January « 2011 « Disability Blog

Archive for January, 2011

Take advantage of all resources when researching, planning for disability

Monday, January 31st, 2011

When you enter the world of disability benefits, it’s easy to become confused. The variety of agencies, bureaus and offices; the forms, paperwork, and regulations: together, everything can seem like a maze.

We have a wealth of resources available at this site, plus our blogs often link to useful, informative external sites.

Glossary more useful than one might think

A sometimes overlooked resource is our glossary, where you can find often used terms, perform a glossary search, or browse by alpha-sorted topics. When researching disabilities, symptom or benefits, it’s pretty common to encounter unknown or confusing terms. If that happens, the glossary is a good first place to start because it’s not limited to simple definitions–you can also learn about related items or processes.

SSA rules the benefits world

For anyone needing information on any program or benefits overseen by the Social Security Administration, the obvious starting place is the SSA’s homepage, which has many useful links, such as:

Apply for benefits

Apply for Medicare

Estimate your retirement benefits

Get help with your situation

Strict criteria

However, there are also more specific, targeted pages. Here’s the SSA’s main disability page, including this intro copy:

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. [Although] these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need.

When you apply for either program, we will collect medical and other information from you and make a decision about whether or not you meet Social Security’s definition of disability.

Use the Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool to find out which programs may be able to pay you benefits.

Everyone needs to consider the possibility of disability

The main SSDI page contains this important insight (emphasis added): “Disability is a subject you may read about in the newspaper, but not think of as something that might actually happen to you. But your chances of becoming disabled are probably greater than you realize.

“Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3-in-10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

“[Although] we spend a great deal of time working to succeed in our jobs and careers, few of us think about ensuring that we have a safety net to fall back on should we become disabled . . . .”Another helpful site is that of the CDA, the Council for Disability Awareness. Its “Chances of Disability” page mirrors the language on the SSDI page:

You, disabled? What are your chances?

Higher than you probably think. You can ignore the problem, but it’s hard to ignore the facts:

Almost one-third of Americans entering the work force today (3 in 10) will become disabled before they retire.

Freak accidents are NOT usually the culprit. Back injuries, cancer, heart disease and other illnesses cause the majority of long-term absences.

Are you prepared if it happens to you? Probably not. If you’re like most Americans, you don’t have disability insurance. Or enough emergency savings to last 2½ years. Yes, that’s the duration of the average long-term disability.

Statistically speaking, disability planning makes sense

The site also has some interesting statistics on this page:

Disability statistics

It happens more often than you’d imagine:

Almost one-third of Americans entering the work force today (3 in 10) will become disabled before they retire.

Over 51 million Americans – 18% of the population – classify themselves as fully or partially disabled.

8 million disabled wage earners, over 5% of U.S. workers, were receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits at the conclusion of June, 2010.

In June of 2010, there were nearly 2.5 million disabled workers in their 20s, 30s, and 40s receiving SSDI benefits.

Chances of becoming disabled:

The following statistics come from CDA’s PDQ disability risk calculator:

A typical female, age 35, 5’4″, 125 pounds, non-smoker, who works mostly an office job, with some outdoor physical responsibilities, and who leads a healthy lifestyle has the following risks:

A 24% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer during her working career;

with a 38% chance that the disability would last 5 years or longer,

and with the average disability for someone like her lasting 82 months.

If this same person used tobacco and weighed 160 pounds, the risk would increase to a 41% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer.

A typical male, age 35, 5’10″, 170 pounds, non-smoker, who works an office job, with some outdoor physical responsibilities, and who leads a healthy lifestyle has the following risks:

A 21% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer during his working career;

with a 38% chance that the disability would last 5 years or longer,

and with the average disability for someone like him lasting 82 months.

If this same person used tobacco and weighed 210 pounds, the risk would increase a 45% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer.

It’s really never too early to plan for the future. That includes retirement planning as well as at least considering what we would do in the event of even a short-term disability.

Tags: benefits, Council for Disability Awareness, disability glossary, glossary, planning, resources, SSA, SSDI, SSI
Posted in Social Security Disability | Comments Off

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease and Receiving Social Security Disability

Friday, January 28th, 2011

: Image via Wikipedia

Your aortic valve is one of your heart’s four valves. It allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from your left ventricle into the largest artery of your body, the aorta. The blood is then transported to the rest of your body.

