Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine causing pain and stiffness in the entire spine and somtimes involving the shoulders, hips and chest wall. The cause is unknown. As opposed to other forms of arthritis ankylosing spondylitis often occurs in younger persons, between 18 to the upper 40’s. The cause is unknown, but may be present in families. It worsens and progresses slowly over time causing loss of movement in the neck and back. The back loses its normal curve causing indivudals to to walk in a bent-forward stooped position which makes it hard for them to walk. Also, the small joints in the chest may become involved causing some to have difficulty breathig. Various forms of therapy can be tried, but usually are of no great and lasting benefit.
The diagnosis is made by the person’s symptoms, findings on the physical exam, and x-rays.
If one’s symptoms prevent them from continuing to perform their work duties, then applying for social security disability should be considered. An attorney familiar with disability cases should be used from the beginning to help guide you through the difficult process of applying. He will assist you in obtaining all your medical records and generally help you to understand the steps involved. In general, the younger you are, the harder it is to obtain disability benefits while it is somewhat easier in the older individual. In cases of back pain the important point the state disability agency wants to know is how many hours you can walk over a normal working day. Social security uses what is known as a “grid” which is used to gauge your overall impairment: this involves your age, past work history and amount of education. All this is then tied in with their assessment of how long you can walk over a working day. As an example, if it is determined that you are limited to standing and walking signficantly under 2 out of 8 hours, then the chances for receiving benefits would be increased.