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Back Problems

Can I Get Disability For My Bad Back Pain?

Yes, you can get disability benefits for your bad back pain. It depends on a variety of factors, the most important of which is how does your back pain impact your ability to work or even perform household chores? Your age, education background, and work background are also very relevant to how Social Security will analyze your case.

What sort of back conditions does Social Security consider?

Common back conditions that can become disabled are:

Herniated Disc
Spinal Stenosis
Arachnoiditis
Nerve Root Compression
Osteoarthritis
Degenerative Disc Disease
Facet Arthritis
Vertebral Fractures
Compression Fractures
Post-Laminectomy Syndrome
Spondylosis
Spondylolisthesis

How can I increase my chances of winning disability from back pain?

It is important to have objective evidence of your arthritis. So, treat regularly with doctors, get radiology (MRIs are best) of the relevant part of your back, comply with your doctors instructions for taking medications or attending physical therapy/aqua therapy/pain management/chiropractors. Be the squeaky wheel. If your doctor asks you how you are doing and you are still in pain, do not respond that you are fine.

The more you communicate these problems with your doctor, the better the case. Social Security will take the word of your doctors over your non-medical word or the words of your lawyer. Be specific with your description of your pain. If the pain shoots from your neck into your arms or from your lower back into your legs and feet, then additional testing such as an EMG may need to be done to allow your doctor to determine if your arthritis is affecting the nerves in your spinal cord.

If you use a cane, quad cane, rollator, crutches, wheelchair, or walker, ask your doctors if they believe that assistive device to be medically necessary. If a doctor believes an assistive device is medically necessary for you, they should document it in your records by writing a prescription for the assistive device and note the conditions for which it is required (e.g., is it for walking long distances, walking short distances, and/or standing and balancing?)