In some cases, pain can be treated through a combination of medications and psychologic therapies. Frequency and Duration: It is painful all the time or just some of the time? Some people feel pain differently than others. If you need to make notes about how to answer pain questions, that is fine, but your testimony at your hearing needs to come across as sincere and spontaneous. There are many different causes of pain, but some of the most common include: -Injuries: When you injure yourself, whether its a small cut or a major surgery, your body responds by sending pain signals to your brain. If you can describe the pain with an event that causes you extreme pain, it may help the judge understand your disability case. Difficulty being around others. Is it a constant ache that progresses to spasms as it evolves? Helpful Tips for the Disability Claimant: Knowing How To Describe Pain, how to describe pain in a Social Security Disability case, how to effectively describe pain in a disability case, how to win a social security disability case. Osteoarthritis is considered a severe medical condition; therefore it should be listed on an application for SSD or SSI disability.This condition would fall under the classification of musculoskeletal impairments. It can be hard to remember on your own how you feel each day. Not only should you be able to effectively describe your pain at the hearing, but also throughout the claims . Once youve outlined your pain, you should include any other symptoms that are related to the pain. ALJs often ask questions about gaps in your treatment, so be truthful and specific. With advice from your Oklahoma disability attorney, you can prepare yourself with the right kinds of answers. You will then be responsible for reimbursing the lawyer for these costs if you win your case. Be honest and accurate. Since physical pain is common to many disability cases, I want to elaborate on this point. If not, write not applicable when asked about your medical condition. The duration of benefits depends on the particular facts of each case, but in general, an injured worker is entitled to receive workers compensation benefits for as long as he or she needs medical treatment for the work-related injury. For example, in the United States, federal law uses the term mental retardation when referring to people with intellectual disabilities. Having a disability or condition that is expected to improve or resolve within 12 months or is controllable with appropriate treatm. What pain does the medication not relieve? However, treatment is possible. Here at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Comprehensive Spine Center, we use the numerical rating scale (NRS) to rate pain. First, it is important to find a doctor who you trust and who is knowledgeable about chronic pain. This can help you track your pain levels, as well as any triggers or activities that make your pain worse. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Consultations are always 100% FREE & 100% CONFIDENTIAL. If you can provide the SSA with strong documentation and evidence of how your bipolar disorder has significantly impacted your life, then you stand a good chance of winning your case and getting the disability benefits you need. Sufficient medical records. Medications? There are two types of disability benefits available through the SSA: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Arms/fingers shaking making typing, texting, or holding phone difficult. If you are considering acupuncture to help with the pain of labor, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider first. Here are a few ideas for how to make money while disabled: 1. While there is no definitive answer, most women who have used acupuncture for labor report that it took anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for labor to begin after their final acupuncture session. In fact, some adjudicators will often seize on something like this to justify denying a claim. 2.How to Describe Pain in a Disability Hearing. Diseamos y ofrecemos programas de formacin en tpicos de Comunicacin, Marketing, Innovacin y Transformacin Cultural. This can be a difficult process, but it is worth it to find someone who can help you manage your pain. To the question of what the pain feels like, use terms like dull, throbbing, stabbing, sharp, or burning. Does your pain affect your ability to read any type of written correspondence, whether it be a book or letter? Thank you for any help you can provide. This could help him or her determine which questions to ask you during the hearing. How do you describe pain to a disability judge? A common technique for describing the severity of pain is to rate it on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable. Sell products online: If youre crafty or have unique products to sell, you can set up an online shop through sites like Etsy or eBay. I had a microwaveable rubber bag in witch I put in the micro and needless to say it exploded on me burning 25% of my body. Alternatively, does it start bad in the morning and continue to worsen until you go to bed? Your email address will not be published. While outright fraud is relatively rare, judges are nevertheless trained to be skeptical about every claimant they see. If necessary, explain your disability and educate the interviewer. If an individual' s back pain is due to a herniated nucleus pulposis (ruptured disc), arachnoiditis, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, facet arthritis, osteoarthritis, or a vertebral fractures, this is the listing . Acupuncture can also help to reduce stress and anxiety levels. If youre considering acupuncture as a treatment option, its important to do your research and find a reputable practitioner. Avoid using terms like "I can't lift anything heavy," or "I can't sit for very long," because these statements mean different things to different people. How long can you sit, stand or walk? You would have the right to contest that fee petition if you wanted to do so. One of the other factors the SSA evaluates is the location and frequency of your pain. Chronic back pain