Reflex Sympathetic Disorder is a condition that causes the nervous system to experience abnormal responses. Typically, this involves shooting pain in the affected area. The pain associated with reflex sympathetic disorder is generally out of proportion to the apparent cause of the pain, causing things that typically wouldn’t hurt (or that would only hurt a little) to be extremely painful. In many cases, those with reflex sympathetic disorder also experience swelling and skin irritation in the affected area.
In most cases, Reflex Sympathetic Disorder is a secondary symptom of an injury, often to the arm or leg. It is treatable if caught early, but those who don’t receive early treatment (or who are unresponsive to the treatment) may eventually lose all use of the affected limbs.
Even with treatment, many find that they are simply incapable of performing daily tasks and work activities that they carried out before having Reflex Sympathetic Disorder . In some cases, especially when you lose the use of a limb, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits as a result of reflex sympathetic disorder.
Reflex Sympathetic Disorder is not specifically listed as a disabling condition by the Social Security Administration, so in order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must demonstrate that your disability is equal to or greater than other disabling conditions that are listed. Essentially, you will need to prove that you are incapable of performing any and all work that is available, including all forms of physical work and sedentary work for which you may be qualified.
Reflex Sympathetic Disorder and Your Ability to Perform Physical Work
Reflex Sympathetic Disorder can make it difficult to perform physical work because it causes small bumps and touches which would not present a problem under normal circumstances to be excruciatingly painful. There are hundreds of ways that this can affect you in the typical work environment.
Additionally, depending on which limb is affected, Reflex Sympathetic Disorder can make it difficult or even impossible to perform activities such as standing, walking, lifting, grasping, pushing, or pulling. These kinds of activities and your ability to perform them are considered by the Social Security Administration when determining whether you are qualified for Social Security Disability benefits.
It is crucial to make sure that your doctor’s reports on your condition include descriptive accounts of what you can and cannot do because of your condition. If your doctor simply notes the condition without listing out specific physical restrictions, you are likely to have your Social Security Disability claim denied.
Perhaps the best move you can make if you are trying to claim Social Security Disability benefits because of your reflex sympathetic disorder is to contract a Social Security Disability lawyer. Your Social Security Disability attorney will know how to phrase critical portions of your claim in order to ensure your best opportunity to have your claim or appeal accepted.
Reflex Sympathetic Disorder and Your Ability to Perform Sedentary Work
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must prove that, in addition to being able to perform physical work, you are incapable of performing any sedentary work that is available to a person of your age, training, and education. In this case, it is actually to your benefit to have less education.
This does not mean that educated people can’t qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. It just means that they need to prove that their condition prohibits them from performing any job for which they are qualified (and educated people have a wider range of sedentary jobs for which they are qualified). Make sure that your claim includes information regarding how your condition affects your ability to sit for long periods of time, as well as its affect on your ability to perform light manual tasks such as typing, filing, and assembling small objects.
