Filing For SSDI For Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, can adversely affect the discs of the spinal column.  Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage covering and protecting the vertebrae to degenerate.  This condition is due in part to wear and tear from years of just plain using your spine on a daily basis to walk, move, and perform tasks of daily living.  In time the disks between the vertebrae begin to deteriorate and there is narrowing of the spaces between the discs develops causing compression of spinal nerve roots.  Irregular bone projection may become involved in the condition called spurs which appear on the vertebrae serving to also compress the nerve roots.  All of these age related changes can result in lower back pain and severe stiffness conditions that impair the free movement of the individual struggling with this condition. 

Documentation of Osteoarthritis Disability

To be eligible for benefits an applicant for disability benefits with a Social Security administration program who is suffering from a severe and disabling degenerative spinal condition resulting from osteoarthritis would need to be able to submit with his application for benefit medical evidence of the osteoarthritis diagnosis.  He would also need to submit medical evidence documenting the severity of the resultant impairments caused by the osteoarthritis, or specifically the degenerative spinal condition.  Examples might be documentation from physical therapy to treat severe lower back pain which impairs the actions of walking or moving as caused by the osteoarthritis such that if an adult, the applicant would be unable to engage in gainful employment of any kind and, if a child, the applicant would be unable to function in performing daily tasks on a level commensurate with non-disabled children his same age.

Medical Documentation

Medical documentation of this condition is usually by x-rays and treatment is usually drug therapy for pain and rehabilitative treatments to regain movement if possible.  Surgery may be suggested to correct aspects of the condition but osteoarthritis is a progressively degenerative condition such the improvement may be only temporary.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis causing a degenerative disc condition adversely affecting an ability to move, stand and walk without experiencing severe pain and stiffness, then it would be helpful to discuss the diagnosis and the disabling condition with a disability lawyer.  An attorney can assist in collecting the necessary medical documentation and evidence of the condition that is needed to submit with the application to be approved for benefits with the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.