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Social Security Disability and RSD or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
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RSD and Social Security Disability How is it Handled?

RSD has become a more common diagnosis in Social Security Disability claims.  I will discuss what the disease is and how the limitations from the condition can show you are disabled for SSDI or SSI.

Also called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome this condition can affect an individual in multiple ways and every individual case may have different limitations as a result.  Below I will talk about RSD and its symptoms and then explain how those symptoms relate to a claim for benefits.  I have had many clients with this condition so if you have any questions e-mail me.

RSD usually originates from some sort of trauma.  It can be started by a sprain, muscle pull, bruise, surgery, or other injury.  For some reason the nervous system and immune system don't work properly and send signals through the nervous system to the brain that you have constant pain.  The pain is often times very severe.  The condition also sometimes spreads to other parts of the body.  Some symptoms besides pain that may occur are loss of hair, skin color change, swelling, sensitivity to cold or heat, sensitivity to touch, and may even result in decrease range of motion or loss of use of an area.  People who have this condition also often get depression as a result of dealing with the symptoms and inability to find treatment that works.  I also have found in the course of representing RSD claims that the individuals who have the condition often contemplate suicide because of the great deal of pain involved.  So if you have the condition it would be a good idea to start seeing a psychiatrist as soon as you start to show signs of being depressed.  RSD is also most common in women.

There is not a listing for this medical condition but one can argue that they equal one of the other listings.  In a Social Security Disability or SSI claim it is the limitations caused by Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome that shows one is disabled.  Some limitations that are shown in these types of cases are loss of use of extremities, pain causing inability to focus, trouble walking or standing long, and limitations resulting from the subsequent depression.  With this conditions the number of possible limitations is enormous.  The important thing to remember is that you should be under constant medical treatment.  You will need your doctors to state there opinions of your limitations and it must be backed up by proper diagnosis and treatment records.  A detailed physical RFC is a must and a mental RFC if you also suffer from depression as a result of your RSD.

When getting help from a lawyer for your SSDI or SSI case try and find someone who has handled these types of cases before because it is not your so called run of the mill case.  In fact, unfortunatley many people still believe it is in the patients head and not a real medical condition.  This includes many doctors who should know better.  This often results in the condition not being diagnosed as early as it should or at all.

If you are looking for more infromation on RSD click on this link.

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