Getting disability benefits for back pain
Published on October 26th, 2017 by Eric Slepian
If you have severe back pain and are struggling to work, you may be wondering what you are going to do. Going to work each day can cause you to feel debilitating pain. You cannot simply keep calling off sick or asking to go home early.
You may be wondering if you qualify for Social Security benefits for your back pain. Back injuries can be disabling conditions and may get you the compensation you need. Here is how to approach the filing process.
Types of back injuries
There are a lot of different back injuries that occur for various reasons. Your back pain may be resulting from:
- Deterioration and aging from osteoporosis or osteoarthritis
- Postural problems from bad posture, heavy lifting or scoliosis
- Inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis
- Herniated disc causing spinal cord or nerve root compression
- Car accidents, falling or sports injuries
Even if your back injury does not match the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration, you may still qualify depending on your functional capacity and medical records.
Extensive medical proof is necessary
Back issues are sometimes difficult to prove, and the SSA wants a lot of evidence besides claims of your symptoms. You should provide medical records to prove your injury. If you have not already, you should have a doctor diagnose your condition. According to WebMD, diagnosing your back pain may require:
- X-rays
- MRIs
- CT scans
- Electromyogram tests
Include any of these test results with your application. Also, take note of how often you have seen your doctor and what treatments you have received. A longer and more in-depth record is helpful to your case. For example, if you have been seeing your doctor multiple times in a year and have tried multiple treatments without any relief, your case may be stronger.
If you decide to file for disability, you should make sure you do it right the first time with the help of an attorney. The appeals process can be more difficult.