A normal aortic valve has three leaflets (cusps). These leaflets are what control the blood flow of your heart’s left ventricle.

Bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVD) is a group of conditions that affect your heart. People who have BAVD have only two leaflets in their aortic valve. With the passage of time, this can cause several different medical problems.

There are two kinds of bicuspid aortic valve disease that can bring about stress to your heart. The first is bicuspid aortic valve insufficiency. This is a condition in which your aortic valves do not close as tightly as they are supposed to. This lets blood backup into your heart. This is referred to as leakage or regurgitation.

The second kind of BAVD is bicuspid aortic valve stenosis. This condition is where there is a narrowing of your deformed aortic valve. This places greater stress on your heart’s left ventricle because it has to work harder to pump blood through your valve that has been narrowed.

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital (present at birth) heart defect. It is estimated that as many as 2% of the population of the United States have this heart defect. This condition is nearly twice as common in men as in women.

You may not have any signs and symptoms with bicuspid aortic valve disease. Some of the signs and symptoms that you may have are:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Aneurysms
Endocarditis (heart valve infection)
Kidney and liver cysts
Nearsightedness
Organs throughout your body may be affected
Shortness of breath, especially during any kind of exertion
Fainting or dizziness
Chest pain.

You or a loved one may be suffering with bicuspid aortic valve disease. This disease and/or complications resulting from it may be the reason for your disability and why you cannot work.

You may need help if this is true. You may need financial assistance.

Do you or your loved one intend to apply for the financial help that you need from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by bicuspid aortic valve disease and/or complications resulting from it? You or your loved one may have already taken this step and been denied by the Social Security Administration?

If you or your loved one is planning on appealing the denial by the Social Security Administration, think about this carefully. People who are represented by a disability lawyer like the one you will find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who do not have a disability attorney on their side.

Please do not wait. Contact a disability lawyer today.

Tags: Aneurysm, Aorta, Aortic valve, Disease, Health, heart disease, Heart valve, social security administration
Posted in Cardiovascular, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

Dissociative Identity Disorder and Receiving Social Security Disability

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

There are times when you may escape reality through reading a book or watching a movie. Dissociative disorder, however, is a broad term that refers to a form of mental illness where you escape reality in ways that are involuntary and unhealthy.

The word dissociation means the state of being separated or the act of separating. In psychology or psychiatry, dissociation is used to mean a mental response that diverts your consciousness away from traumatic or painful associations. In other words, dissociation is escaping painful associations of reality by going to another real or imaginary place. This may involve paralysis, shock, numbing, loss of speech or even loss of consciousness.

Dissociative disorder is a mental illness that is marked by an interruption of or a dissociation from the fundamental aspects of your waking consciousness. This involves things like your personal history or personal identity. This dissociation is thought to be a coping mechanism by which you literally dissociate yourself from some kind of experience or situation that is so traumatic that you are not able to integrate it with your conscious self.

Dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is one of the four primary types of dissociative disorder. The other three are dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue and depersonalization disorder.

Dissociative identity disorder is a disturbance of your identity where your behavior at various times is controlled by two or more separate and distinct personality identities or states. When you are being controlled by one identity, you probably will not remember things that happened while another personality was in control.

These different personalities are referred to as alters. These alters may have differences in mannerisms, thoughts, attitudes, gender orientation, speech and physical qualities like being left-or-right handed or needing prescriptions for glasses.

There are several signs and symptoms that you may have with dissociative identity disorder. These include:

§ Having two or more distinct or split personalities that have power over your behavior

§ Having highly distinct memory variations

§ An inability to remember key personal information

§ Phobias, anxiety and panic attacks

§ Rituals and compulsion

§ Mood swings

§ Drug and alcohol abuse

§ Depression

§ Sleep disorders including night terrors, sleepwalking and insomnia

§ Eating disorders

§ Time loss

§ Headaches

§ Amnesia

§ Suicidal tendencies

§ Psychotic symptoms that include visual and auditory hallucinations

§ Out of body experiences

§ Trances.

