Is spinal stenosis considered a disability?

Fortunately, lumbar spinal stenosis is one of the few back conditions recognized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) with an official impairment listing, meaning that those with documented cases of severe lumbar spinal stenosis are automatically granted disability benefits—if you can meet the SSA's tough ...

Is spinal stenosis considered a permanent disability?

Is Spinal Stenosis a Permanent Disability? If you have spinal stenosis, and it is serious enough that you are unable to work or perform normal day-to-day activities, it may result in permanent disability and you might want to apply for Social Security disability benefits.

How much does disability for spinal stenosis?

When you receive your backpay, your disability attorney will receive 25 percent of it up to a maximum payment of $6,000. Your lawyer will know what kind of evidence and documentation is needed to get your disability claim approved.

Can you work if you have spinal stenosis?

Lumbar stenosis can hinder your ability from performing any kind of job. Because of the severe pain and mobility issues, you cannot work construction, drive heavy machinery, or work for a utility company.

What spine disorders qualify for disability?

Spinal Stenosis: Strong Evidence of Disability

What is the most approved disability?

1. Arthritis. Arthritis and other musculoskeletal disabilities are the most commonly approved conditions for disability benefits. If you are unable to walk due to arthritis, or unable to perform dexterous movements like typing or writing, you will qualify.

What is considered severe spinal stenosis?

Symptoms of Severe Spinal Stenosis

When spinal stenosis progresses to the severe stage, that means there has been substantial narrowing of the spinal canal. This can occur due to several different factors, but is most commonly caused by degeneration of the discs, vertebrae and spinal ligaments.

What jobs can I do with spinal stenosis?

Does spinal stenosis hurt all the time?

Spinal stenosis is generally not progressive. The pain tends to come and go, but it usually does not progress with time. The natural history with spinal stenosis, in the majority of patients, is that of episodic periods of pain and dysfunction.

Does spinal stenosis make you tired?

The primary symptom of stenosis at any site is pain and fatigue resulting from pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

How long can you live with spinal stenosis?

Answer: Yes, you do have to live with it for the rest of your life. However, many patients with spinal stenosis live life in the absence of pain or with minimal symptoms.

Can spinal stenosis put you in a wheelchair?

Disability: In severe cases of spinal stenosis, a patient can end up permanently disabled. This may be through paralysis, or weakness so severe that it is impossible to stand and move as normal. It is not unreasonable to expect severe stenosis to lead to a person being bound to a wheelchair.

What activities should be avoided with spinal stenosis?

How does spinal stenosis affect walking?

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis, you may have trouble walking distances or find that you need to lean forward to relieve pressure on your lower back. You may also have pain or numbness in your legs. In more severe cases, you may have difficulty controlling your bowel and bladder.

Is spinal stenosis a form of arthritis?

Arthritis isn't always the cause of spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can develop in conjunction with osteoarthritis due to a different underlying cause. Other spine conditions and diseases that can lead to spinal stenosis include a collapsed vertebral disc or an inherited spine disease.

Is spinal stenosis the same as degenerative disc disease?

Discs often degenerate with age causing vertebrae to sit closer together. This is part of the reason we shrink with age. Degenerative discs can lead to pain via multiple pathways. Spinal stenosis is another condition of the spine where the central canal diameter is reduced much like a pipe that becomes clogged.

How can you tell if your spinal stenosis is getting worse?

Call your provider if you have symptoms of spinal stenosis. More serious symptoms that need prompt attention include: Difficulty or poor balance when walking. Worsening numbness and weakness of your limb.

What causes spinal stenosis to flare up?

A tightened space can cause the spinal cord or nerves to become irritated, compressed or pinched, which can lead to back pain and sciatica. Spinal stenosis usually develops slowly over time. It is most commonly caused by osteoarthritis or “wear-and-tear” changes that naturally occur in your spine as you age.

What is the most common treatment for spinal stenosis?

The goals of surgery include relieving the pressure on your spinal cord or nerve roots by creating more space within the spinal canal. Surgery to decompress the area of stenosis is the most definitive way to try to resolve symptoms of spinal stenosis.

Can lower back pain cause disability?

Back pain can be incredibly debilitating and may even prevent you from being able to earn a living to support yourself and your family. However, in order to qualify for Social Security disability, you'll need to meet the Social Security Administration's strict standards.

Can spinal stenosis affect feet?

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

This lower back condition refers to the spinal nerve roots being compressed or choked, which may lead to referred foot pain symptoms including weakness, numbness and a tingling sensation in the foot.

Is lumbar stenosis life threatening?

When the canal narrows, it puts pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves branching off the spinal cord. While lumbar spinal stenosis is not life threatening, severe spinal stenosis can cause significant disability.

Can spinal stenosis affect your stomach?

This puts pressure on nerves and the spinal cord, causing pain in the back and lower body. The condition may also affect the stomach and urinary system. Spinal stenosis is more common in people 50 years old or older.

Can spinal stenosis cause hip pain?

Symptoms of Hip-Spine Syndrome

It's very disabling. Patients with spinal stenosis or lumbar spinal conditions can also have similar walking difficulties. Their problems usually manifest with hip pain—not in the front part of this hip, but mostly on the back or buttock part, so it's a different type of a hip problem.

When does spinal stenosis require surgery?

Spinal stenosis surgery helps to reopen your spinal canal, the channel in your backbone that houses your spinal cord and other nerves. A doctor does the surgery when the space in the canal narrows because of arthritis, bone spurs, or other problems. When that happens, the nerves can be pinched or squeezed.