Multiple sclerosis is a condition characterized by severe motor impairment. Affecting an estimated 1 million people worldwide, this neurological disorder can be extremely debilitating and devastating to victim’s quality of life. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, and patients tend to experience a worsening of symptoms as they age.
Disabling Effects of Multiple Sclerosis
In people with multiple sclerosis, the insulation of the brain and spinal cord’s nerve fibers (known as the myelin sheath) becomes inflamed and weak, eventually breaking down. The thinned-out myelin sheath and damaged nerves causes the brain signals that carry messages of movement to be improperly transmitted. The central nervous system impairments are usually so severe as to cause permanent and total disability. Patients experience loss of motor function, with problems carrying out everyday movements of the legs, arms, and hands.
Multiple sclerosis victims may experience one or more of the following disabling symptoms as a result of the myelin sheath degradation:
- Visual impairment
- Lack of coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling/numbness in extremities
- Muscle pain/stiffness
- Shocking sensations
- Tremors
- Inability to concentrate
- Unsteady gait/imbalance
- Bowel/bladder dysfunction
- Paralysis
- Muscle spasms
- Speech dysfunction
Hiring an Attorney to Prove Multiple Sclerosis Disability
People who’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis will likely face disability at some point in the disease’s progression. Retaining an attorney to help you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits can give you an advantage over other applicants and ensure your SSD application is as solid as possible.
Your lawyer will work with your physicians to obtain the necessary paperwork that proves a permanent disability exists. Whatever questions you may have about applying for SSD, your attorney can deliver personalized legal guidance and help you get those benefit checks started soon.
If you’d like additional information on multiple sclerosis disability and the medical requirements for SSD, please visit our disability lawyer directory to find an attorney who can help you.