About eight percent of adults in the United States suffer from chronic back pain. For the majority of those adults, their back pain seriously inhibits their abilities to work, move around, participate in social events, or even self-care activities. Not being able to take part in the regular activities of life can take a toll on your mental health, as well as your physical health. For this reason, chronic back pain can often lead to depression and other mental conditions.
If your back pain and depression cause functional impairments that prevent you from undertaking simple full-time work tasks, you may be entitled to disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). An Ohio SSDI lawyer from Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz can help you prove your impairment and that you deserve disability benefits.
Consult our team about your SSDI application and potential benefits today.
Some people can qualify for SSDI disability benefits for back pain and depression. However, to do so, you need to meet several criteria.
To start the process, you must establish that you have a condition that is recognized as a legitimate disability by the SSA. This involves providing medical evidence such as doctor’s reports, test results, and other documentation that clearly indicates the existence and effects of your back pain and depression.
Proving that your condition meets the definition of a disability is challenging in many situations. It’s recommended to have an Ohio SSDI attorney prepare and present your evidence. Our team can help you prepare the necessary documentation to help demonstrate your physical limitations and restrictions for a successful SSDI benefits claim.
Your impairment needs to have lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 consecutive months. This means that back pain and depression need to have a long-term nature to distinguish them from temporary health issues.
The SSA considers the prognosis of your medical condition based on the available medical evidence. They will determine the anticipated course of your condition and illness based on whether it will likely improve, stabilize, or deteriorate over time. For instance, if your back pain has been resistant to treatment, your records may indicate a more extended duration of impairment, which can qualify you for SSDI benefits.
Beyond proving the existence of your conditions, you must demonstrate that these impairments significantly affect your ability to perform daily activities. Critically, the back pain must prevent you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. This means that to qualify for the benefits, your back pain and depression should hinder your capacity to undertake even simple, full-time work assignments.
Working with a disability attorney can be very beneficial in presenting concise and detailed information about how your back pain and depression impact your daily life and work capabilities. This helps you present a compelling case to the Social Security Administration.
The common causes of back pain vary from mechanical and inflammatory conditions to other medical conditions, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Although anyone can develop back pain, some factors increase the risk of developing back pain. These include:
When the symptoms of depression become severe and persistent, and they significantly limit an individual’s ability to engage in substantial gainful activity, depression may be recognized as a disability. The American Chiropractic Association indicates that 30% to 80% of patients living with chronic pain are grappling with depression. When chronic back pain combines with mental illness, it can be more severe than the condition alone.
In such cases, individuals may qualify for social security benefits, majorly the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, depending on their work history and financial situation.
Depression and chronic pain are closely connected and can often coexist as comorbid conditions. Firstly, there is a shared biological mechanism in that both conditions share common neurological pathways and neurotransmitters. The conditions may alter the central nervous system, including changes in brain regions associated with emotional processing and pain perception.
Next, chronic pain significantly impacts a person’s emotional well-being. This is often manifested as feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and sadness. Over time, the experience of chronic pain can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.
Importantly, prolonged or severe pain can disrupt daily functioning, limit activities, and negatively affect overall quality of life. This chronic stress can contribute to depressive symptoms.
Lastly, chronic pain can worsen depressive symptoms, and depression can intensify the perception of pain. This creates a cycle where the two conditions reinforce each other, increasing the overall burden on the individual’s well-being.
If you’re seeking disability benefits through the SSDI program, proving your claim requires a careful and professional approach. Having an SSDI attorney can significantly increase your chances of a successful claim.
Our team of attorneys handles SSDI cases and understands how the system works. We will guide you through the process to ensure the pertinent documentation is submitted accurately and on time. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and let us fight for your right to social security benefits.
Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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