If you have ever had a chronic headache, migraines or other form of primary headache, you know that they can be completely debilitating. Imagine getting migraines multiple times each month, lasting for several days at a time. This could make it impossible for you to work or do anything else for that matter. If this is your situation, filing a long-term disability insurance claim may be an option for you.
Here is some information that may be helpful if you are considering filing a long-term disability insurance claim due to migraines.
What are Migraines?
Migraine headaches affect millions of Americans. Migraines are neurologically based headaches that are often quite severe. There are many causes of migraine headaches, but they are usually traceable to a trigger such as hormones, sleep habits, and stress. Most migraine sufferers are women between the ages of 35 and 55, however, men may also experience migraine headaches.
Symptoms of Chronic Headache, Migraines & Other Primary Headache Diseases
Common symptoms of migraine headaches include:
- light sensitivity
- nausea or vomiting
- pounding or throbbing headache
- sensitivity to sound
- blurred vision or other vision changes
- seeing spots, flashing lights or the halo effect
Migraine symptoms may last anywhere from a few hours to several days, and often leave the victim of chronic headache, migraines, or other primary headache disease completely unable to function.
Treatment for Migraine Headaches
In the past few years, the pharmaceutical industry has made great strides in the treatment of migraine headaches. However, for many migraine sufferers, treatments are ineffective or come with serious side effects, often worse than the migraine itself.
Migraine sufferers frequently will have to work with their physician for several months before finding a treatment that is effective for them. In some cases, the migraine sufferer will find a treatment that works, but then later that same treatment will become ineffective.
Migraine sufferers are often forced to take time off from work because they simply cannot function.
Conditions Related to Migraines
Migraine headaches may come with other problems including things like anxiety, depression, sleep loss, weight gain or weight loss. Migraines may also come with fatigue and pain in other body parts. Research indicates that migraine sufferers may be more likely to experience a stroke or heart attack.
Are Migraines a Disability?
Migraines are listed on the World Health Organization’s top 10 disabling medical conditions list. Migraine headaches are one of the most common forms of disabilities reported in the United States.
Because migraines can be severe, last for several days at a time and treatments are often ineffective, migraine sufferers often find themselves unable to function. During a severe migraine episode, a migraine sufferer may find themselves unable to communicate, unable to understand basic instructions, unable to focus, unable to lift stand or even walk. For these unfortunate people, there is no question that their migraines are a disabling condition.
When it comes to disability claims, migraines create certain challenges. Each migraine will vary in severity, pain, and effect on one’s ability to function. Things like pain and other neurological symptoms of migraines are often difficult for your medical provider to test and quantify in a way that is acceptable to the insurance company for a disability claim.
If you are suffering from migraines on a regular basis, and you feel as though you may be a candidate for disability due to your migraine symptoms, it may be a good idea to contact a long-term disability insurance claim attorney prior to filing your claim. A long-term disability insurance claim attorney may be able to help you through the claim process and they will already be on standby if the insurance company denies your long-term disability claim.
Tips for Filing a Long-Term Disability Claim
Probably the most important thing you can do as a migraine sufferer is document and keep record of all your migraine symptoms, diagnostic history, treatment history, side effects of medications, and time that you have missed from work due to your chronic headache, migraines, or other primary headache disease. You want to make sure that all the records you have kept as well as a complete medical history from your treating physician are submitted to the insurance company when you switch your claim. Nothing is too trivial. The more detailed and thorough you, the more likely it is that your long-term disability insurance claim will not be denied.
Keep in mind that prior to your claim it is important for you to listen to and follow your doctor’s instructions. Whatever treatment plan you and your doctor decide on, it is important for you to strictly adhere to it. This may not only reduce the occurrence of migraines, but it also shows the insurance company that you did everything you could to alleviate your condition before being forced to file a long-term disability insurance claim.
Do you have individual or group disability claim questions?
If you have filed or are preparing to file an individual or long-term disability insurance claim for your migraines – or if your benefits have been wrongfully delayed or denied – contact Mehr Fairbanks Trial Lawyers Law Firm for a free consultation Toll-Free at 800-249-3731.