| One of the most commonly listed impairments | | | | back and was out for 3 straight days. How did |
| on social security disability and ssi | | | | this happen? I simply got out of the shower. |
| disability applications is lower back pain. | | | | I must have stepped |
| Why is this condition so "common"? Well, it's | | | | |
| simply due to the way humans are built. The | | | | the wrong way as I got out, because as I was |
| lower back area (particularly L5-S1) is the | | | | closing my front door I could feel pain |
| point at which we bend to pick up things and | | | | tingling down my right leg. Thirty minutes |
| we often use it as a fulcrum to lift heavy | | | | later at a christmas eve party I was on the |
| objects.Unfortunately, because | | | | floor and unable to move. I spent the next |
| | | | three days in bed, on flexeril and pain |
| lower back problems are seen so often on | | | | killers, unable to move much at all. Getting |
| disability applications, they tend to be | | | | up to go to the bathroom felt like a spike |
| viewed by disability examiners in a | | | | was being hammered into my tailbone.How does |
| dismissive way. The typical examiner will | | | | this personal bit of information relate? When |
| look at a disability app that lists back pain | | | | I got back to the job (DDS), I tended to look |
| as the only allegation and will think to | | | | at back cases a lot differently than before. |
| themselves, "Back pain, is that all?". From | | | | Even though my condition had been relatively |
| day one, when the file lands on the | | | | short-lived, the memory of the awful pain I |
| examiner's desk, the examiner will have it in | | | | felt in those three days made me more acutely |
| | | | aware of how debilitating back pain can be. |
| | | | And how restrictive and limiting a back |
| his or her mind that the case will | | | | condition can be for people who have chronic |
| ultimately be denied.Having been an examiner, | | | | and ongoing back pain.Now, why am I writing |
| I am sad to say that this is how the | | | | this particular post today? Well, once again |
| evaulation process usually begins for such | | | | I find myself in bed, on percocet and |
| cases. And it sucks. Extreme lower back pain | | | | flexeril, after simply crouching (this was a |
| (I don't mean simply "pain". I mean pain | | | | crouch, not a stoop, which you would think |
| | | | would be safer) down to do something. As |
| of the kind that prevents you from even | | | | before, neither the muscle relaxant nor the |
| being able to get off the bed and onto your | | | | pain pill seem to do the trick (though I |
| feet to go to the bathroom without breaking | | | | wonder how bad it would feel without these |
| into a sweat and wanting to scream) is | | | | meds) and I expect the situation to last for |
| something that one cannot imagine...unless | | | | probably 2-3 days.Am I disabled? No, of |
| one has experienced it firsthand. And without | | | | course, not. The likelihood is that sometime |
| having experienced it personally, it is | | | | in the next 24-48 hours I will be able to |
| difficult for others to really understand how | | | | walk again, with some residual pain. |
| back pain can be so severe that it impairs a | | | | But...what if I had a condition that caused |
| person's ability to work.Unfortunately, most | | | | this level of pain, yet was chronic and |
| DDS examiners--the individuals who slap | | | | ongoing? Frankly, I don't know what I would |
| decisions on ssd and ssi claims--are | | | | do. I certainly wouldn't be able to work. And |
| relatively young people who have NEVER | | | | feeling that kind of pain for so long would |
| experienced this kind of pain. Typically, | | | | undoubtedly make me depressed and anxious (a |
| probably due to relatively low pay, most | | | | lot of claimants with back problems also cite |
| examiners in a DDS unit will be in their | | | | depression as an impairment). And, for me, |
| early to late twenties. Yes, you do see | | | | knowing what I know about the disability |
| people in their thirties, forties, even | | | | system, the situation would seem even more |
| fifties at a DDS, but most DDS units will be | | | | depressing because "pain" is given very |
| composed of younger workers.I have no doubt | | | | little consideration in the disability |
| in my mind that this fact alone has a bearing | | | | evaulation process.What do you do if your |
| on the decisions rendered for some claims. I | | | | major allegation on a claim is back-related? |
| mean, how can a person understand how | | | | Here's a tip that really applies to all |
| debilitating or painful a situation can be if | | | | cases. Seek regular medical care and try to |
| | | | make sure your physician fully documents all |
| | | | the limitations you have as a result of your |
| they've never experienced at least something | | | | condition. Medical record documentation on a |
| similar? I'm sure they can't. And with so | | | | federal disability claim is essentially the |
| many examiners belonging to a relativly young | | | | gas that powers the engine.The author of this |
| age-set, this "builds" a certain | | | | article is Timothy Moore, who, in addition to |
| insensitivity into the | | | | being a former food stamp caseworker, |
| | | | medicaid caseworker and AFDC caseworker, is a |
| process.I'll give you an example of what I | | | | former disability claims examiner. |
| mean. About eight years ago, I injured my | | | | |