Approximately six million Americans suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Anything from a minor injury to a major trauma or injury to a nerve can set in motion the onset of RSD. RSD is a chronic generalized pain syndrome with abnormal sympathetic nerve activity causing pain beyond what is normal for the injury incurred. A minor injury such as a sprain or small cut (even a paper cut) can trigger nerves to overreact and cause frequent, constant pain or burning sensation. RSD or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can also be caused by surgical procedures, drug exposure, or stroke. RSD can even cause unusual hair and/or nail growth or loss and can cause temperature changes in a limb. There are treatments for RSD ranging from sympathetic nerve blocks to psychotherapy to surgery. Other conditions that fall into the pain disorders family include: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia, patellofemoral pain syndrome, somatoform disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and chronic.
Social Security has a ruling specifically dealing with RSD and CRPS. Factors that are considered in evaluating disability include signs of swelling, anatomic changes such as in skin color or temperature in a limb, osteoporosis, involuntary movements or lack of functional use of a limb.
In order to prove your disability to Social Security, you need to either document that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria found in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or, if you are an adult, that your condition and symptoms are so severe that you are unable to work. If you are a child under 18, you must similarly show that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or that your condition or conditions functionally equals the Commissioner's regulations. The law firm of Sheryl Gandel Mazur has experienced disability attorneys and has been representing individuals in their Social Security disability appeals for over twenty five years. Let us help you receive your Social Security disability benefits.
Our disability law firm represents individuals:
- In filing their initial disability applications
- In handling cases at the initial level including appealing initial denials
- In handling cases at the reconsideration level including appealing reconsideration denials
- In handling cases at the hearings level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Appeals Council level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Federal Court level
This firm also handles SSI child's disability cases at all levels.
Organizations: American Chronic Pain Association (www.theacpa.org); American Pain Foundation (www.painfoundation.org); National Pain Foundation (http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/)
