Orthopedic Injuries and Social Security Disability Benefits
Orthopedic injuries are injuries to the bones and joints. These injuries account for about 20 percent of all injuries according to the Center for Disease Control statistics. Most often, orthopedic injuries heal with treatment, but usually recovering from an orthopedic injury requires a long period of convalescence or diminished activity, and sometimes results in permanently diminished function of a limb, joint, or the body as a whole.
Common Types of Orthopedic Injuries
There are many types of orthopedic injuries that can lead to a prolonged period of disability or diminished activity. These are:
- Bone fractures--whether simple, compound, or comminuted, a broken bone can take weeks or months to heal, and is usually followed by a period of physical therapy to restore muscles atrophied during the period of convalescence. Some fractures never heal fully, creating permanently diminished ability, which may prevent you from resuming your former line of work.
- Sprains and Strains affect the ligaments and tendons at the joints. These injuries will often heal satisfactorily for most everyday tasks, but the affected joint will often experience weakness and susceptibility to injury which may prevent you from resuming your former duties.
- Tears and Instabilities at the joint are the most severe form of sprains. They are distinguished by severe pain, long periods of convalescence, and permanent reduction of joint function. Commonly affected joints are the knee, shoulder, and wrist.
- Dislocations and Separations occur when the head of the bone, such as the femur (thighbone) or the humerus (upper arm bone), comes out of the socket where it is supposed to sit. These normally affect the hip, shoulder, and elbow.
- Other less common injuries such as amputations, heatstroke, and frostbite can also diminish your ability to function.
To receive helpful information about how to manage your pain, please visit WebMD's Pain Management Health Center.
Functional Loss
Regardless of the type of your injury, the Social Security Administration has one standard for determining what is considered to be "functional loss." This standard is defined as the inability to walk for sustained periods and the inability to perform fine or gross motor movements over a significant length of time for any reason, including pain. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, the disability must have lasted or be expected to last a minimum of twelve months.
Proving Disability - Evidential Requirements
Because many people are suspected of "faking" these kinds of injuries, the requirements for proving disability as a result of orthopedic injury are strict, and dictate the specific language and tests your doctor must use to prove your disability. Making sure you have sufficient evidence is one of the most important roles of a Social Security Disability Insurance attorney. To learn more about what documentation you need before you file your claim and before it is rejected, contact us for an evaluation and consultation with The Cochran Firm today.
The Cochran Firm handles claims for clients throughout the United States of America. Please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a free consultation.
Jr. may have become well known for his representation of celebrities in high-profile and groundbreaking cases, but his true measure of success came from his lifelong dedication in the fight for the injured and the disenfranchised throughout America. It was Johnnie’s dream to bring justice to all Americans who suffer because of the wrongdoings of individuals, corporations, or governmental entities. This dream was realized when Johnnie became founding partner of the national law firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens, Smith, P.C. The Cochran Firm, as it is known today, has become one of the largest firms serving injured people and their families. Located in major cities throughout the United States, The Cochran Firm offers extensive national resources, legal talent and leadership to its clients. Providing assistance to those seeking a Social Security disability lawyer is just one more way the Cochran Firm is helping people in need.
