Muscular dystrophy is one of many diseases that can cause impairment significant enough to totally disable a person from employment. As attorneys who represent disabled individuals in Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims, we know that muscular dystrophy is one of the many ailments that can form a basis for successful claim.
Muscular dystrophy itself is not just one disease but it is a term used for the whole family of similar debilitating diseases. Muscular dystrophy, or MD for short, is a group of genetic diseases that can cause multiple symptoms which can mimic many other diseases. Not only can muscular dystrophy affect the muscles of the body but it can also affect the heart.
It is most common to see muscular dystrophy in younger individuals but it can occur later in age also.
The diagnosis of muscular dystrophy is often performed by blood tests with the doctors looking for specific enzymes such as creatine kinase, EMG testing, muscle biopsies, and genetic testing.
Although there is no cure, treatment for muscular dystrophy can include physical therapy, surgical intervention, and, in some cases, nutritional supplements.
As attorneys representing Social Security Disability claimants, the first order of business we are usually facing is an individual who has a variety of symptoms that prevent them from working but has not yet been given a specific diagnosis.
Once a diagnosis of a significant disease is made, such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, connective tissue disorders, scleroderma or similar ailments, it then becomes necessary to document their severity since some individuals are much more dramatically affected than others. At Drummond Disability, we try to involve ourselves at the outset in assisting our clients with both getting the proper diagnosis and treatment and developing that into a medical basis for winning a disability claim. We work pretty hard at this and make sure do it right.
We can be contacted by clicking on her website at drummonddisability.com, by phone at (800) 842-0426, or by personal appointment and will be happy to discuss any questions you may have with you. As always with Drummond Disability, consultations are free.
Some helpful links about muscular dystrophy include:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscular-dystrophy/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20021240
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/musculardys/conditioninfo/Pages/diagnosed.aspx
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_muscular_dystrophy
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscular-dystrophy/basics/treatment/con-20021240
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/musculardys/conditioninfo/Pages/treatment.aspx