Social Security Disability Claims for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is not a condition that the social security administration specifically addresses in its impairment listing manual. Nevertheless, many individuals affected by chronic pain may, ultimately, find themselves filing for disability benefits.

What is chronic pain? Chronic pain is described as pain that has lasted longer than it should have lasted, if an injury is involved. Basically, chronic pain may occur anywhere in the body and may involve a variety of causes. Chronic pain is categorized into two types: malignant and non-malignant.

Malignant chronic pain, of course, is associated with cancer treatment or the cancer itself. Non-malignant chronic pain may be attributed to conditions such as: arthritis, back pain due to injury or other spinal disorders, headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, lupus, or other neuromuscular disorders.  This has the effect of placing chronic pain in the same nebulous category into which other certain impairments are casually grouped, such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and RSD, sometimes known as complex regional pain syndrome.

Medical studies have suggested that over 60% of chronic pain sufferers are misdiagnosed, and chronic pain is much more difficult to treat than acute pain. Therefore, most chronic pain treatment involves a team of doctors who practice various medical disciplines, including professionals from the medical and psychological fields. This multidisciplinary approach allows for a more thorough diagnosis of the chronic pain, as well as a more individualized treatment plan.

Can a disability claim be won on the basis of chronic pain? The unfortunate truth is that the disability system has been less than exemplary when it comes to dealing with such cases. In fact, the SSA has even been sued on multiple occasions for its continuing failure to properly acknowledge the limitations disabled individuals face as a result of their chronic pain.

The individual suffering with chronic pain should realize this: the SSD and SSI disability programs focus exclusively on the restrictions brought on by an individual's medical condition. The condition itself, in many instances, is not even a primary issue. What is at issue is the extent to which the condition affects the individual's ability to engage in work activities.