Arthritis is crippling disease that can severely limit your functioning.
People with arthritis may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.
Inflammatory arthritis also known as rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that usually attacks the hands and fingers.
Inflammatory arthritis is a systemic disease that may include weakness and fatigue.
Diagnosing inflammatory arthritis is based on blood tests, xrays or MRI’s.
Different types of medications are prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis such as methotrexate or corticosteroids, and sometimes physical therapy.
Social Security looks at the severity of your condition and how it limits your ability to function.
It focuses on the ability to walk, handle, finger, grip and lift items.
Social Security also tries to determine whether your inflammatory arthritis interferes with your ability to complete tasks due to problems with concentration, persistence or pace.
Social Security will examine whether your inflammatory arthritis causes severe fatigue, fever, discomfort, or extreme weight loss.
You should document these problems through several different ways including medical records, your doctor’s opinion, medical tests, prescriptions for use of assistive devices, letters or testimony of people who help you at home and who observe you on a regular basis.
Questions about your conditions and whether you should file for disability? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.