Musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis and back pain can make holding a physically demanding job painful and stressful. For those who are unable to work because of the pain, there may be another way to make a living. Disability insurance offers people with chronic disabilities a certain amount of money each month to compensate for lost income. A disability is considered a chronic condition that causes a mental or physical impairment. Talking with a Pennsylvania disability lawyer can help you figure out if you qualify for these kinds of benefits. 

Types of Musculoskeletal Conditions 

Common types of musculoskeletal conditions are back pain, soft tissue injuries like sprains or strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, hernias, and arthritis. All of these involve pain and the potential for further damage if the person engages in certain strenuous movements for long periods. Ironically, many of these can be caused by prolonged strenuous movements for several years.  

Back pain can become chronic for around 5-10 percent of people. This can make lifting heavy objects impossible without experiencing extreme pain. Around 79 percent of workers had to take off from work because of chronic back pain. While arthritis is commonly associated with older people, this condition also affects at least two-thirds of people in younger age groups. Arthritis inflicts pain and stiffness in joints, often in the hand and fingers. This can make completing complex physical tasks difficult and time-consuming.  

Carpel tunnel syndrome also involves the hand, but has been known to induce numbness, weakness, and stiffness. This condition is caused by a compressed nerve that runs down the wrist and may not go away unless surgery is sought. This condition can also make complex hands-on tasks difficult.  

Soft tissue injuries involve tendon, ligament, or muscle damage. These can involve pain and weakness in almost any joint in the body depending on the site of the injury.  

How Musculoskeletal Conditions Make Work Difficult 

While there are a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, they all tend to share common symptoms. Most involve a limited range of motion, weakness in the joints, stiffness, pain or discomfort, fatigue, and inflammation. Different conditions can affect different joints. Depending on which joints are affected, a person may be able to perform one task but not another. 

For example, affected knee or ankle joints can make lifting and carrying heavy objects unsafe because these joints affect coordination and balance. Joints affected in the hands may not affect carrying heavy objects, but they will make working on intricate tasks that involve the fingers close to impossible. Severity can also impact how much a worker can accomplish in a given day. Talking with your doctor can help clear up questions regarding these matters. 

Pennsylvania Disability Insurance Lawyer 

Try talking to a Pennsylvania denied benefits appeal lawyer if you submitted your application for benefits, but received a letter of denial. A lawyer can help you figure out what else your application might need to be accepted. Contact Edelstein & Nelson today at 1-800-300-0909 for a consultation. We will work with you to help you earn the benefits you need.