Can Herniated Discs Qualify Me for Disability Benefits?

Herniated disc pain can be so severe that physical activity can become extremely difficult. Some people may not be able to perform the same level of work they were able to before. This can make holding a consistent job challenging. Severe forms of herniated discs might qualify you for disability benefits. Reach out to a Pennsylvania disability attorney to learn more.

Difficulties Caused by Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is caused by overuse or traumatic injuries. Age, wear and tear, or severe impacts to the spine can cause a spinal disc to become herniated. Spinal discs are like cushions between the vertebrae that make up the spine. When a spinal disc becomes herniated, spinal nerves can become compressed, resulting in back pain.

Back pain caused by herniated discs ranges from mild to severe. The pain can become so intense, that some people may feel paralyzed by the pain. Any movement can inflict debilitating pain throughout the back. This pain tends to come in the form of a burning or stinging sensation that can travel to the legs.

In the most severe cases of herniated discs, people can experience weakness or sensation changes in the affected area. This weakness may start in the back and spread to surrounding areas. What the combination of pain, weakness, and sensation changes can do is make movement and strenuous activities almost impossible.

Working a job that requires a lot of strenuous movements can become taxing with severe forms of herniated discs. Work performance may falter as a result, leading to multiple difficulties at work. Some people might be fired or have to accept lower pay for their work.

Certain treatments like medications and physical therapy can sometimes relieve herniated disc pain. Healing often helps with mild cases of herniated discs. However, severe disabling pain might require more complex interventions like surgery and opioid medications.

Are There Disability Benefits for Herniated Discs?

Many people wonder if back pain caused by herniated discs is enough to qualify them for disability benefits. The answer is that this depends on the severity of the herniated disc, whether treatments have failed, and how much work performance is impacted.

When it comes to herniated disc disability benefits, the criteria can be found under musculoskeletal impairments. The section on disorders of the spine includes herniated discs under the name of herniated nucleus pulposus. These criteria require the person to be suffering from nerve root compression, chronic pain, limited movement, muscle weakness, and sensory or reflex loss.

These complications must be caused by the herniated disc and impact the lower back. The most important criteria are not being able to work as a result of these impairments. Contact a Pennsylvania disability lawyer to find out more.

Disability Lawyer in Pennsylvania

Proving you need disability benefits for a herniated disc can be challenging. You may not have to do this alone. Feel free to ask a Pennsylvania individual disability insurance lawyer for help with your disability benefits application. Contact Edelstein Martin & Nelson by dialing (800) 300-0909 for a consultation today. Our experienced legal team might be able to increase your chances of receiving disability benefits.