The Lupus Foundation of America defines Lupus as:
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus has a range of symptoms and strikes without warning.
The Mayo Clinic defines Lupus as follows:
Lupus is disease that occurs when your body’s immune systems attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems – including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Lupus can be different to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus – a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks – occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.
Some people are born with a tendency towards developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there’s no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.
And Google defines Lupus as follows:
Lupus (SLE) can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. These can periodically get worse (flare-up) and then improve.
While there is no cure for lupus, current treatment focus on improving quality of life though controlling symptoms and minimizing flare ups. This begin with lifestyle, modifications, including skin protection and diet. Furthermore, disease management includes medications, such as anti-inflammatories and steroids.
You as a person with Lupus may agree or disagree with the above definitions I only mention then since most agencies including Social Security uses the above definitions as their guides to adjudicate your claim.
Also, like in every disability claim you will need medical confirmation such as lab results, MRIs, etc. In particular since many doctors to no order lab test just state in their medical records that your symptoms appear to be Lupus, which is insufficient for the Social Security Administration.
It is for the above reasons that it is vital that you ask your doctor for your medical records ad review then as to what they say and what they do not say. These are your records which will be sent to the Social Security for a determination if you are disable or not.
Even though it is very important to you and your doctor the treatment course to take to help you with your Lupus condition you and your doctor may disagree on how and your doctor may not even include your comments in his or her medical records.
Normally medical records are treatment records, such as lab results, medications used and if any side effects to them. It may include if they prescribed a walking cane, walker or wheelchair otherwise should you be on short term disability insurance or long-term disability insurance it will include the forms the doctor completed for you.
Normally they do not include what Social Security is looking for in a disability, which is how does it affect your abilities to work any type of work such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, knelling, crouching, balancing, pushing, pulling, lifting weight, being out in the sun, noise, etc.
It was for the above reasons that it is vital that you read your medical records and have a full discussion with your treating doctor about what you disagree about his or her medical records and if they agree with you that your chronic Lupus prevents you from working any type of job.
Should you wish to discuss your Social Security disability claim with me either in person or over the phone please feel free to contact me at 407-894-4779 or at jamesauffant@live.com, it will be my pleasure to answer all your questions and to handle your Social Security disability claim.