually examining me, I will
provide in detail all that is wrong with me from the time starting after my
first surgery : After the first surgery I had severe pain in my neck and my
right arm and numbness and tightness in my fingers and wrist on right hand. I
went to rehab for the pain and stiffness in my neck and right extremity
(shoulder). After rehab, I regained strength and mobility in my neck but not
much changed as far as my right extremity. After the second surgery is when bad
turned into worst. As soon as I left the hospital and got out of the car I felt
a pain shoot up my back and around my stomach that has been with me since. The
pain I feel is like something is wrapped around my body with most of the pain in
my lower left back. I was not able to have a bowel movement for the first few
weeks afterwards without a laxative. My left hand was numb and tight like the
right hand but I may have more strength in my left hand than right. I lack the
sensitivity in my hands to determine hot and cold before I burn myself, or
distinguish between certain objects in my pocket, for example, if I had a pack
of cigarettes , a cell phone, and my wallet in my pocket , I cant differentiate
between the 3 just by feeling them. Its hard for me to pick up small things like
coins, pins, paper, etc. when I smoked a cigarette I would drop it from in
between my 2 fingers and not even know until I tried to inhale again to find the
cigarette was not in my hand but on the floor. And my right extremity remains
weak. My right hand also trembles involuntarily. These are things that have been
going on right after the surgery and has continued with not the least bit of
change for the better with the exception of me being able to stand 4 or 5
minutes oppose to 2 or 3 or taking 20 or 30 steps oppose to about 10 steps after
a lidocane injection. After a while I realized my right inner thigh is numb and
my legs feel weak when I stand. I also loose my balance a lot and I fall and
stumble on a regular bases I’ve injured my right knee from a fall but don’t have
the means to go to a doctor and get treated. My left shoulder is messed up but I
believe its from me overcompensating because of the weakness in my right
shoulder and inability to use it when I’m pushing up to get off the floor or out
of the tub, etc. The weakness in my legs may be due to my inactivity and me
lying around and sitting a lot throughout the day. I have also felt a stinging
in my hands and feet like I was being stuck with a pin or something but I’ve
only felt that a few times. Sometimes I can’t hold my head up for long periods
of time cause I get cramps in the front of my neck. This doesn’t happen a lot
but when it does it only last for a few seconds. I also can not make quick jerks
of my head because it will hurt my neck. I’m explaining my condition in detail
in hopes that someone knows of other cases like this and can help me by sending
me in the right direction for treatment and maybe a cure. Or give some advice on
how to obtain information on my condition to give to the ssdi board so they can
make a more informed decision about my condition and realize I’m in a bad
situation physically and I’m always in pain which prevents me from earning a
living and taking care of my children. Can someone help