| Knee replacements can sometimes be inevitable. | | | | the attending doctor that knee replacement is |
| However, these procedures could also mean medical | | | | needed. Bilateral knee replacements are usually |
| expenses, which you could only hope that your Social | | | | favored. Other factors that the judges will consider |
| Security could cover. This is also for this reason that | | | | include dysfunction of a major weight-bearing joint. |
| one should learn more about knee replacements and | | | | They may also look into those who are over fifty |
| Social Security. | | | | years old with limited education as well as unskilled |
| What Is Social Security? | | | | work background. |
| Social Security refers to a social insurance program | | | | It should be proven as well that functional capacity |
| that provides benefits or services in recognition of | | | | for work has been affected and reduced by the |
| contributions to an insurance scheme. These services | | | | knee pain itself. |
| include retirement pensions, disability insurance, | | | | A Case of Knee Replacement |
| survivor benefits, and unemployment insurance. | | | | Take, for example, a 59-year old female who |
| Knee Pain Patients and Disability claims | | | | worked as a registered nurse at a local hospital for |
| Severe arthritis and other structural damage to the | | | | thirty years. Educational background was high school |
| knees can highly support a successful Social Security | | | | graduate with two years in nursing school. In January |
| disability claim. Most chronic knee pain patients who | | | | 2005, she visited a relative in the hospital, but her |
| claim social security are in their forties and fifties. | | | | right knee was unexpectedly buckled while exiting |
| Knee pain is usually the result or wear and tear after | | | | the elevator. During that time, she was 54 years old, |
| a few years. Some are involved in a car accident | | | | a little overweight, and was suffering from non-insulin |
| years ago; some were injured when they were still | | | | dependent diabetes and hypertension. |
| high school athletes while others simply wore down | | | | She was able to return to her job after the fall and |
| their cartilage or bones in the knees after standing on | | | | underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right knee in |
| hard concrete for many years. | | | | March 2005. However, the surgery was not |
| Damage to one or both knees can result to | | | | favorable, so she underwent right knee replacement |
| exertional impairments like limitations on standing, | | | | surgery in October the same year. After a year, the |
| walking, stooping, climbing and carrying. Non-exertional | | | | left knee was also deteriorated as a result of the |
| impairments are also present like pain, poor sleep, | | | | extra pressure of the surgery the other year. In |
| pain medication and side effects, and obesity. | | | | November 2006, she had left knee replacement. |
| Social Security judges usually encounter knee pain as | | | | However, she was not free of pain or was able to |
| the reason on claiming disability. However, you should | | | | walk without assistance. |
| bear in mind that when making a claim, you have to | | | | The judges agreed to have her on Social Security |
| show that the pain is more than the mild to | | | | after hearing. According to them, the claimant cannot |
| moderate discomfort that patients usually experience. | | | | return to her job anymore. The claimant's long and |
| Your pain must be very severe and debilitating to a | | | | consistent work history, the objective nature of the |
| point that you have difficulty in walking and sitting. | | | | medical problem presented, age, and helpful functional |
| Moreover, most judges look for factors like long | | | | capacity form from the attending doctor were |
| consistent work history of the patient, MRI and | | | | believed to be the main factors in the judges' |
| X-ray reports that are objective proofs of evidence | | | | favorable decision. |
| of the knee problems, and recommendations from | | | | |