Many times people have an illness or injury that medical treatment just can't improve. Your doctor says, "I have nothing more to offer you. You are just going to have to live with this condition."
In those cases, should you keep seeing a doctor?
Speaking strictly of Social Security disability cases, the answer is, Yes probably.
If you are going to try for Social Security disability you will need current medical examinations and treatment. If you stop going to the doctor and don't get an exam or treatment for a couple of years or longer, there just isn't any record to base a disability on.
Ask your doctor if there is a specialist that you could benefit you. For example, if you have chronic pain do you need a pain management specialist? If there is chronic joint or arthritis pain, should you see an orthopedic doctor of rheumatologist? If you have chronic migraines, should you be seeing a neurologist?
Social Security places great value on your medical record. They don't often approve claims where the claimant has simply stopped seeing doctors for a long period of time. If nothing else, they want to see symptoms verified and documented once in a while. If a specialist was recommended, Social Security wants to see where you followed up and went to the specialist--at least once.
The truth is, Social Security doesn't think the way we do. If our problem isn't being helped by a doctor--we tend to stop seeing the doctor. Social Security often interprets that as improvement in your condition, even though that may not be the case.
So, if you intend to try for Social Security disability, we recommend that you see your doctor at least every 3 months. Try to get laboratory tests, X-rays or other studies done that verify your ailments or injuries. One picture really is worth a thousand words.
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