What Is Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDD), refers to a syndrome in which a compromised disc causes lower back pain, particularly in the lumbar spine (lower back area). As we age, the intervertebral disk could lose fluid and become dried out causing the disk to compress. As a result, this may cause deterioration of the tough outer ring allowing the nucleus, or the inside of the ring, to bulge out. This would be considered a bulging disk.
As the disc continues to degenerate, or with continued stress on the spine, the inner nucleus pulposus may actually rupture out from the annulus. This is considered a ruptured, or herniated, disk.
Signs & Symptoms of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
The symptoms of lumbar disk disease vary depending on where the disk has herniated, and what nerve root it is pushing on. The following are the most common symptoms of lumbar disk disease. However, each individual may experience different symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- Intermittent or continuous back pain. This may be made worse by movement, coughing, sneezing, or standing for long periods of time.
- Spasm of the back muscles
- Pain that starts near the back or buttock and travels down the leg to the calf or into the foot.
- Muscle weakness in the legs
- Numbness in the leg or foot
- Decreased reflexes at the knee or ankle
- Changes in bladder or bowel function
Treatment for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Specific treatment for lumbar disk disease will be determined by your health care provider based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the condition
- Type of condition
- Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the condition
- Your opinion or preference
Typically, conservative therapy is the first line of treatment to manage lumbar disk disease. This may include a combination of the following:
- Bed rest
- Patient education on proper body mechanics (to help decrease the chance of worsening pain or damage to the disk)
- Physical therapy, which may include ultrasound, massage, conditioning, and exercise programs
- Weight control
- Use of a lumbosacral back support
- Medications (to control pain and/or to relax muscles)
Eligibility Criteria for Disability Tax Credit for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
To be eligible for this tax credit program, a patient with degenerative disc disease would most likely qualify under the disability section entitled walking impairment. You must have difficulties performing daily activities and have a medical doctor or a qualified practitioner sign this form.
*A walking impairment means that it must take an inordinate amount of time to walk, even with appropriate therapy, medication, and devices. These devises include canes and walkers for example. To be considered as markedly restricted, you must have difficulties walking 100 metres.
Click Here To Check Your Eligibility for Disability Tax Credit for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
How To Apply for Disability Tax Credit for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
To apply, our experts will assist you in filling out form T2201 where you will need to get your medical practitioner to complete this form. This will ask your doctor to describe how you are impaired by your disability. It is important to be descriptive in this section as a patient can be affected in a variety of ways by degenerative disc disease.
Disability Tax Credit Consultants at DCC can help to +claim this tax credit and collect up to $40,000 in disability tax credits.