You or a loved one may have dissociative identity disorder. This disorder and/or complications resulting from it may be why you are disabled and need financial assistance.

You or your loved one may have turned to the Social Security Administration for financial help by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by dissociative identity disorder and/or complications resulting from this condition. Were you or your loved one denied?

If you or your loved one appeals the denial by the Social Security Administration, consider this. People represented by a disability lawyer like the one at Social Security Home are approved more often than people without a disability attorney.

Tags: Disorders, Dissociation, Dissociative, Dissociative disorder, Dissociative identity disorder, Health, Mental disorder, Mental health
Posted in Mental Disorders, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

Diabetic Hyperosmolar Syndrome and Receiving Social Security Disability

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

: Image via Wikipedia

Diabetes is a disease that affects millions and millions of people in America. It is estimated that there are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the world’s population, who have diabetes. Of this number, 14.6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes; however, 6.2 million people (nearly one-third) do not know that they have the disease.

Diabetes is really a set of related diseases in which your body cannot regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Glucose in your blood is what gives you the energy to do the physical activities of daily life. The glucose level in your blood is regulated by several hormones, one of which is insulin. People with diabetes either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly, or both.

There are different types of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is what most Americans are diagnosed with. It is a type of diabetes is which your body fails to properly use the insulin that is produced by your body. Type 1 diabetes is when your body fails to produce insulin.

Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome is a serious condition that happens most often in older adults. It is a complication of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. However, it occurs most often in people with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome is when your blood sugar level is over 600 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 33 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). At this level your blood becomes thick and syrupy. Excess sugar goes from your blood into your urine. This starts a filtering process that draws huge amounts of fluid out of your body.

Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome can take days or even weeks to develop. There are several possible signs and symptoms that may be an indication of it occurring. These include:

High blood sugar level
Warm, dry skin without sweating
Confusion
Vision loss
Dry mouth
Hallucinations
Weakness on one side of your body
Excessive thirst
Sleepiness
Convulsions
Coma
Fever
Increased urination.

You or a loved one may have had diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. Complications resulting from this condition may have caused you or your loved one to be disabled.

You or your loved one may need assistance if this is the case. You may need financial help.

You or your loved one may have decided to apply for the financial assistance that you need from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by complications resulting from diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. Have you or your loved one already applied and been turned down by the Social Security Administration?

If you or your loved one intends to reapply or appeal the denial, here is something important that you need to seriously consider. People who are represented by a disability attorney like the one you will find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who do not have a disability lawyer in their corner.

Tags: Blood sugar, Diabetes mellitus, Diabetes mellitus type 2, Health, Insulin, Pancreas, social security administration, United States
Posted in Endocrine, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Receiving Social Security Disability

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Connective tissue disease refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders. Some of these conditions are inherited, and some are acquired.

A connective tissue disease is any disease that has the connective tissues of your body as a primary target. Your connective tissues are the structural portions of your body. They essentially hold the cells of your body together. These connective tissues form a matrix, or framework, for your body.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited conditions that affect your connective tissues. Primarily, it affects your joints, blood vessel walls and skin.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is marked by genetic defects (mutations) disrupting the production of collagen. Collagen is one of the main components of connective tissue.

Several types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have been identified with different signs and symptoms. However, all types of this syndrome affect your joints, and most of them affect your skin.

Classical type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which used to be known as types I and II, affects about 1 in 10,000 to 20,000 people in the United States. Some of its signs and symptoms are:

Muscle pain and fatigue

Fragile skin that tears or bruises easily
Poor and slow wound healing that results in wide scarring
Loose joints
Heart valve problems (aortic root dilation and mitral valve prolapse)
Highly elastic, velvety skin
Noncancerous fibrous growths on pressure areas of your body like your knees and elbows
Redundant skin folds in places like your eyelids
Fatty growths on your forearms and shins.

Hypermobility type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which used to be known as type III, affects about 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 people in the United States. Signs and symptoms of this type include:

Chronic degenerative joint disease
Bruising easily
Unstable, loose joints with many dislocations
Advanced premature osteoarthritis that involves chronic pain
Heart valve problems, as mentioned with classic type
Muscle pain and fatigue.