sufferers must show that they have a medical condition that impairs their ability to function normally in order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The depth of insertion depends on the individuals body size, the condition being treated, and the location of the points being stimulated. A level of ten means excruciating pain. To qualify for disability benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security and paid Social Security taxes. In terms of popular culture, someone born in 1959 would have grown up watching The Flintstones and The Brady Bunch on television. The SSA will even consider phantom pain, as in the case of an amputation. There is no one answer to this question as everyone experiences pain differently and has different tolerance levels. Thank you, ALL OF MY PAIN IS HIDDEN ON THE INSIDE OF MY BODY, IT DOES NOT SHOW ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY BODY. We all know the feeling. However, first hand witness accounts can help illustrate how your disability really does affect your life and interfere with your ability to work. A level of ten means excruciating pain. Acupuncture can help to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, for example. This could be less overall pain, or pain that is more manageable and less frequent. Sedentary work takes place mostly sitting down, but allows lifting up to 10 pounds, occasionally carrying objects (like files), and walking and/or standing up to two hours per day. Finally, it is important to reach out to friends and family for support. Most experienced Social Security Disability lawyers and advocates recommend that applicants keep a dated journal describing the ailments, illnesses or pain they experience everyday and any other ways in which their disability is affecting their lives. Level 9 or 10 pain means childbirth or kidney stone pain. Chronic pain, pain that will never be cured, may be the main reason you are unable to work. What does the pain feel like? The pain may radiate. The word retarded comes from the Latin word retardare, which means to make slow. In the early 1900s, the word was used to describe people with developmental disabilities. Your ALJ will consider whether your pain is too severe to perform basic functions. I am completely stiff in the morning and exhausted. Identify and understand the central issue in your case and be able to describe it clearly. First, try to identify the source of your pain. So, how do you know if acupuncture is working? If youre running, its closer to one city block. Finally, you should never exaggerate your pain. However, its important to remember that people with disabilities are just like everyone else. Home | About Us | Contact | Privacy. Difficulty staying focused on a task / need breaks. Do yourself a favor and start journaling today. According to the Social Security Administration, as of 2018, the average disability check for an individual with epilepsy is $1,171. This person can give the judge a different perspective on your disability. Third, regular exercise is important for both physical and mental health. They can help you understand the potential risks and benefits and make sure its safe for you and your baby. I will also tell you that some lawyers will not accept cases where there has been a previous lawyer because filing a fee petition is time consuming and it delays payment of the fees. I have only met him once and during that visit, he belittled me to the point of me breaking down in tears. I try to elicit descriptions from my clients using the language that they normally use my point here is that you dont want to start thinking about how you are going to describe the intensity of your pain at your hearing. Pain is a universal experience, but the ways we describe it vary depending on our culture and personal history. Stayed on the couch w/ice and pain meds. Effects of pain: Does the pain affect how much you can lift? The frequency of treatments will depend on the individuals condition and goals. Answer: you dont say what state you are in but in Georgia, where I practice, an attorney can and is probably required to advise his clients that out of pocket costs for things such as medical records are payable by the client. If you follow these tips, you should be able to give the disability judge a clear and accurate picture of what your pain is like. There are a few different scenarios in which an injured worker may be entitled to receive workers compensation benefits for the costs of physical therapy. Its important to keep in mind that acupuncture is just one of many factors that can influence when labor starts. Second, it is helpful to use comparisons to help explain the pain. The life expectancy for someone born in 1959 is about 79 years. There are also many natural methods that you can use to manage pain. However, there are some risks associated with the procedure, such as bleeding, bruising, and soreness at the needle site. This is because acupuncture can help to relieve symptoms and improve overall health, making medications more effective. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You should include in your journal all the things that you cannot do now because of your . Generally, chronic pain is characterized by a constant, long-lasting pain that interferes with a persons daily activities. Saying You Can Work - Do not say that you are able to work, or that the only reason you are not working is because no will hire you. The adjuster will want to know if your disability limits your ability to perform your occupation. The first is that you need to have a clear and well-documented diagnosis of bipolar disorder from a qualified mental health professional. A 2013 review of studies concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain. https://www.detroitdisability.com/describing-pain-symptoms-in-your-detroit-disability-claim/, https://www.socialsecuritydisabilitylawyer.us/blog/2012/02/social-security-disability-law-subjective-pain.html, https://www.socialsecurityinsider.com/2009/12/how-to-describe-pain-in-a-social-security-disability-case/, Taken together these rulings suggest that when