Chicago Herniated Disc Attorneys
Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyers
Back pain and back injuries are incredibly common. Many painful back conditions are caused by a herniated disc. A herniated disc is when the discs that separate the bony parts of the spine become damaged and fail to act as shock absorbers between the spines. A herniated disc can happen in any part of the spine, but they most frequently occur in the lower back.
Causes and Symptoms of Herniated Disc
A herniated disc may be caused by wear and tear as the disc age and become less flexible, or from injury to the spine, such as tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc. If a herniated disc is pressing on a nerve, it can cause pain, numbness and weakness in the area of the body where the affected nerve travels. This condition is often called sciatica and it is the most common symptom of a herniated disc in the lower back. If the herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve, however, you may have a backache or no pain at all.
Disability Benefits for Herniated Disc
Back conditions, such as a herniated disc, are evaluated under Section 1.04 of the “Listing of Medical Impairments.” The Social Security Administration (SSA) calls a herniated disc a “herniated nucleus pulposus.” In order to meet the SSA’s qualification requirements, an applicant must show evidence of nerve root compression characterized by neuro-anatomic distribution of pain, limitation of motion of the spine, loss of motor function accompanied by sensory or reflex loss and, if there is involvement of the lower back, positive straight-leg raising test.
If an applicant fails to meet this criteria, however, it does not mean that you will automatically be denied disability benefits. It does mean that you must provide sufficient information to support a claim that your herniated disc has impacted your residual functional capacity, or the activities that you are able to perform in spite of your medical condition. In other words, if your herniated disc has prevented you from working for the past 12 months or you anticipate that it will prevent you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for SSDI or SSI disability benefits.
The claim process to receive social security disability benefits due to back pain, such as a herniated disc, can be a complex process. The knowledgeable Chicago social security disability attorneys at Ankin Law focus on helping clients obtain social security disability benefits and we can help you through the entire claim process – from application to hearing or appeal.
If you suffer from a herniated disc or disc and are unable to work as a result of your condition, contact us at (872) 529-9377 to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled Chicago social security disability attorneys.
