If you have developed neuropathy your life may be affected by permanent restrictions that may limit your ability to earn an income to cover your everyday needs.
Neuropathy is caused by damage to the nerves outside the brain and the spinal cord’s peripheral nerves which usually causes weakness, numbness and pain, typically in your hands and feet. It can also affect other areas of your body.
There are a few factors which can cause neuropathy which are:
- traumatic injuries;
- diabetes;
- exposure to toxins;
- infections;
- inherited causes;
- metabolic problems.
People with peripheral neuropathy typically describe the pain as burning, stabbing, or tingling.
While it is not currently possible to reverse the damage caused by neuropathy, it is possible to manage the condition by lowering blood sugar levels, treating nerve pain and regularly checking the feet to ensure they are free of infection, wounds and injury.
Permanent Restrictions You May Experience with Neuropathy
Because neuropathy results in damage to the nerves outside of the brain and the peripheral nerves of the spinal cord it often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet which means you are faced with permanent restrictions which makes it difficult to work in a normal job.
Work History and Job Skills
If the neuropathy is so severe that you cannot work you will need to apply for disability benefits. There are two types of benefits. One is called social security disability benefits (SSDI) which is based on your work history and how many work credits you have accumulated over time while the second is means tested and is called supplemental security income (SSI), which is awarded after assessing your savings and assets.
If the treatment you have been receiving for neuropathy is effective the disability benefit decisions will consider your medical records and your work history before reaching a decision.
The disability examiner will use this information to determine if you are able to return to your usual job or if you have a permanent impairment whether there are other job openings available to you.
Can I Perform Sedentary Work?
Sometimes the decision about your entitlement to social security disability benefits is based on your capability to work in a more sedentary job. If the disability examiner denies your claim because it thinks that you can undertake a more sedentary job, you will need to request an appeal hearing.
At this hearing you will be required to offer appropriate evidence that proves that the symptoms from your neuropathy will not allow you to take part in sedentary work.
Your disability claim could still be denied if a vocational expert brought to the hearing agrees that, although you are not fit enough to do your usual job there is other work you are still able to do.
At the hearing you may be required to provide proof of your ability to perform sedentary work such as the results of a residual functional capacity (RFC) evaluation conducted by your physician, which shows what you are capable of doing or not doing when you are suffering from neuropathy.
Get a Free Case Evaluation Today
To assist you to get the SSDI or SSI benefits you are eligible to receive you should ask for help from a disability lawyer who can work on your behalf to get the benefits you deserve for the permanent restrictions caused by neuropathy.
