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