Evaluation of Back Pain Cases

The problem mentioned most frequently by Social Security disability applicants is low back pain resulting from a back injury. The challenge is to prove that your pain is real and disabling.

SSA Consideration of Back Pain Evidence

The SSA will examine three factors when determining the severity of your back injury impairment:

• Objective abnormalities
• Reported pain and other symptoms
• Credibility

Objective Medical Evidence Not Conclusive

Many claimants suffer pain and limitation of motion but have insignificant neurological findings.  It is entirely possible for a claimant to be disabled but exhibit very little objective evidence of impairment.  A chronic back strain with no evidence of x-ray changes may still be disabling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and x-rays of the back are often incapable of proving how severe your back pain is – some people exhibiting significant abnormalities have little or no pain, while others have severe pain with minimal abnormalities.

Emotional Factors

Your Ocala Social Security disability attorney is aware that emotional factors may be involved in low back pain. The technical term for this is “emotional overlay.”

If your doctor determines that your back pain is more pronounced than would normally be expected from the objective medical findings, and believes the difference may be explained by an emotional overlay, your Ocala Social Security disability attorney should develop evidence regarding this factor. Corroboration may be provided by a psychological evaluation. Many times, your pain symptoms can be explained by the combination of the emotional overlay and the back problem.

If you are suffering from back pain and would like to visit with an experienced and competent Ocala Social Security disability attorney, please contact the CJ Henry Law Firm, PLLC at 352-304-5300 for a free consultation.