The pain and other complications of spinal stenosis can cause disability in many sufferers. If you have this condition, you know just how difficult it can be to get up and go to work each and every day. When it becomes impossible to do so, it may be time to think about applying for Massachusetts Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of one or more places in the spinal cord. Most frequently affecting the neck or lower back, the resulting pressure can affect the spinal cord and its nerves. You may suffer from pain or numbness in your extremities and may also experience problems with weakness in your limbs and lack of coordination.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
If your neck is affected, you may experience:
- Numbness or weakness in your arm, hand, leg or foot.
- A tendency to fall more easily or drop objects.
- Pain in your neck or shoulders.
- Problems controlling your bowels or bladder.
If your back is affected, you may experience:
- Leg cramps that worsen when you stand or walk for long periods.
- Pain in your legs that gets better when you sit or bend forward.
Causes of Spinal Stenosis
Causes of this affliction include:
- Overall, the aging process, which can lead to degeneration of the spine.
- The damage of osteoarthritis can lead to bone spurs, which narrow the spinal cord passages.
- When the cushions between your vertebrae begin to bulge or flatten due to aging, the covering of the spinal discs can become torn, allowing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves there.
- The ligaments that hold the bones of the spinal cord in place can thicken and become stiffer as you age, resulting in narrowing and compression.
- Paget’s disease causes the body to generate new bone too quickly. This disease can lead to weaker, deformed or abnormally large bones. In the spine, this can mean a reduction of space.
- The genetic disorder known as achondroplasia results in dwarfism. People with this disorder are more prone to spinal stenosis due to narrower spinal canals.
- Tumors that form on the spinal cord can also cause spinal stenosis when the spinal cord is compressed by their development.
- Injuries to the spinal cord can also cause spinal stenosis.
A Disability Lawyer Can Help
If you or a loved one has been affected by spinal stenosis and can no longer work, you should look into applying for Massachusetts SSA disability benefits to help you continue to live as you have in the past.
Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?
If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.
