To hire a lawyer or not?!

My back story (pun intended)

So as of Jan 8th of 2025 I had a pain in my spine that over a few days rendered me useless on the floor like a worm, unable to physically move without pain. Went to a local ortho care and xrays showed nothing. Sciatica was the diagnosis. Next few days it got worse, went to Er, still... Sciatica. Another day or two back in the Er where they recognized me and did some more imaging and found a herniated disk (L4/5). Found a spine surgen and had surgery beginning of February 2025 on my L4/5 (3 hernias total, laminectomy) "Got better" (yeeah right) and lived jobless while disability insurance and unemployment helped me thru 2025 till December whrn I tried to do a seasonal job (4 hrs, 5 days removing trash and cleaning toilets) id spend the morning at work and on the couch medicated for the rest of the day. (Glad when the job ended cuz it was too much for me). Went back to spine dr complaining about pain still in my spine. As of late January 2026 I filed for disability (ssdi) had a phone interview and gave my information. (I have yet to mail in all of my medical info). This was in preperation for my now second spine surgery (L3/4 AND revision to my L4/5-failed lamonectomy) at the beginning of February.

AT this time I have yet to hire a lawyer to represent me (and feel stoopid for not doing so). I am still healing from my second surgery but hope that someday I can regain myself to work a regular job again but felt like id better file sooner rather than later.... i get that "most" people get denied the first round (potentially June of 2026) and i guess im prepared for that but would hiring a lawyer make a difference? Ive printed out all of the info they recommend off the website. (Med records, pay stubs, bills in my name, Ect) is that what a lawyer would do? What more can "I" do?

Is it silly of me to think i can do this on my own? (Wife is carrying me and the bills, we are underwater)