Sometimes things get a bit complicated, and usually, when they do, you just reach out for help. But what happens when the person who was helping you is the reason you’re experiencing these… complications? Many people undergo surgery for different reasons, and sometimes that means the patient was eligible for disability prior to the surgery, and other times they were expecting to get right back to work.
Many people who experience surgery complications find themselves wondering about their disability application and eligibility. Our Milwaukee disability attorneys are here to help clear up some questions regarding SSDI and what to expect when handling your complications from the surgery.
Were You Eligible for Disability Before the Complications?
Many people are already eligible for disability when they go in for surgery. If that’s the case, then adding your complications to your case is a small step. You simply need to work with the SSDI office or your SSDI attorney to ensure that you can update them on all the information. Of course, they’ll also review updates to your medical files.
Often the question here is why you hadn’t returned to work when initially planned. That question arises when people fail to inform the disability office of the need for continued treatment and continued benefits.
The Tether Between Patient’s Disabilities and Surgery Complications
There are times when the disability itself doesn’t arise until complications with surgery. For example, many people every year go in to have surgery for an ingrown toenail. Now, if something were to go wrong during surgery or recovery, and you lost a toe, you might need disability. There might be a problem with balancing that prevents you from returning to work or struggles with the presence of other new challenges.
Many people forget how often a complication can lead to a disability. It is almost as common as going the other way for support. That you may need more guidance on managing their recovery; however, this situation is different from the possibility of comorbidity.
There are also times when surgery just goes terribly wrong. Doctors that operate on the wrong leg, or the wrong section of the spine, and other disasters are known to happen from time to time. One such situation got quite a bit of attention in the UK when a doctor chose to remove a woman’s ovaries without consent. Another well-known situation of surgeries gone wrong involved a Texas doctor who botched so many surgeries, he went to jail on multiple assault convictions and for the death of one patient.
Comorbidity and Complications
There are many issues with comorbidity appearing only after surgery, particularly when there were complications. It may be an opportunity to update your disability request or to initiate an application when you may have previously thought that you didn’t have access to it.
Recent studies showed that the patients complaining after a surgery with complications often led to additional disabilities. Those additional disabilities could have spurred from previously undiagnosed conditions or as a direct result of another condition, which was believed to have no presence or role in this surgery.
Aftercare Complications Such As Infected Stitches
Some things, such as infections, can stem from associated risk factors. That doesn’t disqualify you from accessing disability. However, things like infections don’t often lead people to disability applications. It is possible to recover from infected stitches quickly, but it’s also very possible to lose a limb from an infection. You’d have never guessed that something like smoking could put you at greater risk for infection, but this is one of many factors that can play a role in your complications.
Even when filing for disability, there shouldn’t be any blame put on your part. The disability office can’t say, “You forgot to wash out your stitches, so no disability benefits for you.”
Can You Get Disability with These Complications?
The answer depends on your exact situation. Disability requirements demand that you be unable to work for at least 12 months or that you’re unable to return to work with other elements involved. Wisconsin has an extensive volume of denied disability claims, and it is usually because of a connection between the information available on the application and the medical history.
It’s vital that you update your application with any complications that arose from your surgery. Or, that you clearly layout when your injuries started. At Tabak Law, we’ll walk you through the application and address how you should prioritize the information related to your injuries, complications, and ability to return to work.