Last week, TIME reported that about 1 in 10 Americans suffer from lower back pain, making it the number 1 cause of job disability around the world.
The news service reported that Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on lower back pain treatment, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
An article published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases showed that data from 117 studies from 47 different countries showed that lower back pain is the top cause for years lost due to disability. Years lost are calculated by adding years lost as a result of early death and the number of years a person lives with a disability.
According to the study, about 1 in 10 people suffer from back pain, which is highly prevalent in Western Europe. Experts said that besides lost productivity, a major problem surrounding back pain is treatment, as some cases require intensive surgery to repair spinal issues.
“Governments, health service and research providers and donors need to pay far greater attention to the burden that low back pain causes than what they [have] done previously,” the authors of the study wrote, according to TIME.
Can I Collect Disability Benefits If I Have Back Pain?
If you suffer from a back issue like degenerative disc disease (DDD), you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
In many SSDI cases involving back injuries, the Social Security Administration will expect that an applicant can do sedentary jobs, even if he or she cannot perform the physical demands required of various forms of labor. The SSA may take into account the range of motion of your spine and the amount of time you can stand and/or sit if you apply for benefits.
Aside from an applicant showing that he or she cannot work, he or she may also need to provide the SSA with physical treatment documentation, including x-ray reports, CAT scans and MRI studies. If you have questions about qualifying for SSDI, we suggest you visit our Social Security FAQ page.
If you have a back injury and you have questions about disability benefits, do not hesitate to contact our Tulsa Social Security disability lawyers for a free evaluation of your case. You may also reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability lawyers
Troutman Touts: Back pain treatment can include exercises like yoga, walking and swimming.
Source: http://time.com/36242/lower-back-pain-is-no-1-cause-of-disability-worldwide/