Vascular type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which used to be called type IV, affects about 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 people in this country. It is rare, but it is one of the most serious types of EDS. Signs and symptoms include:

Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Heart valve problems
Fragile blood vessels and organs that are prone to rupture (tearing)
A characteristic facial appearance that includes sunken cheeks, thin lips and nose, small chin and protruding eyes
Thin, translucent skin that bruises easily.

There are other types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but they are extremely rare.

You or a loved one may have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. EDS and/or complications resulting from it may be why you are disabled and in need of financial help.

You or your loved one may have applied for financial assistance from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and/or complications resulting from it. Were you or your loved one denied?

If you or your loved one reapplies or appeals the denial, consider this. People who are represented by a disability attorney like the ones you can find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who do not have a disability lawyer.

Tags: Connective Tissue, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, Health, Heart valve, Pneumothorax, social security administration, United States
Posted in Connective Tissue Diseases, Impairments that Affect Multiple Body Systems, Musculoskeletal, Skin, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

Erythema Multiforme and Receiving Social Security Disability

Monday, January 24th, 2011

: Image via Wikipedia

Your skin is the outer covering of your body. It is the largest organ of your body. Your skin is part of your integumentary system. This is the organ system that protects your body from damage.

Your skin is composed of three layers. Each layer plays an important role. The outer layer of your skin is called the epidermis. It is the layer that you can see. New skin cells form at the bottom of your epidermis. The next layer of your skin is the dermis. It contains tiny blood vessels that keep your skin healthy by removing waste and bringing them the nutrients and oxygen that they need. The third layer of your skin is subcutaneous fat. It absorbs shocks and helps your body stay warm.

Erythema multiforme (EM) is the name that is given to a group of hypersensitivity medical disorders. It is marked by symmetric red, patchy lesions. These occur mostly on your legs and arms.

Erythema multiforme is a relatively common skin disorder. Although it can affect anyone at any time, erythema multiforme is most common in children and young adults. It is slightly more common in males than females.

Erythema multiforme is known by other names. It is also referred to as dermatostomatitis, erythema multiforme type, erythema multiforme bullosum, febrile mucocutaneous syndrome, herpes iris, erythema multiforme type and erythema polymorphe, erythema multiforme type.

There are several signs and symptoms that you may have with erythema multiforme. The primary indication is multiple skin lesions that:

May involve your lips or face
May appear as a macule, nodule or papule
Are usually symmetrical
Start quickly and may come back
Are located on your feet, hands, legs, arms, palms or upper body
May spread
May have blisters and vesicles of various sizes
Have a central lesion that is surrounded by pale red rings. This central lesion is also referred to as a target, bulls-eye or iris.

Other signs and symptoms that may occur include:

Aching in your joints
Discharge, burning and itchy of your eyes
Malaise (general sick feeling)
Dry eyes
Fever
Bloodshot eyes
Skin itching
Vision abnormalities
Sores in your mouth
Your eyes hurting.

You or a loved one may have erythema multiforme. This disorder and/or complications resulting from or the underlying condition that has caused it may have resulted in your disability and need for financial assistance.

You or your loved one may have applied for financial help from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by erythema multiforme and/or complications resulting from or the underlying condition that has caused it. Were you or your loved one turned down by the Social Security Administration?

If you or your loved one reapplies or appeals the denial, consider this. People who have a disability lawyer working for them like the one you will find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who are not represented by a disability attorney.

Tags: Cutaneous conditions, Erythema multiforme, Harvard Medical School, Health care, Infectious disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, social security administration, United States
Posted in Skin, Social Security Disability | Comments Off

Homeless? You may have more help than you realize

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011

Homeless people may have benefits they are not aware of–do you or your loved ones qualify for Social Security benefits? If so, here’s some important information.

By Mike Hinshaw

Despite increased awareness and efforts of many organizations, including the federal government, the number of homeless people in the U.S. is increasing. Some are returning military, some are newly jobless. Others have lost homes through foreclosure.

To be sure, some homeless folk tell social workers and other interviewers that they prefer their “unencumbered” lifestyle and are resistant to efforts to change their minds. How true that is, and how heavily influenced by extenuating circumstances such as substance abuse or mental health issues, we may never know. Regardless, it’s safe to say that most people want a safe, clean place to live–with access to decent food and medical care.

