Arachnoiditis is an excruciating condition and can surely interfere with one's ability to work. If you or someone you care for is suffering from Arachnoiditis, continue reading for how the SSA will evaluate your claim for disability benefits.
What is Arachnoiditis?
When the arachnoid, a membrane that protects the nerves of the spinal cord, becomes inflamed, it causes severe stinging, burning pain, and neurological issues (Via WebMD ).
The arachnoid mater has a spider-web appearance (hence its name) that connects the dura mater and pia mater.
Arachnoid, dura, and pia are all meninges whose primary function is to protect and support the central nervous system (via ThoughtCo ).
When the meninges are compromised, the central nervous system is exposed. This results in inflammation, scar tissue, and chronic pain.
Symptoms of Arachnoiditis
According to the NIH, arachnoiditis develops differently in each individual.
Symptoms may begin as a slow evolution of back and leg pain, accompanied by deficits, following a precipitating event, or they may arise at a time when establishing the cause is impossible.
Lumbar and thoracic spinal involvement are the most common, with the entire spine rarely being involved.
Disabling chronic back pain, numbness, paresthesias, myeloradiculopathy symptoms of the lower limb, bladder or bowel dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, difficulty sitting for long periods, and muscle weakness are all symptoms.
Via NIH - National Library of Medicine.
Causes of Arachnoiditis
Spinal cord injury, chemicals, infections, chronic nerve root compression of spinal nerves, or complications from invasive spinal surgery can cause arachnoiditis.
Furthermore, there is concern that epidural steroid injections contain chemicals that may cause Arachnoiditis (Via WebMD ).
Types of Arachnoiditis
There are different types of Arachnoiditis: adhesive arachnoiditis (AA), arachnoiditis ossificans, cerebral arachnoiditis, hereditary arachnoiditis, neoplastic arachnoiditis, optochiasmatic arachnoiditis, postmyelographic arachnoiditis, and rhinosinusogenic cerebral arachnoiditis.
Chronic Adhesive Arachnoiditis cases were first seen 20-30 years ago when Pantopaque dye was first used for myelograms.
But with the introduction of the MRI, new cases of AA decreased.
Unfortunately, with the use of epidural corticosteroid injections, new diagnoses of AA continue.
Treatment for Arachnoiditis
Arachnoiditis is known to clinicians as one of the worst pain conditions Via Practical Pain Management ).
Chronic pain management (nerve blocks, medications), physical therapy (hydrotherapy), stretching, and psychotherapy for mental health are all treatment options, as well as a spinal cord stimulator (The Cleveland Clinic).
Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration offers two types of benefits to individuals found to be disabled: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSDI is based on your work history, while SSI is a need-based program.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on the FICA credits from the work you have done previously.
SSDI monthly benefits are the amount that you would receive if you waited until full retirement age to retire, except that you are drawing them early due to your disability.
With each paycheck, employees pay FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes, which include Social Security taxes. FICA taxes are how a worker earns Social Security credits.
You must be found disabled before your date last insured (DLI) to be found eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance. In other words, you must be found disabled before your credits run out.
Your DLI is calculated by counting your “quarters of coverage” from your earnings record. You must have 20 “quarters of coverage” of the last 40 quarters.
You must have worked for at least 5 years out of the previous 10 years (in general) to be eligible for SSDI.
Additionally, adult children with disabilities may be eligible for benefits from their parents’ accounts.
After receiving SSDI benefits for 24 months, a claimant becomes eligible for Medicare coverage.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a need-based program, and you must meet income/asset standards in addition to being found disabled under the five steps below.
If you have not paid Social Security taxes (work credits) to qualify for SSDI or if your SSDI monthly payment is low enough, you will need to apply for SSI.
In 2025, SSI is $967 a month for an individual and $1,450.00 for an eligible couple.
SSI is reduced by 1/3 if you are receiving financial help from others.
In NC, SSI recipients are also entitled to Medicaid.
The first step is to apply for benefits online, by phone, or at your local SSA office. After you apply for benefits, your case will be sent to your local equivalent of Disability Determination Services (DDS) (different states have different names for DDS).
DDS will gather your records and request that you complete various forms.
For more on the process, read Social Security Disability.
Arachnoiditis & Disability
As we have discussed before, the name of your impairment is usually not as important as the severity of your symptoms.
Severity is key. Are your Arachnoiditis symptoms preventing you from working?
If so, there are three ways to attain Social Security Disability based on Arachnoiditis: The SSA Listings, the Grid Rules, and a combination of your impairments.
The SSA Listings
Social Security evaluates spinal nerve disorders that originate in the nervous system (spinal arachnoiditis), under the neurological disorders body system, 11.00.
These listings require both objective medical evidence (e.g., MRI, myelogram, blood work showing elevated inflammation markers, physical exam findings) and subjective proof (e.g., your symptoms, response to ongoing treatment) of your severe arachnoiditis.
In addition to proving that you have arachnoiditis, you also have to meet 11.08 to be found disabled under the listings.
Listing 11.08, Spinal Cord Disorders, requires a complete loss of function or extreme disorganization of motor function in two extremities or a combination of marked physical and mental dysfunction.
This listing, like most listings, is complicated to meet. You will be unable to work long before you meet the listing due to pain and loss of function.
The Grids
The Medical Vocational Guidelines (The Grids) may help if you are 50 or older and have difficulty standing, sitting, or walking due to severe pain.
SSA will use your residual functional capacity to determine if you are disabled under The Grids.
Younger and more educated individuals will find little help from The Grids.
A Combination of your impairments
You may also be found disabled based on the combination of your impairments. In addition to arachnoiditis, you may have syringomyelia, degenerative disc disease, or other medical conditions.
If the symptoms or complications from all your impairments prevent you from working (making substantial gainful activity), SSA may consider you disabled.
However, you must have medical evidence to support your Social Security Disability claim.
In my practice, I have only seen one or two individuals with arachnoiditis. In those cases, the arachnoiditis arose from chronic compression of the spinal nerves (spinal stenosis). These clients described extreme (electric shock-type) pain that was almost impossible to endure.
Even if you do not meet the requirements of Listing 11.08, you should still apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as possible.
You may have to appeal to a hearing with a Social Security Administrative Law Judge.
Also, AA is a rare disorder, and it would help your case immensely to obtain an opinion from your doctor explaining how AA is affecting you and your ability to work.
If you have been assessed with Arachnoiditis and are unable to work, The Bishop Law Firm represents Social Security Disability clients in Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, Cary, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Smithfield, Louisburg, Chapel Hill, Roanoke Rapids, Winston Salem, Garner, Greensboro, Greenville, and surrounding areas in North Carolina.
Call us today for a free case review, (919) 615-3095, or start online now.
