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