No home? No problem–Social Security benefits still obtain

What many people don’t realize is that being homeless does not preclude anyone from receiving any Social Security benefits for which they are otherwise eligible. However, a homeless person could inadvertently screw up and accept certain forms of aid that would hurt them when applying for benefits. Read closely.

The best news is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a program to help the homeless; following are their two main Web pages:

Social Security Online: Service to the Homeless
Social Security Online/Supplemental Security Income: SSI Spotlight on Homelessness.

One of the first things to know is that no one is required to have a dwelling place in order to receive correspondence or benefit checks from the SSA.

From the #2 Web page:

If you are homeless, some of the ways you can receive your SSI benefits. You may:
have your benefits deposited directly into your personal bank account;
have your benefits mailed to a third party; or
have a relative or other third party be assigned as your representative payee;
have your benefits directed to a Direct Express debit bank card.

However, some aid can deny SSA benefits

The next important thing–and this is crucial–is that living in some forms of public housing can lower the amount of benefits one may receive, or even disqualify one from receiving any benefits.

Again, from the same Web page:

Living in a shelter, medical treatment facility, or a correctional facility may affect your SSI benefits. Living in a public institution may make you ineligible for benefits.

However, some safe haven facilities provide very low cost supportive housing to homeless persons who are unwilling or unable to participate in mental health treatment programs or to receive other supportive services. A person living in a safe haven will not have his or her SSI payments reduced for the support and maintenance provided by the safe haven. Also, some publicly operated community residences are not considered public institutions for SSI purposes.

Dig deep, for help

Notice the wording: terms such as shelter, medical treatment facility and correctional facility mean something different from safe haven. Accordingly, the SSA recommends using resources they have on their Web pages as a starting place to help determine which types of shelters can be utilized without affecting one’s benefits.

Furthermore, the SSA “is an active participant in the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). The mission of the USICH is to ‘coordinate the Federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal Government in contributing to the end of homelessness.’ ” The USICH site has a link to what it labels (or shouts out, as it were) the “FIRST-EVER COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL STRATEGIC PLAN TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS,” a pdf. of a report entitled “Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.”

Helpful links

If you, or a person you are trying to help, is not familiar with a qualified local agency to answer questions, another place to start is the nearest HUD office. Through its Community Planning and Development division, HUD has several programs that can help, including preventive programs.

Another way to go may be contacting the appropriate state agency or nonprofit organization. For example, in addition to the HUD presence in Texas, there’s also the Texas Homeless Network. Try a Google search on “state name” + “homeless help” or “homeless resources.” A news search might turn up something useful, too.

For example, here’s a good, recent story (Jan. 15) about a helpful center in California. Some places tend to specialize: this Jan. 17 piece in Huffington Post is about a center in Denver called The Gathering Place, which is geared toward women and children and provides crucially necessary daytime services–one particularly touching story involves a woman whose big break was a seemingly small accomplishment that led to greater things. By being able to get a nice haircut, she changed her self image, which led to a job, which led to her getting a home she regards as permanent.

Immediate help

Although the main thrust here is to help inform about Social Security benefits that may be available, we also recognize that some readers may need to find survival help right now, either for themselves, a friend or a loved one. Toward that end, here’s some links for possible shelters right now, today, tonight:

Main link for this list, a .pdf file (which is not the only link at that site);
Homeless Shelters by State from DoSomething.org;
This list from a sorta’ goofy looking site that apparently means well, all about shelters and soup kitchens, apparently compiled by a guy who has lived the life and is trying to pay it forward. More power…

If I were homeless? I’d have a dog

Now, to show the diversity of available programs–and the lashback that can occur–I’ll close with this after-Christmas story, about a homeless guy who benefits from a program that helps tide him over when he needs help feeding…not himself…but his dog.

