Multiple sclerosis (MS) goes through four stages of development, with the last stage potentially causing debilitating symptoms that negatively impact work performance. If you suffer from MS at any stage of development, the symptoms of the disease might force you out of work for an extended period. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a program that allows sick and injured workers to apply for disability benefits.
The key is to submit a claim that contains overwhelming medical evidence that multiple sclerosis has forced you out of work.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
With MS, the body’s immune system attacks myelin, which is the protective sheath covering nerve fibers. An attack on nerve fibers produces communication issues between the neurotransmitters in the brain and the rest of your body. If multiple sclerosis develops into a later stage, the disease can cause permanent damage to the nerve fibers.
The severity of the disease depends on how forcefully the immune system attacks myelin. Some patients suffering from severe symptoms of MS might be unable to walk without the support of an assistive device. The worst-case scenario for the disease prevents a patient from walking at all. Referred to as a young adult disease, multiple sclerosis typically impacts people between the ages of 20 and 50.
The good news is many patients suffering from MS never develop the most severe symptoms that prevent them from working. Most patients live relatively normal lives that extend to an average lifespan. Because there is not a cure for MS, healthcare providers rely on treatment programs to help patients recover from immune system attacks.
What Are the Symptoms of MS?
The symptoms of MS vary from one individual to the next primarily because of the four different stages of the disease. The severity of symptoms also differs depending on the location of the compromised nerve fibers.
Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs impairs a patient’s ability to walk. Bending your neck forward can trigger electric shock sensations that produce considerable pain. One of the most common signs of multiple sclerosis is the lack of coordination that is punctuated by tremors.
Vision problems are also a common issue with MS, from extended bouts with double vision to partial or complete loss of vision in one eye. You also might experience blurred vision out of one eye. Chronic fatigue, slurred speech, and bowel dysfunction can develop during the later stages of the disease.
What Are the Different Stages of Multiple Sclerosis?
Understanding the four stages of MS can help you cope with the disease. The treatment regimen followed by your healthcare provider depends on which stage of MS you suffer from, as well as the severity of the symptoms that are associated with each stage of development.
Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
The first set of symptoms caused by damage to myelin are minor in comparison to the other stages of development. CIS does not technically meet the criteria for a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The attack on the nerve fibers by the immune system is not as intense as it is during subsequent stages of development. However, an MRI detecting compromised myelin can lead to an MS diagnosis.
Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)
With RRMS, the symptoms worsen from the symptoms experienced during CIS. However, the symptoms occasionally improve to allow you to move around without much assistance. Patients dealing with RRMS experience flare-ups of symptoms that can happen at any time. Although you might be able to deal with the symptoms during the second stage of MS, not knowing when the relapses will happen can make holding down a job difficult to do.
Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS)
The relapses experienced during the second stage can rapidly turn into a more aggressive form of multiple sclerosis called Secondary-Progressive MS. Entering the third stage of development usually occurs before 10 years have passed since the initial diagnosis. The severity of symptoms experienced from SPMS can make it difficult, if not impossible to work a job that requires prolonged standing and frequent body movements.
Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS)
Just 15 percent of patients diagnosed with MS enter the debilitating fourth stage of development. A slow, steady decline without any progress made defines (PPMS). The symptoms of MS reach the point that a patient cannot take care of normal daily responsibilities such as cooking and bathing. Any improvement in symptoms is considered minor, as well as temporary.
Do I Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits with MS?
The more severe your MS symptoms, the less likely you can work. If you miss work because of multiple sclerosis, you might qualify for financial assistance under the Social Security Disability (SSD) program.
The SSA refers to a medical guide called the Blue Book to determine eligibility for financial assistance. MS lists under Section 11.09 of the Blue Book, which covers diseases of the central nervous system. Not only do you have to receive a diagnosis for multiple sclerosis, but you also have to prove that you meet the criteria for severity of symptoms that prevent you from holding down a job.
Getting approved for disability benefits with MS requires you to submit persuasive medical evidence.
Filing a Claim for Social Security Disability Benefits
Medical evidence comes in the form of the records compiled by your primary physician, as well as any specialists that have helped you deal with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The team of medical examiners at the SSA wants to see documents that demonstrate how strongly your immune system attacked the nerve fibers in the brain and spine.
Make sure to address every physical limitation you experience, from not maintaining balance to requiring an assistive device throughout the day. A neurologist should conduct an extensive physical and neurological examination that verifies a diagnosis for MS. Submit the results of your diagnostic tests, as well as a detailed description of your treatment and rehabilitation programs.
Working with a Social Security attorney can help you submit the most convincing claim possible for Social Security Disability benefits. Fill out a Free Case Evaluation today!
