Disorders leading to chronic pain are fairly common in the United States. For instance, statistics from 2021 show that around 51.6 million Americans—20.9% of the adult population in the United States—experience chronic pain to some degree. The study also showed that 6.9% of Americans, or around 17.1 million individuals, had “high-impact chronic pain.” This was defined as pain that restricted their ability to participate in normal daily activities, such as going to work.
That being said, chronic pain can be a rather tricky condition. It may not have any external symptoms, making it something of an invisible disability. To a third party, the individual may appear healthy and capable of working or enjoying life. However, that person may actually be suffering from endless pain that significantly limits their abilities, and they understand just how serious it is.
So, if you’re in this position and you want to seek disability benefits, how do you prove that you have chronic pain?
Medical evidence
The key is to gather objective medical evidence that can be submitted to the Social Security Administration. This could include things like laboratory findings, medical scans, your medical history records and even statements you’ve made about the intensity of the pain you experience.
Often, the key is to work with accredited medical professionals who can make statements on your behalf. They may be able to diagnose you with a condition that causes the pain, such as fibromyalgia. They may also identify other symptoms, such as inflammation, that could be related to your pain. Having a statement from a medical professional that verifies your experience of chronic pain carries far more weight than simply making the claim yourself.
The process of seeking benefits can be complex. Take the time to carefully explore your legal options.