 SSDRC Filing a Social Security Disability Application - How to File & the Information that is Needed by SSA Do you need a Lawyer at the Administrative Law Judge Disability Hearing? Social Security Disability Back pay and How Long it Takes to Qualify for it How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of benefits If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much is paid for the Social Security Disability Attorney Fee? How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? How To Get Disability Through SSDI or SSI Approved Should you get Help from a Disability Attorney before the Claim has been Denied? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability Qualifying for Disability - What is Social Security Looking for? How do I check the status of my Social Security disability claim? What Expenses Will A Social Security Attorney Charge In Addition To The Fee? |
Facts about Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Filing for DisabilityHow to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits 1) Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is characterized by inflammation and pain in the connective tissue (fascia) surrounding the muscles. It is a chronic condition and can affect one, single muscle, or an entire muscle group, and also has the ability to move from one area to another. 2) Symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include muscle pain and stiffness, joint stiffness, pain that worsens with activity or stress, and consequently, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and depression. 3) MPS is most commonly caused by muscle strain, injury, repetitive movements, and overuse. It may also be related to fibromyalgia, although research on this relation is still ongoing. 4) The pain associated with MPS can be extremely severe and is oftentimes described by patients as ‘unbearable’. The first course of treatment is usually over the counter pain medication. 5) MPS is usually diagnosed by identifying an active trigger point, latent trigger point, secondary trigger point, and a satellite myofascial point. These trigger points are highly painful, tender and irritable points in the muscles. Using these trigger points for diagnosis can rule out other conditions. 6) Musculoskeletal relaxants, anti-depressants, pain medications, and calcium channel blockers can all be used to help treat MPS, as well as trigger points injections, and various forms of physical therapy. 7) Myofascial release is becoming increasing popular for treating MPS, a type of pressure and movement therapy that can help relieve pain for some patients. 8) Self care if very important for managing MPS symptoms. Exercising regularly, relaxing, keeping stress level low, and eating a well balanced diet including fresh fruits and vegetables can all be very helpful in managing MPS. 9) Complimentary and alternative treatments can sometimes be helpful for MPS, though it is important to let your doctor know before you engage in alternative therapies, especially supplements and herbs because they may interact with medications. Two of the most common complementary and alternative treatments for MPS are massage and acupuncture. Can you qualify for disability benefits with this condition? Whether or not you qualify for disability and, as a result, are approved for disability benefits will depend entirely on the information obtained from your medical records. This includes whatever statements may have been obtained from your treating physician (a doctor who has a history of treating your condition and is, therefore, qualified to comment as to your condition and prognosis). It will also depend on the information obtained from your vocational, or work, history if you are an adult, or academic records if you are a minor-age child. The important thing to keep in mind is that the social security administration does not award benefits based on simply having a condition, but, instead, will base an approval or denial on the extent to which a condition causes functional limitations. Functional limitations can be great enough to make work activity not possible (or, for a child, make it impossible to engage in age-appropriate activities). Why are so many disability cases lost at the disability application and reconsideration appeal levels? Speaking as a former Disability Claims Examiner, I can state that there are several reasons: 1) Social Security makes no attempt to obtain a statement from a claimant's treating physician. By contrast, at the hearing level, a claimant and his or her disability attorney will generally obtain and present this type of statement to a judge; 2) Prior to the hearing level, a claimant will not have the opportunity to explain how their condition limits them, nor will their attorney or representative have the opportunity to make a presentation based on the evidence of the case. At the hearing level, of course, this is exactly what happens. And a number of disability representatives will also take such steps even earlier, at the reconsideration appeal level; 3) Disability judges, unlike disability examiners who decides cases at the first two levels of the system, can make independent decisions without being overturned by immediate supervisors--which happens frequently. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Topics and Questions Other Links SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |