Chronic pain is a general term describing a symptom and not the actual disease. However, there are conditions that express themselves as chronic pain where the exact cause and cure is unknown. These include fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), trigeminal neuralgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
“The key to qualifying for disability for chronic pain relies on having a well-documented record of your pain and you having seen multiple specialists.” says a disability attorney in Melbourne, FL. “If you can show a history of pain, attempts to cure the pain and an inability to properly earn a living as a result, then you are well on your way to getting approved.”
Chronic pain is often so intense that the sufferer simply cannot hold down a job. They are stuck in bed for most of the day or weighted down by the effects of pain medications. Having clear, concise medical records to present to the Social Security Administration is half the battle.
It is important to know that the SSA deals with over 2 million applications per year. They have about 50,000 employees in total. You can do the simple math and realize that they simply don’t have time to go back and forth with applicants until the applicant gets their application right. You need to have it all worked out from the jump.
This is where a disability attorney comes into play. They help you build the best case possible. They can also advise you on what to do to build you case before you submit your application. They may advise you to see various doctors for follow up visits if it has been a while. They may reach out to your employer or former employer for proper documentation. There is a lot an attorney can do for you.
If you have chronic pain and are unsure about how to handle your application, an attorney may be your best bet. You only get a couple chances to file so make each one count.