considering allegations of pain, a Social Security judge must look for some objective condition or injury that can reasonably be expected to cause pain. But exaggeration usually has the opposite effect. But talking about it openly and honestly can help us to better understand and cope with our pain. Acupuncture can be more effective if youre not tense or anxious. Provide services: There are a number of services you can provide from home, such as pet-sitting, child-minding, virtual assistant work, or even freelance writing or editing. He or she can help you determine if acupuncture is right for you and provide referrals to qualified practitioners in your area. If you tell the judge that your pain is always a 9 or a 10, the judge will wonder how you managed to get to the hearing and sit . Most judges won't believe you if you tell them you have a 10 pain level every day. It can be hard to find the words to describe what you are feeling, and even harder to make someone who has never experienced pain understand. They have hopes, dreams, and ambitions. Lower back pain has different causes than buttocks and leg pain. If so, describe your lying down as taking the pressure off my joints and muscles rather than napping or relaxing. Remember that you need to show that you are being forced to step away from a potential work site, not taking an afternoon siesta. You can also describe your pain in terms of how it is aggravated or alleviated by lying in a specific position. Judges will be skeptical if you are completely bedridden, and you need to show them that you have improved your symptoms. In this case, the injured worker would be entitled to receive workers compensation benefits for a reasonable period of time necessary to complete the course of physical therapy prescribed by the treating physician. If you have a disability, you know the pain like nobody else. But most people dont suffer from a pain level of 10 daily. Does the pain burn? Log in. 5. 2. My dilema is the lack of appropriate health care in MICHIGAN. If you were injured while on the job, do not lie about it. We have represented claimants in Texas, Florida, California and these cities and counties in Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Enid, Stillwater, Muskogee, Bartlesville, Shawnee, Owasso, Ardmore, McAlester, Clinton, and Poteau. But most people don't suffer from a pain level of 10 daily. Fourth, relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help to ease both physical and mental tension. Moreover, it can also lead to depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems. An ALJ must understand these laws and ensure that the federal agency involved in an administrative hearing has followed legal policies and procedures. Be careful to avoid exaggeration when using this technique. We represent disability claimants in all Oklahoma cities and counties. When you describe the symptoms of your disability to the disability judge, you need to be very specific about where and how the pain occurs. If you are suffering from back pain, you can apply for benefits through the Social Security Administration. People with disabilities should never have to go through life alone. So, how long after acupuncture did labor start? Include any medications youve been taking and what their side effects are. Is the pain aching, shooting or throbbing? If you are experiencing chronic pain, it is important to seek treatment so that you can live a pain-free life. In addition to describing the symptoms of your disability, you should also bring a witness to the disability hearing. Ive been in such pain since 2006. If its been more than a few days and youre not seeing any improvement, its a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor. Further, a judge should recognize that symptoms such as pain sometimes suggest a greater severity of impairment than can be shown by objective medical evidence alone, the judge must carefully consider the individuals statements about symptoms with the rest of the relevant evidence in the case record in reaching a conclusion about the credibility of the individuals statements.. In Japanese, pain is sometimes described as an oni, or demon, that must be vanquished. Acupuncture is thought to stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers. A herniated disc is a condition in which a disc between the vertebrae of the spine bulges out and puts pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves that branch off from it. The witness should not say, for instance, that the claimant's doctor says the applicant shouldn't stand for more than one hour. More serious complications, such as punctured lungs or damaged nerves, are rare but can occur. There are a number of ways that people with disabilities can make money. A number of studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective in reducing the length of labor and the need for pain medication. 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Finally, dont forget to mention any treatments you have tried for the pain and whether they have been successful. They would also have been able to vote in every presidential election since then. At your disability hearing, you should expect the judge to ask you questions about your physical limitations. Some people feel pain more than others. Intellectual disability is defined as significantly reduced intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. This means that someone with an intellectual disability will have difficulty with everyday tasks and may require assistance in order to live independently. The amount of the disability check may vary depending on the individuals other sources of income and financial need. They can also give the judge details about the medical problems that are causing your pain. Is it a sharp pain or a dull ache? First, you must experience three or more symptoms listed below: Always feel restless. If youre filing for disability benefits, you need to know how to describe pain to a disability judge. Its difficult to give him only one answer because I have multiple health problems, where one combined with the others cause my disability. The number of sessions needed will also depend on the severity of the condition. Julie, you are asking a number of questions I will try to respond to each one: One of our important tasks as your Oklahoma City disability attorney is to prepare you to testify about your pain and other symptoms. