I was recently reviewing the medical records of an old case. In this particular matter, the claimant was simply diagnosed with “Failed Back Syndrome”, otherwise known simply as (FBS).  In this regard, the claimant had undergone a previous back surgery to remove a herniated disc in his lower back.  Afterwards, he failed to notice any real improvement, and more importantly, over the course of the next few years, his back became more and more symptomatic, to the point that he was essentially debilitated from any real quality of life.

I remember this client well.  He had worked all his life as a carpenter and was now effectively prevented from performing any meaningful labor.  He became totally dependent on family and friends, he had to move in with in-laws, eventually dwindling into depression and hopelessness.

When he came to me for help, he was amazed when I told him that even though his condition was severe, there was no guarantee that the Social Security Administration would declare him to be disabled.

How To Prove You’re Disabled Because of Severe Back Pain

The nature of pain is purely subjective.  There has been little progress in the medical world to quantify pain, especially when comparing one person’s level of pain to another’s.  Anyone who has been to the doctor for an injury has probably been asked to “rate the level of pain on a scale from one to ten”, but it’s not hard to see that is not an entirely practical or fair measure of the amount of debilitating pain that a patient may feel.  Simply put, pain, in and of itself, is not considered to be a diagnosis.

First, you must show that your back pain prevents you from doing certain things that would normally be expected of someone in any type of job for which they are otherwise qualified.  Sitting, standing, walking, lifting must be affected to a severe degree.  Additionally, the pain must be so that it requires you to take medications that may interfere with your ability to memorize and communicate well.  Lastly, the administrative law judge and other experts at the disability hearing must agree that your pain is significant and debilitating.

What can you do?

Ultimately, you should gather all your medical records, file for social security, and expect to receive a denial of benefits.  Then, find a qualified Social Security Lawyer to help you with your claim.  Cases such as these are rarely approved for Social Security benefits without going to a hearing, and your chance of success is significantly improved if you are represented by a qualified Social Security lawyer.