There are several reasons why people suffer from excruciating back pain which can be caused due to diverse spinal conditions. In some people, back pain may be due to aging effects but in some, it may be due to accidents and injuries. People who suffer from chronic back pain may be suffering from conditions like arachnoiditis, spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative discs, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spondylitis, compression, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis and more. If you are wondering whether or not you are eligible to apply for a social security claim for back pain, read on.
It is prudent to note that Social Security considers pain symptoms to check the credibility of your disability claims. If you think that you have a valid claim, seek the help of an experienced SSDI attorney who can guide you through the process and let you know if there is any validity of your claim.
Back Pain- A Nagging Pain
Understandably, constant, nagging pain in your back can be very annoying and sometimes debilitating for you. Lumbar pain especially can incapacitate you. While all this is true, it is important to understand that SSI or SSDI disability doesn’t readily dole out benefits for back pain.
If you wish to check your eligibility for applying for a disability claim, you are expected to prove medically determinable impairment that lasts a minimum of a year. Social Security requires you to submit MRIs, X-Rays, doctor’s notes taken after a thorough physical examination that proves your back pain is due to a physical abnormality of the spinal canal and spine. In case, the back pain is not due to physical impairment, you may not be considered eligible for disability benefits. Also, back pain due to fractures and muscle strains usually heals within a few weeks or months and is thus not considered for Social Security disability claim.
Evaluation of Severity of Pain
Since there is no dearth of back pain cases coming to Social Security claiming for benefits, their job to determine if the pain is genuine becomes quite challenging. To help make the right decision, they focus on objective symptoms and see if it is a match with the list of impairments due to spinal disorders. They also check the functional limitation and your credibility as the claim applied by you is based on subjective reports submitted by you.
Checking Claim Credibility
Your Social Security Disability Lawyer will apprise you about the evaluation of your credibility and claim that it will be carried out by Social Security to arrive at the right decision. If the administrative law judge or the examiner believes that your pain is as bad as you have claimed, they can accept your claim. But, before passing an order they will check the frequency of your visit to the doctor, treatments that you have undergone, the opinion of your doctor regarding the level of pain and limitations you are experiencing and how pain has been affecting your daily living.
The SSDI Lawyer can help you apply for Social Security Disability Claim.