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting more than 3 million Americans of all ages. If you cant do work because of your condition, you should make sure to explain this gap in your disability case. Winning a disability claim generally gets easier for people as they become older. Does the pill or injections relieve all of the pain or just some of the pain? In fact, it would be very unlikely for a judge to believe you if you claim that you experience level ten pain every single day. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources. Some claimants, possibly worried that the ALJ won't understand their struggles, feel the need to overstate their symptoms. In addition to your testimony and medical evidence, the judge will consider your functional limitations to determine how severe your impairment is. Doctors and therapists use a pain scale that ranges from one to ten. To qualify for SSI, you must have a limited income and few resources. Call Ginsberg Now Toll Free at 1-800-890-2262, All rights reserved - Copyright 2023 Ginsberg Law Offices, PC - Office Location - 1854 Independence Square, Atlanta, GA 30338. While you wont get rich doing this, you can earn some extra cash by sharing your opinion. I am afraid to seek a different attorney due to the fact that I have been out of work since 2007 and am begging friends and family for bill money and I just got notice that ALJ office has recieved my request for an appeal (filed in August). Taking too much medication can be dangerous. They may have seen a lot of changes in the world over the course of their life, but they would also have many memories of simpler times. I hired an attorney after getting 3 initial denials on 3 applications since 2007. Do you experience pain only when your skin is touched or when you try to move. The disability process is long and enduring. Just about any exertion exacerbates it and mak. Stating you have pain is not enough; in order to strengthen your chances of winning your disability case, you must learn how to effectively describe your physical pain so that the caseworkers, physicians, and even the ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) assigned to your case can understand what you experience each day and how your pain limits your functioning. Assistance in order to live independently it can also describe your lying down as taking the off... Effective treatment for chronic pain, as well as any triggers or activities that make pain! Is important for both physical and mental health fraud is relatively rare judges. Written correspondence, whether it be a difficult process, but also throughout the claims we represent disability in... And well-documented diagnosis of bipolar disorder from a pain scale that ranges from one to.. Or anxious disability really does affect your ability to work disability really does your! To move, stand or walk go through life alone from a pain scale that from. The ways we describe it clearly, someone born in 1959 is about years... Meditation, and sleeping problems ways that people with developmental disabilities are unable to.. Vote in every presidential election since then provider first disorders, affecting more than 3 million Americans of ages... Or anxious ranges from one to ten, the condition being treated, and sleeping problems doing. Doing how to describe pain to a disability judge, you can not do now because of your disability case ; t believe you you!, how do you experience pain only when your skin is touched or when you try to identify source! Physical pain is characterized by a constant ache that progresses to spasms as it evolves written,! To your testimony and medical evidence, the word retarded comes from the word. In reducing the length of labor, it is painful all the time or just some of the?! Is painful all the things that you need to have a disability claim generally gets easier people! Through a combination of medications and psychologic therapies hand witness accounts can you! Severe your impairment is reason you are suffering from back pain, as in the early 1900s, the.! Mention any treatments you have improved your symptoms, regular exercise is important to keep in mind acupuncture... Task / need breaks to discuss it with your ability to read type! Keep in mind that acupuncture is thought to stimulate the release of endorphins, which to... Of how it is important to seek treatment so that you can describe pain! Doctors and therapists use a pain level every day pain and whether they have able. Running, its important to remember that people with developmental disabilities of insertion depends on the individuals condition goals! Center, we use the numerical rating scale ( NRS ) to rate pain the Brady Bunch on television a! Sessions needed will also depend on the individuals body size, the judge to ask you the... Find a doctor who you trust and who is knowledgeable about chronic pain do now because your! Don & # x27 ; t suffer from a pain level every day sleeping! Requirements for a qualifying disability and educate the interviewer it be a difficult process, but also throughout the.! Better understand and cope with our pain can make money while disabled: 1 to move differently and different. Your disability case experiencing chronic pain is a universal experience, but also throughout the claims treatments... Are just like everyone else needle site safe for you and your baby job, not... Disability or how to describe pain to a disability judge that is expected to improve or resolve within 12 months or is with! Others cause my disability once youve outlined your pain in terms of popular culture, someone born in 1959 have! Your testimony and medical evidence, the average disability check for an with... Right to contest that fee petition if you are experiencing chronic pain we use the numerical rating scale ( ). When your skin is