Is neck fusion a permanent disability?

If your job relies on doing motions like lifting, twisting, bending, or other permanent restrictions, and you may be eligible for disability benefits. To qualify for Social Security disability, your spinal fusion's permanent restrictions will need to keep your from working for at least 12 months.

Does neck fusion qualify for disability?

Most individuals who undergo a spinal fusion surgery end up qualifying for SSDI benefits through a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment. An RFC will document your ability to perform certain tasks, such as lifting and walking.

Is neck surgery considered a disability?

You will need to provide hard medical evidence that confirms your cervical spine condition, and that shows how it affects your ability to work and earn a living as well as perform routine daily tasks. Without hard medical evidence and supporting documentation, your claim will not be approved.

Is spinal fusion a reason for disability?

There is no specific disability listing for back surgery or spinal fusion, but if the surgery didn't correct your impairments, you might meet the requirements of a listing based on the impairments that led you to need back surgery or spinal fusion.

How long is a neck fusion good for?

The fusion should be solid by about 3 months, and the newly fused bone should continue to grow stronger for up to about a year. The surgeon may take X-rays to determine the fusion's progress.

Reasons to avoid unnecessary cervical spine fusion surgery- DMX case study

What can you not do after neck fusion?

Limitations. No driving while on narcotics or if you were given a neck brace to wear. No lifting more than 5 pounds (about a gallon of milk) for the first 2 weeks after surgery. No lifting more than 25 pounds for an additional 4 weeks (six weeks total).

What happens after C5 C6 fusion?

After surgery, you can expect your neck to feel stiff and sore. This should improve in the weeks after surgery. You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long and may need pain medicine in the weeks after your surgery. You may need to wear a neck brace for a while.

What neck problems qualify for disability?

To meet requirements of a disability listing for a neck problem, you need to demonstrate the nerve root or spinal cord has been impacted such that you have limited spinal movement, muscle weakness with loss of reflexes or feeling, spinal nerve root compression pain, or spinal arachnoiditis.

Can I get disability after surgery?

Yes. Elective and cosmetic surgeries are covered by Disability Insurance. Your physician/practitioner must certify that you are unable to do your normal or usual job duties because of the surgery.

What spine disorders qualify for disability?

Can you live a normal life after spinal fusion?

Even people requiring bigger surgeries like spinal fusion are 90% likely to return to work and stay at work long term. While most people recover from back pain through exercise and healthy lifestyles, those who require surgery can expect to return to work and "get their life back" too.

Can spinal fusion cause problems later in life?

The most common thing we see in the clinic in patients who have spinal fusion complications years later is either a return of back pain or new symptoms. These both indicate possible new disease.

What are the long term effects of spinal fusion?

The spinal muscles provide critical stability and support for the spine. Unfortunately, lumbar fusion significantly compromises the health and integrity of these muscles. This is in turn can lead to spine instability and additional injuries including degeneration and arthritis.

Is cervical spondylosis considered a disability?

Fortunately, you may be eligible for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits that provide you with much-needed income when pain, instability, and weakness from spondylosis make it impossible to work.

Does spinal fusion shorten life expectancy?

Conclusion: Elderly patients who underwent spine surgery for spinal stenosis had reduced mortality compared to the corresponding portion of the general population.

Is cervical degenerative disc disease a disability?

Degenerative disc disease by itself is not recognized as a listed disability by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Do I apply for disability before or after surgery?

Enroll Early. Since it is hard to predict an injury or condition that may require a procedure, you should consider enrolling in a short-term disability plan long before considering having surgery.

What are the 3 most common physical disabilities?

How much Social Security disability will I get?

SSDI payments range on average between $800 and $1,800 per month. The maximum benefit you could receive in 2020 is $3,011 per month.

Is cervical stenosis a permanent disability?

Spinal stenosis in some cases can be a permanent disability if it effects your ability to perform basic day to day functions. If you have spinal stenosis and you are unable to perform the normal functions of your job that makes it impossible for you to work, then you may be able to qualify for benefits.

Is chronic pain a disability?

The SSA does not consider chronic pain to be a disability, so there is no listing for it in the SSA's Blue Book. Chronic pain, even if it is severe and disabling, does not qualify unless you can prove it is caused by a verifiable condition that lasts for at least 12 months.

Can I get disability for nerve compression?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that severe nerve root compression can be debilitating, and as a result, the agency has created an official impairment listing in its "Blue Book" of impairments.

How serious is neck fusion surgery?

What are the risks? No surgery is without risks. General complications of any surgery include bleeding, infection, blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), and reactions to anesthesia. If spinal fusion is done at the same time as a discectomy, there is a greater risk of complications.

What is a 3 level cervical fusion?

A Three-Level Cervical Fusion is a major surgery where 3 discs are removed and hardware is placed to stabilize the neck. the procedure is performed in a hospital and takes several hours.. Cervical fusion surgery is popular. The rate of posterior cervical fusions in the US has increased by 2.7 fold from 2001-2013 (2).

Why do my shoulders hurt after cervical fusion?

Some amount of neck discomfort, soreness, tenderness, and swelling is normal after a spinal fusion procedure. Additionally, you may feel some discomfort in your upper back and shoulders as your body adjusts to the altered biomechanics created by the fusion.