This strikes me right upside the head because last fall I was one eviction notice from joining the ranks of the homeless. Thank, God–the Justice of the Peace who heard the case knew the law well enough to deny the claim from my lender, who was pretending to be my “landlord.” That being said, let me tell you–as I was contemplating my possible future without a home, one thing I seized upon was this: IF I have to be homeless, I can guarantee you I shall have at least one dog with me. At all times…

So, no, I don’t think it’s “irresponsible” for the guy in that story to keep a dog. I think it’s a matter of survival. And it’s time more folks realize how many other good folks are trying merely to survive.

Tags: benefits, Community Planning and Development, correctional facility, debit bank card, foreclosure, homeless, homelessness, HUD, medical treatment facility, Opening Doors, personal bank account, representative payee, retire military, safe haven, shelter, SSA, SSDI, SSI, The Gathering Place, third party, unemployment, USICH
Posted in Impairments that Affect Multiple Body Systems, Mental Disorders, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income | Comments Off

Parietal Lobe Epilepsy and Receiving Social Security Disability

Friday, January 21st, 2011

: Image via Wikipedia

Epilepsy is a word that may scare you. The word “epilepsy” comes from a Greek word meaning “to possess, seize or hold.” Epilepsy is a medical disorder that has been greatly misunderstood. People with epilepsy are not “crazy”, and this condition is not contagious.

At any given time, about 50 million people have epilepsy worldwide. About 2.5 million of those people with epilepsy are in America. Over 180,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every year. Epilepsy usually begins in children or people over age 65, but it can begin at any age.

Epilepsy is actually a group of related disorders that are evidenced by recurring seizures. These related disorders may have widely different signs and symptoms, but they all involve episodic abnormal electrical activity in your brain. Epilepsy disrupts the transmission of electrical signals in your brain. When this happens a seizure takes place.

Your parietal lobe is situated right behind your frontal lobe. It plays an important part in the integration of sensory information, visuospatial processing (visual perception of spatial relationships among objects) and touch perception. If you are right-handed, your parietal lobe plays a role in mathematical skills, language and planned movements like writing.

Parietal lobe epilepsy is seizures that begin in the parietal lobe of your brain. It is a relatively rare kind of epilepsy. Parietal lobe epilepsy accounts for about 5% of all epilepsy.

There are several different signs and symptoms that you may have with parietal lobe epilepsy. Some of these are:

§ Visual hallucinations and illusions

§ Language problems like difficulty reading, doing simple math or understanding language or spoken words

§ Somatic illusions like feeling like a part of your body does not belong or is missing, or feeling like your posture is distorted

§ Feeling physical sensations of tingling and numbness, pressure, electricity or heat

§ Pain that moves in a pattern from your face to your hand, then up your arm and down your leg

§ Vertigo, a sensation that your environment is spinning or moving.

You or a loved one may have been diagnosed with parietal lobe epilepsy. This disorder and/or complications resulting from or other disabling conditions that you may have along with it may be the reason why you are disabled and not able to work.

If this is your situation, you may need assistance. You may need financial help.

You or your loved one may be thinking about applying for the financial assistance that you need from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by parietal lobe epilepsy and/or complications resulting from or other disabling conditions that you may have along with it. You or your loved one may have already tried this option and been denied by the Social Security Administration.

If you or your loved one is considering reapplying or appealing the denial, think about this. The truth is that people who are represented by a disability attorney like the one you will find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who do not have a disability lawyer on their side.

Tags: Conditions and Diseases, Epilepsy, Epileptic seizure, Frontal lobe, Health, Neurological Disorders, Parietal lobe, social security administration
Posted in Neurological, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

Blepharitis and Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

: Image via Wikipedia

Your eyelid is a thin fold of skin that protects and covers your eye. Your eyelid has the thinnest skin on your body with the exception of the prepuce (fold of skin covering the head of the penis) and the labia minora (lips of the female external genitalia).

It is very important for the front surface of your cornea and eyeball to stay moist. When you are awake, your eyelids do this all-important work for you by sweeping the secretions of your tear gland (lacrimal) apparatus and other glands over the surface at regular intervals. When you are asleep, your eyelids cover your eyes to help prevent evaporation.

Your eyelids allow you to blink. This helps keep dust and dirt out of your eyes. Blinking also helps protect your eyes from injuries that are caused by foreign bodies. Your eyelashes, which are a fringe of short hairs that grow on the edge of your eyelids, serve as a screen that prevents insects and dust particles from getting in your eyes when your eyelids are partially closed.

