SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE & SSD
WHAT IS SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE?
Scheuermann’s disease, also known as Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is a condition that affects the spine. In particular, it is found in the thoracic or upper spine. Scheuermann’s disease is a type of juvenile osteochondrosis, which is a disorder that affects the growth and development of bones.
In Scheuermann’s disease, the vertebrae in the thoracic spine do not develop properly. This results in a wedging of the front part of the vertebrae. This causes the spine to curve forward, leading to a condition known as kyphosis, or “hunchback”.
The exact cause of Scheuermann’s disease is unknown. However, some doctors think it is related to genetic factors, as it tends to run in families. The disease is rare. Some studies state that Scheuermann’s disease affects approximately 0.4 to 8 percent of the population in the USA, with a higher rate in males.
However, these estimates are based on small studies and may not represent the general population. Additionally, the condition may be misdiagnosed, as many people with mild cases may not seek medical attention.
Overall, more research is needed to better understand Scheuermann’s disease in the United States and other countries.
WHAT CAUSES SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE?
The exact cause of Scheuermann’s disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some studies suggest that there may be a genetic predisposition to the condition, as it tends to run in families. However, the condition is not caused by a single gene but rather by multiple genetic factors.
Environmental factors, such as poor posture or mechanical stress on the spine, may also play a role in the development of Scheuermann’s disease. In some cases, the condition may be associated with certain physical activities or sports that place repetitive stress on the spine, such as weightlifting or gymnastics.
The condition usually develops during the childhood years, when the bones are still growing and developing. During this time, the vertebrae in the spine may not form properly. This leads to the wedging and curvature of the thoracic spine seen in Scheuermann’s disease.
SYMPTOMS OF SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE?
The most common symptom of Scheuermann’s disease is a forward curvature of the upper back, also known as kyphosis or “hunchback.” This curvature is caused by wedging of the vertebrae in the thoracic spine. Other symptoms may include:
- Back pain: Some people with Scheuermann’s disease may experience mild to severe back pain, which can be made worse by physical activity.
- Stiffness: The curvature of the spine can cause stiffness in the upper back, making it difficult to move or bend.
- Fatigue: People with Scheuermann’s disease may experience fatigue due to the extra effort required to maintain proper posture.
- Breathing trouble: In severe cases, the curvature of the spine can compress the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
- Poor posture: The curvature of the spine can lead to poor posture, which can make the symptoms of the condition worse.
It’s important to note that not all people with Scheuermann’s disease experience these symptoms. The severity of symptoms vary widely from person to person. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a doctor for a treatment plan.
TREATMENT FOR SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE
The treatment for Scheuermann’s disease depends on the severity of the condition, the age of the patient, and the presence or absence of symptoms. In some cases, no treatment may be necessary if the condition is mild and not causing any problems. However, if the curvature of the spine is causing symptoms, then treatment may be necessary.
Here are some of the treatment options for Scheuermann’s disease:
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy can be helpful to strengthen the muscles of the back and improve posture.
- Bracing: A back brace can help correct the curvature of the spine and prevent it from worsening. Bracing is recommended for children whose bones are still growing and developing.
- Pain management: Medication may manage the back pain from Scheuermann’s disease.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgery can correct the curvature of the spine. This may involve a spinal fusion, where two or more vertebrae are fused together. Or, you could have a vertebral osteotomy, where a portion of the vertebra is removed to allow for better alignment of the spine.
Treatment options for Scheuermann’s disease depend on the severity of the condition and the age of the patient. Mild cases can be treated with physical therapy. More severe cases may require bracing or surgery to correct the curvature of the spine. The best treatment for Scheuermann’s disease will depend on your specific situation and symptoms.
SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE & LIMITATIONS IN RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY
In order to prove you cannot work due to Scheuermann’s disease, your severe symptoms must last longer than 12 months. When making the decision as to whether you will be paid benefits, the SSA will also look at any limits you have that affect your ability to work a full time job. Functional limits are physical restrictions. In other words, they are activities you aren’t able to do because of your back condition.
Your residual functional capacity (RFC) shows the limits you would have at work due to your back condition. The SSA will assume a certain RFC for you that is taken from your medical records. Therefore, it is important to have your doctor complete an RFC form for you. Our firm will send an RFC form to your treating doctor for him or her to complete. The medical opinion of your doctor should be taken into account by the SSA when they determine if you qualify for benefits.
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS FROM SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE
There are certain functional limits that require the SSA to pay you benefits if you have a severe back condition like Scheuermann’s disease. However, it is important that your doctors document your physical limits in your medical records. These physical limits include:
- Being unable to walk for more than one block without needing to take a break
- Needing to use a two canes or a walker in order to walk
- Not being able to bend over or stoop down
- Being unable to lift objects over ten pounds
- Inability to sit or stand for at least two hours in an eight hour work day
- Needing to elevate your legs above your heart throughout the eight hour work day
- Due to pain, needing to lay down for most of the day
- Being unable to sit down in a work chair for at least six hours during an eight hour workday
You can think of these limits as physical issues that would impact your ability to complete an eight hour workday. If you have even a few of these limits, it may mean that you cannot work. Find out more about winning benefits with your residual functional capacity. Unfortunately, your testimony about your limits only goes so far to prove that you cannot work. You will also need medical proof. Additionally, you will need your own testimony to have the SSA grant you SSDI and SSI benefits.
