Hip and knee arthritis claims for social security disability

If you believe you would be unable to work in even an unskilled, sedentary position, call a Charlotte social security disability attorney at (704) 815-6055.

There are numerous different types of medical impairments that individuals can claim for social security disability benefits, but some of the most common are arthritis. There are many types of arthritis, but the most common are Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as Psoriatic arthritis. The topic for discussion in today’s blog is probably the most common: Osteoarthritis (OA), which is the degeneration of a particular joint. In a social security disability context we probably most often see Osteoarthritis in the hips and knees more often than other joints possibly due to the weight bearing nature of those two joints. Unfortunately, due to the weight bearing nature of hip and knee osteoarthritis this disease can be the most debilitating, affecting a person’s ability to stand and walk effectively.

If you have been diagnosed with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis it is important to make sure you are getting proper medical care preferably from an Orthopedist who can fully evaluate the disease and recommend treatment. This will also help your social security disability claim. Remember that in order to prove you are disabled you should try your best to obtain as much medical evidence as possible from your doctor. Many times occasional orthopedic evaluations, X-ray’s, MRI’s, and other tests are needed to show how severe your particular osteoarthritis is. Depending on how severe your condition is you may be offered surgery, pain injections, medication, or some combination of treatment alternatives which plays a part in determining whether or not your osteoarthritis is disabling according to Social Security’s rules and regulations. Another thing to keep in mind is that you need to make sure your doctor knows what types of difficulties you have due to your osteoarthritis, like whether or not you need a cane for walking/standing, if you need more powerful pain medication, and if your condition worsens or gets better. Many osteoarthritis disability claims will ultimately hinge on how well someone is able to ambulate (i.e. walk and move about), however, it will also depend on how old someone is, what their past work history included, their education, and what their medical records state.

Overall, osteoarthritis disability claims are relatively common, especially among older individuals in their 50’s, but they still require the same attention to detail and evidence as any other social security disability claim. If you have applied for social security disability or are thinking about applying and have been diagnosed with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis, make sure to talk to an experienced Charlotte social security disability attorney to discuss your case and how they can help.