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If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and the pain and stiffness resulting from the disease make it impossible for you to work, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. The gradual loss of cartilage from your joints causes osteoarthritis.
Can I still work with osteoarthritis?
If you have severe osteoarthritis and are still working, your symptoms may interfere with your working life and may affect your ability to do your job. If you have to stop work or work part time because of your arthritis, you may find it hard to cope financially.
Is osteoarthritis classed as a disability?
Is Osteoarthritis a Disability? Osteoarthritis can be considered a disability by the SSA. You can get Social Security disability with osteoarthritis. When you apply for disability benefits, your diagnosis and medical evidence to back up your diagnosis needs to match a listing outlined in the SSA’s Blue Book.
Is arthritis a disability at work?
To be officially considered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your doctor must first diagnose you as having a disability. If you have limited mobility, significant pain or moderate to severe arthritis, you probably qualify.
How does osteoarthritis affect your ability to work?
If you have osteoarthritis in your shoulders, arms, or hands, your RFC assessment may limit the work you can do that involves lifting, reaching, typing, writing, or grabbing. This would make it difficult to do many jobs, even sedentary jobs. If you can’t do even sedentary work, the SSA should find you disabled.
Does osteoarthritis hurt all the time?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that worsens over time, often resulting in chronic pain. Joint pain and stiffness can become severe enough to make daily tasks difficult.
What should you not do with osteoarthritis?
Busting three arthritis food myths Citrus fruits cause inflammation. Some people believe that they should avoid citrus fruits because the acidity is inflammatory. Avoiding dairy helps with osteoarthritis. There are also claims that avoiding dairy can help with osteoarthritis. Nightshade vegetables cause inflammation.
What are the 4 stages of osteoarthritis?
The four stages of osteoarthritis are: Stage 1 – Minor. Minor wear-and-tear in the joints. Little to no pain in the affected area. Stage 2 – Mild. More noticeable bone spurs. Stage 3 – Moderate. Cartilage in the affected area begins to erode. Stage 4 – Severe. The patient is in a lot of pain.
Can I get a blue badge if I have osteoarthritis?
You may be eligible for a blue badge, meaning you can park closer to where you need to go. If you claim benefits like Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, or you have difficulty getting around because of your arthritis, then this will support your application.
How hard is it to get disability for osteoarthritis?
In order to be approved for SSDI benefits, your documentation and medical records will need to show that you meet one or more of the listing requirements and that the pain you suffer from osteoarthritis is severe enough to keep you from working and it impacts your ability to perform your routine daily tasks.
Has anyone got PIP for arthritis?
The latest figures from the DWP show that over 54,000 Scots are successfully claiming PIP for some form of arthritis, including: Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Spondyloarthropathies.
Is arthritis considered a disability?
Many people may wonder is arthritis a disability. Yes. Arthritis can prompt incapacity, as can numerous other mental and physical conditions. If your arthritis confines your daily movements, or activities you may qualify for disability benefits.
Can osteoarthritis make you feel unwell?
It causes inflammation and may make people feel sick, tired and sometimes feverish, among other symptoms. Some younger people get osteoarthritis from a joint injury, but osteoarthritis most often occurs in people over 40.
What is end stage osteoarthritis?
Eventually, at the end stage of arthritis, the articular cartilage wears away completely and bone on bone contact occurs. The vast majority of people diagnosed have osteoarthritis and in most cases the cause of their condition cannot be identified. One or more joints may be affected.
How quickly does osteoarthritis spread?
Generally, radiological lesions gradually and slowly increase. However, the pace of this progression can be very variable. In extreme cases, some cases of osteoarthritis may remain stable for decades, while others progress very rapidly to complete destruction of the cartilage in the space of a few months.
Can you end up in a wheelchair with osteoarthritis?
Pain, stiffness, or difficulty moving could affect your mobility, making tasks like walking or driving very difficult. You may need to use a cane, walker, or wheelchair to get around.
What does the beginning of osteoarthritis feel like?
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and sometimes stiffness in the affected joints. The pain tends to be worse when you move the joint or at the end of the day. Your joints may feel stiff after rest, but this usually wears off fairly quickly once you get moving.
Does walking worsen osteoarthritis?
On the one hand you have osteoarthritis of the back and hips, and power walking on hard surfaces is likely to aggravate it. On the other hand you have early osteoporosis, and weight bearing exercise is recommended to delay further bone loss.
Why is my osteoarthritis so painful?
Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in a joint to become stiff and lose its elasticity, making it more susceptible to damage. Over time, the cartilage may wear away in some areas, greatly decreasing its ability to act as a shock absorber. As the cartilage wears away, tendons and ligaments stretch, causing pain.
How bad can osteoarthritis get?
Once OA starts, it can take years or even decades to reach severe joint damage. If severe joint damage develops, and symptoms are affecting your overall well-being and quality of life, surgery or joint replacement may help.
Can you live a long life with osteoarthritis?
The good news is that you can live — and live well — with osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. You can get relief from its pain and its consequences. This Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School will show you how.
Will osteoarthritis cripple me?
Osteoarthritis is rarely crippling, but it can have a major impact on a person’s life. Many people miss work days or skip favorite activities when the pain flares up. The condition is responsible for more than 27.5 million outpatient visits per year, according to data from the Arthritis Foundation.
