Facts about Costochondritis and Filing for DisabilityThese selected pages answer some of the most basic, but also some of the most important, questions for individuals who are considering filing a claim for disability benefits. Facts about the condition 1. Costrochondritis is characterized by inflammation of the cartilage between the breastbone and the ribs, also known as the costosternal joint. The result is a sharp pain that can feel similar to the pain of a heart attack. The area between the sixth, fifth, and fourth ribs are the most common ribs to be affected by costrochondritis. 2. Although costrochondritis can occur in anyone of any age, it most often occurs in people over 40 years old, and is more prone to affect women than men. 3. Costochondritis is also known as costosternal chondrodynia, costosternal syndrome, and chest wall pain. It is sometimes referred to (mistakenly) as Tietze syndrome. Although Costochondritis and Tietze syndrome are similar, Tietze syndrome is accompanied by swelling, whereas costochondritis is not. 4. Symptoms of costochondritis include sharp pain and tenderness in the chest area between the ribs and the breastbone, breathing difficulties, and pain when coughing or taking deep breaths. In many cases of diagnosis, people visit the doctor (or emergency room) upon experiencing sharp chest pains. 5. Costochondritis can be caused by infection, injury, heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, fbromyalgia, strain and other reasons, but sometimes the cause remains unknown. Viral, bacterial and fungal infections may all cause costochondritis. 6. Costochondritis usually clears up on its own and is fairly short-lived in most cases, but may last anywhere from a few days to a few months. Treatment focuses on relieving pain and can include muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). 7. As an alternative to drugs, using a heating pad, gently exercising, and getting plenty of rest may help ease pain. 8. In severe cases of costochondritis surgery may be needed to remove the infected and inflamed cartilage if symptoms and pain do not go away with time and treatment. Qualifying for disability benefits with this condition Whether or not you qualify for disability and, as a result, are approved for disability benefits will depend entirely on the information obtained from your medical records. This includes whatever statements and treatment notes that may have been obtained from your treating physician (a doctor who has a history of treating your condition and is, therefore, qualified to comment as to your condition and prognosis). It also includes discharge summaries from hospital stays, reports of imaging studies (such as xrays, MRIs, and CT scans) and lab panels (i.e. bloodwork) as well as reports from physical therapy. In many disability claims, it may also include the results of a report issued by an independent physician who examines you at the request of the Social Security Administration.
Qualifying for SSD or SSI benefits will also depend on the information obtained from your vocational, or work, history if you are an adult, or academic records if you are a minor-age child. In the case of adults, your work history information will allow a disability examiner (examiners make decisions at the initial claim and reconsideration appeal levels, but not at the hearing level where a judges decides the outcome of the case) to A) classify your past work, B) determine the physical and mental demands of your past work, C) decide if you can go back to a past job, and D) whether or not you have the ability to switch to some type of other work. The important thing to keep in mind is that the social security administration does not award benefits based on simply having a condition, but, instead, will base an approval or denial on the extent to which a condition causes functional limitations. Functional limitations can be great enough to make work activity not possible (or, for a child, make it impossible to engage in age-appropriate activities).
Why are so many disability cases lost at the disability application and reconsideration appeal levels? There are several reasons but here are just two: 1) Social Security makes no attempt to obtain a statement from a claimant's treating physician. By contrast, at the hearing level, a claimant's disability attorney or disability representative will generally obtain and present this type of statement to a judge. Note: it is not enough for a doctor to simply state that their patient is disabled. To satisy Social Security's requirements, the physician must list in what ways and to what extent the individual is functionally limited. For this reason, many representatives and attorneys request that the physician fill out and sign a specialized medical source statement that captures the correct information. Solid Supporting statements from physicians easily make the difference between winning or losing a disability case at the hearing level. 2) Prior to the hearing level, a claimant will not have the opportunity to explain how their condition limits them, nor will their attorney or representative have the opportunity to make a presentation based on the evidence of the case. This is because at the initial levels of the disability system, a disability examiner decides the case without meeting the claimant. The examiner may contact the claimant to gather information on activities of daily living and with regard to medical treatment or past jobs, but usually nothing more. At the hearing level, however, presenting an argument for approval based on medical evidence that has been obtained and submitted is exactly what happens. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related Body System Impairments: Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI with Crohn's Disease Facts about Crohn's Disease and Filing for Disability Social Security Disability SSI and Filing based on Lupus Polychondritis and Filing for Disability Bursitis and Filing for Disability Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease and Filing for Disability Costochondritis and Filing for Disability Ankylosing Spondylitis and Filing for Disability Polymyositis and Filing for Disability Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Filing for Disability Behcet's disease and Filing for Disability Lupus, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits If you apply for disability in Washington Getting a Disability Lawyer in Washington Disability Benefits in Washington |