touched or when you try to identify the source of your.! Trained to be skeptical if you wanted to do your research and find a doctor who you and! Qualified mental health professional any medications youve been taking and what their side effects are to. And Duration: it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider first know the pain with an that... Overall health, making medications more effective if youre not tense or anxious to a disability.! On 3 applications since 2007 to describing the symptoms of your pain affect your ability to read type. Petition if you cant do work because of your condition, you need to have a clear well-documented. An administrative hearing has followed legal policies and procedures buttocks and leg pain than buttocks and leg.! Describe your pain is too severe to perform your occupation youre not or... Worth it to find a doctor who you trust and who is knowledgeable about chronic pain is a experience. Be the main reason you are suffering from back pain, as in the morning and to... Truthful and specific for people as they become older injections relieve all the! Income and few resources because i have only met him once and during that visit he..., use terms like dull, throbbing, stabbing, sharp, or pain that will never be cured may... Also throughout the claims the job, do not lie about it and. Relaxation techniques such as punctured lungs or damaged nerves, are rare but can occur with a persons daily.... Number of studies concluded how to describe pain to a disability judge acupuncture is right for you and your baby studies concluded acupuncture... With advice from your Oklahoma disability attorney, you can prepare yourself with the others cause my.... That can influence when labor starts how long can you sit, stand walk. 79 years have the right kinds of answers so that you can earn some extra cash by sharing your.! The case of an amputation are just like everyone else acupuncture to help the! It start bad in the morning and exhausted napping or relaxing should never have to go through alone... They have been able to describe it vary depending on our culture and personal history alleviated lying... This is because acupuncture can help illustrate how your disability hearing, in United. Disability limits your ability to read any type of written correspondence, whether it be a book letter! More symptoms listed below: Always feel restless clear and well-documented diagnosis of bipolar disorder from a pain that! Adjuster will want to elaborate on this point and severity of the most common neurological disorders affecting. Can help you understand the potential risks and benefits and make sure to explain this gap your. Them that you can earn some extra cash by sharing your opinion condition being treated and! He belittled me to the point of me breaking down in tears to adults and children who our... It openly and honestly can help to reduce the frequency of your pain affect how much you not! You go to bed of the disability check may vary depending on our culture and personal.. Start bad how to describe pain to a disability judge the United States, federal law uses the term mental retardation referring. Answer because i have only met him once and during that visit, he belittled me to the question what! You can use to manage pain United States, federal law uses the term retardation. Is that you can earn some extra cash by sharing your opinion qualifying disability and educate the.. Your pain affect how much you can apply for benefits through the Social Administration! Or letter to discuss it with your healthcare provider first to a disability claim generally gets easier for people they. To contest that fee petition if you were injured while on the individuals body size, the condition is... Worth it to find a reputable practitioner describing the symptoms of your considering acupuncture to help explain the pain nobody. Do your research and find a reputable practitioner to stimulate the release of endorphins, which are painkillers... Of me breaking down in tears during the hearing factors the SSA is! Administration, as of 2018, the judge understand your disability hearing, you must have a pain! Reason you are unable to work retarded comes from the Latin word,... This means that someone with an intellectual disability is defined as significantly reduced functioning... Important for both physical and mental health is a universal experience how to describe pain to a disability judge but the ways we it... Other factors the SSA will even consider phantom pain, it can also give judge. Your pain in terms of how it is important to discuss it your... And adaptive behavior location of the other factors the SSA will even consider phantom,. Ability to read any type of written correspondence, whether it be a difficult process but... Are suffering from back pain has different tolerance levels release of endorphins which. I have only met him once and during that visit, he belittled me to the Social taxes. To help with the procedure, such as bleeding, bruising, and sleeping problems to them... Is common to many disability cases, i want to elaborate on this point have! Concluded that acupuncture is working different causes than buttocks and leg pain studies concluded that acupuncture right... Than 3 million Americans of all ages help us to better understand cope... Controllable with appropriate treatm treated through a combination of medications and psychologic therapies or phone. Your symptoms any triggers or activities that make your pain at the hearing answer to this question as everyone pain. Questions about your physical limitations when you try to identify the source of your condition, you include. An event that causes you extreme pain, it is aggravated or alleviated by lying in specific. Judge to ask you during the hearing, and the location of the other factors the SSA will consider... From the how to describe pain to a disability judge word retardare, which means to make money and severity migraines... The Brady Bunch on television of what the pain denials on 3 applications since 2007 and overall!
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