Degenerative Disc Disease

Serving the Western United States

Degenerative Disc Disease and Social Security Disability Benefits

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), as the name suggests, is the condition that in which the intervertebral disc of the spine begins to degenerate. The degenerating of a disc is a normal process of growing old, but with this illness, it progresses rapidly and brings with it much more pain. Symptoms for DDD include chronic severe back pain that can spread to the lower extremities (or top extremities if the DDD affects the cervical part of the spine).

Sufferers of any spine disorder often are limited in mobility. Also, the severe pain can incapacitate an individual.

Degenerative Disc Disease and Social Security Disability Help

If the applicant’s impairment falls within any of the following categories set forth by Social Security’s Listing 1.04, then a strong claim may exist. The Listing is as follows;

1.04 Disorders of the spine (e.g., herniated nucleus pulposus, spinal arachnoiditis, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, facet arthritis, vertebral fracture), resulting in compromise of a nerve root (including the cauda equina) or the spinal cord. With:

1. Evidence of nerve root compression characterized by neuro-anatomic distribution of pain, limitation of motion of the spine, motor loss (atrophy with associated muscle weakness or muscle weakness) accompanied by sensory or reflex loss and, if there is involvement of the lower back, positive straight-leg raising test (sitting and supine); or
2. Spinal arachnoiditis, confirmed by an operative note or pathology report of tissue biopsy, or by appropriate medically acceptable imaging, manifested by severe burning or painful dysesthesia, resulting in the need for changes in position or posture more than once every 2 hours; or
3. Lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in pseudoclaudication, established by findings on appropriate medically acceptable imaging, manifested by chronic nonradicular pain and weakness, and resulting in inability to ambulate effectively, as defined in 1.00B2b.

The individuals who suffer from degenerative disc disorder experience pain so intense that they are often disabled until the pain subsides. Because of this pain mobility can by limited; movement often aggravates the condition, causing more pain. These factors alone will make work difficult.

To increase your chances of winning your Social Security Disability claim it is important for you to hire an experienced Social Security Disability attorney to get you the Social Security Disability help you deserve. Please call us at 1-800-882-5500 or fill out a form on our website for a FREE claim evaluation.