Spinal cord injury is typically caused by a trauma to the vertebrae that tears or impinges on the spinal cord preventing messages from travelling along the spinal cord from the limbs to the brain. Spinal cord injuries can also be caused by degenerative changes in the vertebrae, distortion of the bones of the spine, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and abnormal growth called an arachnoiditis, or tumors or cysts. This can result in nerve damage or even paralysis. Pressure or damage to the spinal nerves can also cause reflex sympathetic dystrophy or regional pain syndrome. Spinal cord injuries are frequently debilitating, causing pain and limited motion in the low back and the legs. Treatments can range from various therapies to surgery but many spinal cord injuries are permanent.
Spinal cord injuries can be documented by orthopedic specialists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physical medicine specialists, rehabilitation medicine specialists, physiologists, or rheumatologists. Spinal cord damage can be documented by examinations, MRIs, x-rays, or CAT Scans, and muscle and nerve conduction tests.
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: Spinal Cord Injury Information Network (http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu/); New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (www.state.nj.us/health/spinalcord/)
