Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. It is mainly known for causing pain and swelling in the wrists and small joints of o the hand and feet when the immune system is not working properly. Though RA can have a huge effect on your life, there are treatments out there that can help with joint pain and swelling. Today, about 1.3 million Americans are affected by RA and about 75% are women.
A rheumatologist may tell you that one of the best things you can do for your RA is to remain physically active, but sometimes activities can be majorly impacted when your disease flares. When a joint is inflamed or you feel tired because of the symptoms of RA, it is difficult to participate in any activity and you may feel as if you just want to rest. When you have been diagnosed with a life-changing disease that may be difficult to manage at first, you may wonder what to do when the disease flares and it is impossible to focus at work. Every year, handfuls of people find it nearly impossible to return to work when their RA is leaving a huge impact on their lives. But are they eligible for long-term disability?
How RA Impacts Your Ability to Work
Everybody is affected differently by his or her RA. If your RA is causing you to suffer from severe symptoms, your daily life could be impacted in a huge way – from causing you achiness, crushing fatigue, and leaving a huge impact on your mobility and ability to function. You may find that the malaise associated with the disease makes it impossible to focus for a long time, affecting your concentration in ways you could have never imagined. This means that you might experience daily limitations in the workplace, from not being able to stand for long periods of time or having to leave frequently for medical treatment, as some people will need dialysis if it affects their kidneys. If you type at a desk, you will even find that you could be impacted, as your fingers and wrists may not be able to move well most days.
So, can you be approved for long-term disability if RA is having a huge, lasting impact on your life and interfering with the way that you complete work? A big part of qualifying for long-term disability benefits is having the right evidence in your medical records, which means that it starts with your doctor. For Social Security to review your claim, this means that you should have records that detail your disease like imaging results, mobility evaluations, blood work that documents autoimmune types, and other lab work that shows what level your disease is functioning at.
It can also help to keep a diary of all symptoms that you experience on a daily basis and enlist in the help of an attorney who understands you are suffering from a very real disease that negatively impacts you from day to day. At Edelstein Martin & Nelson, we understand your case and how RA can affect every aspect of your life, making it difficult to remain at work in some cases. Call us today for more information on how we can help at 800-300-0909.
Sources:
https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Rheumatoid-Arthritis
http://www.philadelphiadisabilityinsurancelawyer.com/
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