One of the most commonly listed impairments on social security disability and ssi disability applications is lower back pain. Why is this condition so "common"? Well, it's simply due to the way humans are built. The lower back area (particularly L5-S1) is the point at which we bend to pick up things and we often use it as a fulcrum to lift heavy objects.

Unfortunately, because lower back problems are seen so often on disability applications, they tend to be viewed by disability examiners in a dismissive way. The typical examiner will look at a disability app that lists back pain as the only allegation and will think to themselves, "Back pain, is that all?". From day one, when the file lands on the examiner's desk, the examiner will have it in his or her mind that the case will ultimately be denied.

Having been an examiner, I am sad to say that this is how the evaulation process usually begins for such cases. And it sucks. Extreme lower back pain (I don't mean simply "pain". I mean pain of the kind that prevents you from even being able to get off the bed and onto your feet to go to the bathroom without breaking into a sweat and wanting to scream) is something that one cannot imagine…unless one has experienced it firsthand. And without having experienced it personally, it is difficult for others to really understand how back pain can be so severe that it impairs a person's ability to work.

Unfortunately, most DDS examiners–the individuals who slap decisions on ssd and ssi claims–are relatively young people who have NEVER experienced this kind of pain. Typically, probably due to relatively low pay, most examiners in a DDS unit will be in their early to late twenties. Yes, you do see people in their thirties, forties, even fifties at a DDS, but most DDS units will be composed of younger workers.

I have no doubt in my mind that this fact alone has a bearing on the decisions rendered for some claims. I mean, how can a person understand how debilitating or painful a situation can be if they've never experienced at least something similar? I'm sure they can't. And with so many examiners belonging to a relativly young age-set, this "builds" a certain insensitivity into the process.

I'll give you an example of what I mean. About eight years ago, I injured my back and was out for 3 straight days. How did this happen? I simply got out of the shower. I must have stepped the wrong way as I got out, because as I was closing my front door I could feel pain tingling down my right leg. Thirty minutes later at a christmas eve party I was on the floor and unable to move. I spent the next three days in bed, on flexeril and pain killers, unable to move much at all. Getting up to go to the bathroom felt like a spike was being hammered into my tailbone.

How does this personal bit of information relate? When I got back to the job (DDS), I tended to look at back cases a lot differently than before. Even though my condition had been relatively short-lived, the memory of the awful pain I felt in those three days made me more acutely aware of how debilitating back pain can be. And how restrictive and limiting a back condition can be for people who have chronic and ongoing back pain.

Now, why am I writing this particular post today? Well, once again I find myself in bed, on percocet and flexeril, after simply crouching (this was a crouch, not a stoop, which you would think would be safer) down to do something. As before, neither the muscle relaxant nor the pain pill seem to do the trick (though I wonder how bad it would feel without these meds) and I expect the situation to last for probably 2-3 days.

Am I disabled? No, of course, not. The likelihood is that sometime in the next 24-48 hours I will be able to walk again, with some residual pain. But…what if I had a condition that caused this level of pain, yet was chronic and ongoing? Frankly, I don't know what I would do. I certainly wouldn't be able to work. And feeling that kind of pain for so long would undoubtedly make me depressed and anxious (a lot of claimants with back problems also cite depression as an impairment). And, for me, knowing what I know about the disability system, the situation would seem even more depressing because "pain" is given very little consideration in the disability evaulation process.

What do you do if your major allegation on a claim is back-related? Here's a tip that really applies to all cases. Seek regular medical care and try to make sure your physician fully documents all the limitations you have as a result of your condition. Medical record documentation on a federal disability claim is essentially the gas that powers the engine.

If you have not experienced back pain as yet, count yourself lucky. The fact is that 80% of us will experience back pain at some stage of our lives. The level of pain experienced from person to person often varies from small twinges that last for only a few days, to severe paralyzing chronic pain that will go on for months.
Separating Myths From Facts
The first common mistake that most people make is to treat all back-related pains as resulting from the same source and having the same pain level. This could not be further from the truth.
There are really only two kinds of back pain.
Acute -The most common of back pains. Usually does not last for very long (a few days or a few weeks at the most). The pain level is mild but could get worse if not treated properly.
Chronic - Will last for a few months or longer. It is very persistent and hard to determine the real cause. Will flare up occasionally with very high pain level.
Some Of Causes
Back pain can result from a lot of things. Some are self-inflicted and some result from a medical condition. Over stretching when the muscles are still cold or lifting […]

Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles

Osteoporosis occurs when there is a loss of density in the skeletal system leaving you more at risk for bone fractures.
An early symptom of osteoporosis often presents as bone fractures which do not match up to the described injury or ones which occur in the absence of any obvious injury.
Other patients may present with back pain which seems to have no clear explanation. Back pain must be taken seriously and should be investigated clearly before being written off, especially if osteoporosis ends up to be the diagnosis. It is a mistake you cannot afford.
Osteoporosis leads to the skeletal bones leaching calcium, collagen and even protein. With the loss of these minerals, the skeletal system bones become more porous, in extreme cases, often taking on the appearance of Swiss cheese. It is this depletion that can lead to severe back pain and fractures.
Osteoporosis symptoms can appear without warning. Think about the back pain that just won0t end. Many patients don0t even know that they have osteoporosis until they experience a break and then have an exam and x-ray. Sometimes the osteoporosis isn0t even diagnosed until after […]

Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles