| Legal Author: Travis Hansen, Esq.

How To Get Social Security Disability/SSI Benefits: Wrist Pain

Winning Your Wrist Case

Social Security disability and SSI benefits for a wrist impairment will be paid to you or your child if Social Security's Non-Medical Criteria and Disability Criteria are satisfied.

Satisfying the disability criteria necessitates that -

You are familiar with the basic aspects of your wrist impairment (discussed on this page),
You suffer disabling Functional Limitations (discussed on the next page), and
You Submit Winning Evidence in your case (discussed on the next, next page).

Know To Win

Non-Medical Criteria

Disability Criteria

Wrist

Functional Limitations

Submit Winning Evidence

Overview

There are a variety of wrist conditions that can serve as a basis for your Social Security disability and SSI benefits case that include but are not limited to the following:

Breaks/Fractures,
Burns,
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/RSD,
Deformities,
Gout,
Neuropathy,
Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD),
Psoriatic Arthritis,
Rheumatoid Arthritis, and
Skin Conditions.

Whatever your wrist impairment, you will need to submit to Social Security evidence of your diagnosis which is usually done with an MRI or an x-ray. An MRI will demonstrate a far superior imaging of your wrist, so an MRI will give Social Security a better understanding of your wrist condition. You will also need to submit to Social Security your medical records showing ongoing symptoms which usually include -

Pain;
numbness;
Tingling;
Reduced range of motion;
Weakness;
Muscle atrophy; and
Reduced ability to lift, carry, reach, handle, and perform fine manipulation.

Wrist braces are very common. If you need braces, get a statement from your doctor they are necessary. The need for braces is very important to Social Security because braces restrict your movement and limit your abilities.

To be found disabled with a wrist impairment, you will generally need to show very severe symptoms in the bilateral wrist to be found disabled under age 50. Bilateral upper extremity use will need to be limited to about 15%. If you have over age 50, you can be found disabled if only one wrist is affected. Symptoms will need to be severe, and necessary severity of your wrist condition will be directly related to your past work and other work.

There is no listing for a wrist condition generally. However, there are listings related to specifc medical conditions/diagnosis that affect the wrist.

Surgeries

A wrist surgery is an indication to Social Security that you have an impairment that is more severe than if you did not have a wrist surgery. If you have had a surgery, the presumption is that has helped you - it cured your wrist impairment. If your surgery did not help you, or made your condition worse (a failed surgery), you will need medical evidence to prove it which is usually an x-ray or MRI. Again, an MRI is better. A failed surgery is further proof that your condition is severe. A recommendation of a surgery, even if the surgery was not done, is an indication of impairment severity, and this medical evidence should be submitted to Social Security.

Carpal tunnel release. This is by far the most common type of wrist condition and surgery - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Wrist fusion. This is a rare surgery. Damaged cartilage, tissue, and bone is removed, and bones are joined with plates and screws until they grow together (fusion).

Wrist replacement. This is also a rare surgery. The damaged portion of the arm and hand is removed, the bone is cut away, and a metal prosthesis is put in place with screws or cement-like material.