Any advice on filing for Social Security Disability?

Hi.  I was wondering if anyone has any insight into filing for Soc. Sec. Disability.

When I saw my neurologist this past Wednes. he advised me to file for disability ASAP.  He said he normally didn't do this but he gave me the name of a law firm from which he receives paperwork often and suggested I contact them if I feel like I need help filing. 

My question is this: Do I really need an attorney to file?  I ask because, while the guidance would helpful, I really am not in a position to pay what I imagine would be some pretty steep fees.

Here are the facts for which there is medical documentation:

July 2008: Left the ER (AMA, because I had no medical insurance at the time and had no chice but to return to work the following day) with diagnosis of "Neurologial Incident" which resulted in right side weakness, gait and balance issues, and diminished fine motor skills in my right hand 

January 2009: Admitted thru ER with diagnosis of probable stroke which resulted in a worsening of the above mentioned symptoms which had not resolved since the previous neurological incident. ( Again, left hospital the following day for the very same reasons, i.e. no insurance and needed to return to work.)

June 8, 2009: Taken from work by EMS and admitted thru ER with diagnosis of probable stroke.  In addition to all of the above symtoms I had speech and cognitive difficulties with this latest incident.  Diagnostic tests, including bloodwork, an MRI of my brain, and Ultrasound of my carotid arteries resulted in a Carotid Endartectomy on June 12 and a visit from a neurologist who advised me that he felt the multiple lesions on by brain were indicative of MS and that he wanted to see me in his office after the carotid surgery so that he could do a complete work-up including a lumbar puncture.  I was discharged from the hospital the day after surgery (6/13).  I did not return to see the neurologist because my long awaited health insurance would not kick in until July 1st.

July 2009: I now had insurance thru Kaiser Permanente and immediately made an appt. with a PCP who performed a multitude of tests and also referred me to Neurology for additional tests.

August 2009: Neurologist sent me for another MRI as original hospital did not respond to requests to forward medical records.  MRI revealed 25+ lesions on my brain and I was scheduled for a lumbar puncture on September 25.

October 9, 2009: Had another neurological incident (which apparently was an MS flare-up) in the AM while at work.  Walking, speech and cognitive issues made it necessary to leave work early, hours before my scheduled follow-up appt. with the neurologist. 

At Oct. 9 office visit I was given a definite diagnosis of MS and started on a Prednisone Taper and daily injections of Copaxone.