Blepharitis is a chronic (long-term) disease that causes inflammation of your eyelids. It is a common inflammatory disease. Blepharitis is characterized by your eyelids being inflamed and becoming flaky and scaly.

There are two forms of blepharitis. Posterior blepharitis affects your inner eyelid that contacts your eye. Anterior blepharitis affects the outside front of your eyelid. This is where your eyelashes attach.

There are several different signs and symptoms that are associated with blepharitis. Some of these include:

Recurrent infections
Redness of your eye itself
Gritty (foreign body) feeling
Swollen or red eyelids
Watery eyes
Frothy tears
Misdirected eyelashes (eyelashes that grow abnormally)
Dry eyes
Flakes or crusting on your eye lashes
Blurred vision
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Loss of your eyelashes
Itching
Burning.

You or a loved one may have blepharitis. Blepharitis and/or complications that have resulted from this disease or other underlying conditions that you have along with it may have brought about you or your loved one’s disability and inability to work.

You may need help if this is your situation. You may need financial assistance.

You or your loved one may have decided to apply for the financial help that you need from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by blepharitis and/or complications that have resulted from this disease or other underlying conditions that you have along with it. You or your loved one may have already applied, and your claim was turned down by the Social Security Administration.

If you or your loved one intends to reapply or appeal the denial, think about this important fact. The fact is that people who have a disability lawyer in their corner like the one you will find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who are not represented by a disability attorney.

Please do not hesitate. This is too important to you or your loved one. Contact us today.

Tags: Blepharitis, Eye, Eyelash, Eyelid, Inflammation, Photophobia, social security administration, Social Security Disability
Posted in Skin, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

Buccal Mucosa Cancer and Receiving Social Security Disability

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

Your cells are the primary building blocks of your body. This is where cancer begins. It develops from defects (mutations) that occur in your cells.

When the cancer process occurs, old cells do not die like they ought to. New cells are produced even though they are not needed.

A mass (tumor) can develop from these extra cells. These tumors can be malignant or benign. The malignant tumors are cancer. The benign tumors are not.

Cancer is much more than one disease. It is a huge category of diseases. Cancer is marked by cells that are invasive (they invade and destroy adjacent tissue), aggressive (they grow and divide without respect to normal limits) and sometimes metastatic (they spread to other parts of the body).

There are many different kinds of cancer. They are usually named for where they begin in your body. For example, pancreatic cancer begins in your pancreas. Lung cancer begins in your lungs. Cancer may metastasize (spread) to other areas of your body, but it is still named by where it formed in your body.

Your buccal mucosa is defined as the inner lining of your cheeks and the back of your lips. It is inside of your mouth where these areas touch your teeth.

Buccal mucosa cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of your buccal mucosa. It is a type of oral cancer.

As with several other kinds of cancer, buccal mucosa cancer usually does not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Later, signs and symptoms that you may have include:

Problems in moving your tongue or jaw
Your dentures becoming uncomfortable or not fitting right because your jaw is swollen
A red or white lump in your mouth that does not go away after two weeks
Severe ear pain
Numbness of your tongue or other areas of your mouth
A red, raised patch in your mouth that bleeds easily
Hoarseness
A thickening or lump in your mouth
Problems with swallowing or chewing
Soreness or the feeling that something is caught in your throat
Pain that gets worse when you are drinking or eating.

You or a loved one may have buccal mucosa cancer. This disease and/or complications that have resulted from it may have brought about you or your loved one’s disability and inability to work.

You may need help if this is the case. You may need financial assistance.

You or your loved one may consider applying for the financial help that you need from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by buccal mucosa cancer and/or complications that have resulted from this disease. You or your loved one may have already applied and been turned down by the Social Security Administration.

If you or your loved one decides to reapply or appeal the denial, remember this. People who have a disability lawyer on their side like the one you will find at Social Security Home are approved more often than people who are not represented by a disability attorney.

Tags: Cancer, Cell (biology), Conditions and Diseases, Health, Metastasis, social security administration, Tumor
Posted in Cancer, Social Security Disability | No Comments »

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Archive for January, 2011