Osteoporosis affects more than 10 million Americans.
Almost 1 in 4 people with osteoporosis are women. While women are at higher risk for the disease, men can develop it, too. Studies suggest that among those 50 and older:
- Up to 1 in 2 women will break a bone due to osteoporosis — equal to the risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined.
- Up to 1 in 4 men will break a bone due to osteoporosis — a risk greater than prostate cancer.
Osteoporosis occurs because of a defect in attaining peak bone mass and aggravated bone loss.
"Osteoporosis is a serious disorder in which a reduction of bone mass and the change of structure leads to bone fragility. That can in turn cause bone fracture. Bone is normally mineralized but is deficient in quantity, quality, and structural integrity."
Bones provide shape and support to the body. Bones have a solid outer surface known as a compact bone while the inner bone is called spongy bone because of its similarity in appearance to that of a sponge. Spongy bone is less dense than compact bone. Common sites for osteoporosis are the hips, wrists, and backbone.
Factors causing Osteoporosis:
- People who are older are more likely to suffer from it
- Excessive alcohol intake and smoking
- Heredity and genes such as race
- Low body weight and poor diet with low mineral intake
- Immobility and less exercise
Medical Investigation of Osteoporosis Needed for SSDI Application
Osteoporosis which is otherwise also known as the silent disease is usually asymptomatic until a fracture occurs. Investigations such as serum alkaline phosphate, serum calcium, phosphate help. X-rays show a decrease in bone density or fracture in some cases. The major area of demineralization of bones is the spine, hips, and wrist joints. If you are suspected of osteoporosis your disability examiner would want your doctor to make you undergo bone densitometry at the location of the spine and hip. CT densitometry can easily detect the bone density and is pretty accurate.
How to Win Disability Benefits with Osteoporosis
The Social Security Administration has vigilant rules regarding the 'severity' of the disability in order to qualify an applicant for SSDI. Although osteoporosis itself is not listed in the Blue Book of SSA, you may still qualify if you develop muskoskeletal symptoms (listed in the Blue Book) that hamper with your daily functioning levels. In severe cases, you win qualify for SSDI with your doctor's statements proving that your osteoporosis caused broken bones (mainly hips, spine or wrists) even from minor falls and bumps and/or collapsed vertebrae leading to severe pain aided with inability to perform your daily tasks.
Other underlying conditions exacerbated or osteoporosis could also qualify you for disability. For instance, a person may suffer from kidney or liver failure shown through parathyroid and blood tests, in addition to CT and MRI scans. Moreover, osteoporosis could also cause severe joint pain, broken bones, hormone and vitamin deficiencies and even some autoimmune disorders.
If you have any of the above osteoporosis symptoms that impact your ability to work under substantial gainful activity (SGA) and perform your daily tasks, including old type of work, then your may qualify for disability. Your disability examiner will look for symptoms to evaluate the extent of your residual functional limitations (RFC). Hence, it is important that you keep a detailed medical record of your diagnosis, symptoms and treatments from the start of your diagnosis. **If you had been hospitalized due to these symptoms for atleast 3 times within a consecutive 12-month period and occurring atleast 30 days apart, you would be considered disabled by the SSA and could qualify for benefits.
Qualifying for disability is a complicated process and must not be left to non-professionals. If your symptoms for osteoporosis include those discussed in this article, you can seek consultation through our expert disability attorneys who know the full process of SSDI benefits and would help you maximize your chance of qualifying benefits.