WHAT WE DO TO HELP YOU WIN SSD AND SSI BENEFITS
You do not need to apply for Social Security benefits by yourself. You can always call our law firm and we will help you win benefits for Scheuermann’s disease. We can help you file your SSDI and SSI application. Also, we can help you appeal every SSA denial. For example, our attorneys and staff can:
- Send you the paperwork you need to become our client
- Help you file your application for SSD and SSI benefits
- Inform the SSA that they should pay your benefits under the Compassionate Allowance Rules
- Submit an appeal if you receive an initial denial from DDS
- Help you schedule and confirm your Consultative Exam
- Request a Hearing with an SSA judge
- Prepare you to be a good witness at your SSA hearing
- Represent you at your hearing and question the expert witnesses
- Read about job expert testimony
- Learn about medical expert testimony
- Request review of a decision at the Appeals Council
- Request review of an Appeals Council denial in Federal Court
If you file your application for benefits online at Social Security’s website, then you have 6 months to complete the application. However, you shouldn’t wait that long. Once you submit your application online, the SSA sends you an application summary in the mail. You must sign the summary and mail it back. If you don’t send it back, the SSA will not process your application. Sign it and send it back as soon as you can.
WE OFFER A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CASE
If you need help filing for SSDI and SSI benefits for Scheuermann’s Disease, then reach out to Cannon Disability Law. Taking the first step by calling us. All you need to do is contact our legal team.
Additionally, we offer a free review of your case. What that means is that you can call us and explain your situation. At that point, we will look at the merits of your case for free and let you know if you have a chance to win benefits. We do not charge you for our review of your case.
In the past 30 years, we have won over $100 million in SSDI and SSI benefits for our clients. We are experts at what we do and we will put our knowledge to work for you. Hire us to be your Social Security legal team.
We help clients win benefits in many states, including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and California. Find out more about your benefits and how to apply in your state here:
- California SSDI and SSI benefits
- Colorado SSDI and SSI benefit information
- Idaho SSDI and SSI benefits
- Nevada SSDI and SSI benefits
- Utah SSDI and SSI benefits
No matter where you live, we want to be your legal team. Hire the best Social Security legal team with no money down. Also, there will be no attorney fee unless we win your case. Contact us today. We will do our best to help you win SSDI and SSI benefits for Scheuermann’s disease.
YOU ONLY PAY ATTORNEY FEES IF YOU WIN YOUR BENEFITS
The SSA has capped attorney fees in Social Security cases at 25% of your past due or back benefit or $7200, which ever amount is less. This is the most your attorney can charge when they win your case.
For example, if your attorney wins your SSDI case and your back benefit is $10,000, then the attorney fee will be 25% of the back benefit, or $2500. In such a case, you would not pay the amount of the attorney fee cap. Instead, the attorney fee is 25% of the back benefit, which is less than the cap. This is what happens in most SSDI and SSI cases.
In another example, if you attorney wins your SSDI case and your back benefit is $100,000, the attorney fee is not $25,000, which is 25% of the back benefit. Instead, the attorney fee would be the cap. Because the cap is the most your attorney can charge you after winning your case at the hearing level or below. That is true even if 25% is higher than the cap.
Additionally, your attorney can only charge a fee if they win your case. In other words, if you do not win your benefits, then you do not pay an attorney fee. This means that your attorney has worked for up to two years on your case for free. So, if you don’t get benefits, your attorney doesn’t get paid. Obviously, your attorney has a good reason to win your case.
IS IT WORTH THE ATTORNEY FEE TO HIRE AN SSD LAWYER?
It isn’t easy to get Social Security benefits and the application process can be frustrating for most people. But, having an attorney throughout this appeal process can help. It is our belief that when you have a law firm with experience handling your Social Security case, the SSA makes sure that they follow their own procedures.
Additionally, when you have an attorney with legal experience, they will have access to Social Security’s decisions throughout the process. They can also submit medical evidence that may be missing from your case on your behalf.
There is evidence that hiring an attorney with the proper experience raises your chances of winning your SSDI and SSI benefits by 30%. It is also smart to hire an attorney to help you at your hearing. After all, you are the star witness at your hearing. If you hire an attorney with experience, they can prepare you to be a good witness at your hearing. Learn how to prepare for your hearing.
HIRE US FOR OUR YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE
The SSA benefits application and appeal process can be long and complex. If you have Scheuermann’s disease, then worrying about benefits is the last thing you should spent time on. Hire Cannon Disability Law to give you legal advice and walk you through the application process. In the past 30 years, we have won millions of dollars in ongoing and past due benefits for our clients.
If you want to win SSDI and SSI benefits, then hire an attorney with the legal experience to win your case. We do not charge you any money up front to help you or for you to become our client. Then, you only pay us an attorney fee when you win benefits. If you don’t win, then you don’t pay an attorney fee. Learn more information about attorney fees.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LAW FIRM
If you want to learn more about our lawyers and staff, then read our About Us page. For example, you can learn about Andria Summers, who has 21 years of experience working at our law firm. She can also help you with your Medicare advantage plan. She has won thousands of SSDI and SSI cases.
Additionally, Dianna Cannon has been helping her clients win benefits for over thirty years. Ms. Cannon has also won many cases at the Appeals Council and in Federal Court. Brett Bunkall also has years of legal experience helping people obtain their SSI and SSD benefits.
In the last 30 years, we have won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases. Additionally, we have won over $100 million in ongoing and past due benefits for our clients. Many of our clients do not have to attend a hearing. Instead, they win their case at an earlier level of appeal. We can’t guarantee that will happen, but we do the most we can to win your case at the early stages.
Make sure that you hire an attorney with the experience to win your benefits. Too much is at stake to attempt to win benefits on your own. We are Social Security law experts. You can trust us to help you win your benefits for Scheuermann’s disease. We want to make the difficult process of winning benefits as easy as possible for you. For help, contact us today.
