Back-injuries and Social Security Benefits

What You Need to Know

TYPES

Back injuries that will qualify a claimant for disability benefits include spinal disorders like stenosis, disc bulges, joint space narrowing, certain types of arthritis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and more. Most of the time, there must be a significant effect on the ability to move around. Sometimes, medical imaging, x-rays, and positive back or leg tests are required to prove the case. The fact is that many people have back injuries that cause frequent irritation, but if your injury renders you unable to work, you should get the assistance you need. The following information was obtained from the Institute for Spinal Disorders at http://www.csmc.edu/533.cfm.

DISC DISEASE

THE DISCS ARE LIKE SHOCK ABSORBERS BETWEEN THE BONES OF THE SPINE AND ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THE BACK STAY FLEXIBLE WHILE RESISTING TERRIFIC FORCES IN MANY DIFFERENT PLANES OF MOTION. EACH DISC HAS TWO PARTS:

A firm, tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus). The outer portion of this layer contains nerves. If the disc tears in this area, it can become quite painful.

A soft, jelly-like core (nucleus puposus). This part of the disc contains proteins that can cause the tissues they touch to become swollen and tender. If these proteins leak out to the nerves of the outer layer of disc they can cause a great deal of pain.

UNLIKE OTHER TISSUES OF THE BODY, THERE IS VERY LITTLE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE DISC. ONCE A DISC IS INJURED, IT CANNOT REPAIR ITSELF, AND A SPIRAL OF DEGENERATION CAN SET IN WITH THREE STAGES THAT APPEAR TO OCCUR OVER 20 TO 30 YEARS:

Acute pain makes normal movement of the back difficult

The bone where the injury occurred becomes relatively unstable. Over a long period of time, the patient will have back pain that comes and goes.

The body restabilizes the injured segment of the back. The patient experiences fewer bouts of back pain.

SYMPTOMS

THE TYPICAL PERSON WITH DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE IS ACTIVE, OTHERWISE HEALTHY AND IN HIS OR HER 30S OR 40S. COMMON SYMPTOMS OF THIS CONDITION INCLUDE:

Pain that is worse when sitting. While seated, the discs of the lower back have three times more load on them than when standing.

Pain that gets worse when bending, lifting or twisting

Feeling better while walking or even running than while sitting or standing for long periods of time

Feeling better changing positions often or lying down

Pain can affects the low back, buttocks and thighs or the neck, depending on where the affected disc is

Numbness and tingling

Weakness in the leg muscles or foot drop may be a sign that there is damage to the nerve root

Periods of severe pain that come and go. These last from a few days to a few months before getting better. They can range from nagging pain to severe, disabling pain.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

Several factors can cause discs to degenerate, including age. Specific factors include:

The drying out of the disc. When we are born, the disc is about 80% water. As we age, the disc dries out and doesn't absorb shocks as well

Daily activities and sports cause tears in the outer core of the disc. By the age of 60, most people have some degree of disc degeneration. Not everyone at that age has back pain, however.

Injuries, which can cause swelling, soreness and instability. This can result in low back pain.

Some people appear to have more nerve endings deeper in the outer area of the disc. This may make them more sensitive to back pain.

DIAGNOSIS

A diagnosis is based on a medical history and a physical examination, as well as the symptoms and the circumstances where the pain started. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) can show damage to discs, but it alone cannot confirm degenerative disc disease.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Back problems cause intense pain that can lead to chronic fatigue, emotional and mental problems, as well as paralysis. These symptoms can prevent you from working. Medications for pain have serious side effects that can cause difficulty in staying awake or in concentration. Surgeries are expensive, and do not always guarantee that the pain will go away. There are also huge risks involved with back surgery. Make sure you have all the information before making any decisions about medication or surgery. For information about back injuries such as herniated discs, lower back pain or stenosis, see Institute for Spinal Disorders at http://www.csmc.edu/533.cfm.