Plumpy420 : there is hope, went thru SSDI approval at 43. need to get your lawyer on it harder. mine was preapproved from some other stuff not medical, but there is more push on serious medical issues. the gov has their people & you yours to see & evals compared. then on to the desk of 3 judges who read it. the less evidence of injury etc, the longer the delay, plus gov's policy on string them out long as possible to see who really goes back to work or jail (10% pop of usa is in). unless you have a really lousy lawyer. mine did nothing but SSDI, but i had been offered in '84 & turned it down after college grant, hip replacement in '97 set me up for it again & shit storm that went down in '01 made it mandatory. there are other church or city groups get on the band wagon to help open ears. post an editorial in the newspapers, that will get responses (some not good). park out at the judges office with a cup & sign to set a sit w/ him. letters to congressman do little but if enough people flood the office, it'll get dealt with.
good luck with it & posted here, i'll play e tag.
live from SoPark, Co
MtnStormN