Chronic Pain & Long-Term Disability Claims
Chronic Pain & Long-Term Disability Claims – Contact Tim Louis
Suffering injuries from an accident or mishap can be a frustrating experience. Ongoing chronic
pain some individuals experience is a general term but is a reality that numerous accident
victims have to learn to cope with even after fulfilling their medical treatments.
If you find it challenging to get through the workday and cannot fulfill your daily work-related
duties or function day-to-day, you are not alone. According to the Canadian Pain Task Force
Report (Sept 2020), an estimated 7.63 million, or 1 in 4 Canadians aged 15 or older, live with
chronic pain.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is the result of changes within the nervous system. The nerves continue to fire and signal, leading to pain that remains long after an injury has healed. It may take weeks, months,or even years to completely heal. Lingering chronic pain can take control of your life and causefurther damage, especially to your mental state. Chronic pain can result from a musculoskeletal
injury, nervous system dysfunction, chronic diseases, and autoimmune disorders.
In 2019 chronic pain was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a disease inits own right for the first time, resulting in updates to the latest (11th) version of the InternationalClassification of Diseases (ICD-11). This distinction is significant as it validates the struggle forthe millions of people around the world who are living with chronic pain.
Chronic pain is classified as chronic primary pain or chronic secondary pain. Acute pain is short-lived and typically lasts no more than 30-60 days, whereas chronic secondary pain can range in intensity and lasts from 6 months or longer.
Chronic Pain Education & Support
For more information, we highly suggest visiting Pain BC, a non-profit, helpful organization that
works to reduce the burden of chronic pain for individuals in BC. They empower people who live
with pain; providing them with a wide variety of helpful, informative resources and the support
required to enhance their well being: https://www.painbc.ca
The Most Common Claims Associated with Chronic Pain
Several injuries are commonly associated with long-term disability claims:
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Pain stemming from Fibromyalgia
- Recurring headaches and migraines
- Cancer pain
- Arthritic pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Pain associated with Lupus
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
Symptoms of chronic pain include:
- Burning sensation
- Sensitivity to touch, cold, heat, and more
- Flare-ups
- Dull Ache
- Throbbing
- Soreness
- Stiffness
What Causes Chronic Pain?
- Repetitive stress injury, including carpal or cubital tunnel problems
- Respiratory problems
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia
- Neurological problems
- Loss of hearing and vision
- Chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident
Filing a Long Term Disability Claim for Chronic Pain
If chronic pain has affected your ability to continue working, you may have the option of
receiving long-term disability benefits if you are covered under such a policy through your
employer. You must however present verification that chronic pain has resulted in the inability to
continue working. The evidence required depends on the nature of your condition and any other
associated ailments.
What You Need to Provide for Filing a Long-Term Disability Claim
To file a disability claim for chronic pain, you must document your symptoms and experiences
and discuss them with a medical professional. Your doctor will assess your medical history and
order x rays, tests, and/or scans to determine if there is joint or tissue damage that may explain
your pain.
Examples of documentation that may be required:
- Any physician statements and an official diagnosis
- A journal documenting your pain over time
- Test results
- Information about your history of treatment
- Witness statements from family, friends, and or co-workers who can attest to your
condition affecting your ability to work and function day-to-day. - Any accidental reports
Our Law Firm Provides Results-Oriented Representation for Even the Most Complex Cases.
Do not give up hope if your long-term disability benefits have been denied. If you have been
experiencing chronic pain that has affected your ability to function personally or professionally
and would like to discuss legal options, the compassionate team at Tim Louis Law & Company
will provide you with a free, no-obligation evaluation. We represent clients in a broad range of
injury claims and will take all necessary steps to obtain fair and full compensation for injuries.
Contact us today by calling 604-732-7678 or email us at timlouis@timlouislaw.com
Sources:
https://www.iasp-pain.org/PublicationsNews/NewsDetail.aspx?ItemNumber=8340
