I’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc and while I’ve been able to take care of it to the point where the pains gone now, I’m anticipating that it’ll suddenly come back at some point in future and make me unable to work.(currently uni student) When it’s bad, it’s seriously bad – pain radiating all the way down to my foot, can’t do anything else but lay in bed all day in agony basically. Last time it happened it didn’t go away for 3 months or so. Still hurts occasionally.
I was thinking that getting 障害年金 might be a good option to have as a safety net in case it gets really bad, but the standards for getting it seems tough. I don’t have any pain right now, so I technically am not eligible for it since it requires you to have a disability that disrupts your daily life. But again, herniated discs don’t get better, only worse. It’s a matter of time until it comes back. Should I lie a little and say that it hurts all the time? The pain does go on and off a lot. Id appreciate some input from anyone with experience in this.
5 comments
I think you first need to be classed as 障害者. Yes, it is difficult to be classified as that–and there are several levels (or more) of supposed disability.
For a very few conditions it is almost automatic (becoming classed as 一級, 二級, etc), but for other conditions (e.g., stroke), where it takes time to recover and/or to see what your actual permanent disability level will actually be (if at all), can easily take months or longer. For a pain condition that apparently comes and goes–is not permanent–it will be difficult.
You need to be medically diagnosed, and then (I think) treated for a problem. So I’d wonder if, besides your diagnosis, have you had corrective surgery? Unless it is classed as inoperable, you almost certainly have to try to have it fixed first.
Herniated discs can be fixed, quite easily. There are several treatments that involve gel injections into the disc directly, which causes a full heal of the herniated disc. The treatment isn’t covered by insurance in Japan, so it’s quite expensive, but it’s also available in the EU.
Go see a doctor at St Luke’s and find out about surgical options. Plenty of people have solved their spinal issues and lived functional lives. Alternatively your local 整形 clinic can do rehab and physio
This is manageable, I have 3 HD. Focus on Pilates, stretching and core work. Also, functional training is your best friend now. You won’t be able to get surgery, it’s really a last resort.
Go to a foreigner owned exercise place/clinic they have better education on this type of injury. The Japanese places tell you to just rest which is the worst for it, movement is better for recovery. If you can swim, do that also
I have 障害年金。
First, you need to be diagnosis as a 障害者 by your doctor. You need to be going to the same doctor for treatment for a consecutive 6 months before you can apply for 障害者。
The application for 障害者 is filled out by your doctor. I think it’s about 3-4 pages long and it describes how your disability effects your daily life and your ability to work. The application may also require some x-rays or some MRI scans.
Next, you submit the 障害者 application to the 障碍(がい)福祉課 of your city hall. *If* your application is approved (it can be denied), you’ll be issued a 障害者手帳。The 手帳 will list your level of disability:
3級 is the lowest rank. It means you have a disability, but that disability doesn’t hinder you from being able to work. You cannot get 障害年金 with 3級。
2級 means you have a disability and you need assistance with in your daily life. You’re not incapacitated, but you’re not able to work.
1級 you’re incapacitated and you’re unable to work because you need 24/7 assistance.
It takes several months from the doctor filling in the application form to your submitting it at your city hall, to receiving a 障害者手帳, to applying for 障害年金, to actually getting any money. Probably a year to a year and a half, I think.
There’s no appeal process of you’re denied a 障害者手帳 or 障害年金 or you don’t agree with the rank they’ve assigned you.
[These](https://hyogo-osaka-shogai.com/wp/category/3322) are the requirements for a herniated disc for each rank for the 障害者手帳. Talk with your doctor first if you think you meet them.