Lymphedema is an inflammation of limbs or parts of the body due to blockage of the lymphatic system. It is usually due to consequences such as surgery on lymph nodes, cancer, radiation treatment, repeated infections, birth related oedema, chronic venous insufficiency, traumas, etc.
The
edema can be very mild and hardly noticeable or prominent with
difficulty to use the swollen limb. National Social Security
Administrations, evaluate the medical impairments that qualify for
disability benefits. Lymphedema is consequence of an organic
impairment that also produces a consequent physical and functional
limitation. Even after reduction treatment and the use of compression garments, the underlying organic lymphatic impairment still persists, and over-stressing tasks will contribute to worsening the condition. Lymphedema is a chronic life-long disease. People suffering from lymphedema are eligible for
disability and inability to work recognition, when the condition affects their personal,
family, social or work level.
Lymphedema
as well as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), have symptoms that
medically equal in severity. Venous and lymphatic insufficiency
occurs when veins and capillaries are blocked or damaged, and blood
or lymph builds up and pools in the limbs. The resulting chronic and
progressive edema, makes walking for legs and movements of arms,
difficult to undertake some jobs and everyday tasks. Lymphedem can
also cause joint dysfunction to limbs, and depending on body parts
affected, makes it difficult to move, walk, or inability to use hands
effectively. The medical recommendations for lymphedema and CVI are
essential, for they are thus to prevent the progression of the disease, and represent in themselves causes and factors of disability recognition.
Lymphoedema can significantly restrict carrying out activities of daily living (ADL) and work (lifting weights, over-stressing jobs, doing tasks that require keeping elbows or knees bent, prolonged sitting or standing), etc. With reference to work inability, in many cases lymphedema conditions and does not permit an active working life, in the same conditions as healthy people or without a disability.
If lymphedema affects legs, the RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) assessment may restrict the kinds of work that involve lifting weights, standing or sitting for long periods of time, walking, kneeling, or remaining in one position for certain periods of time. If lymphedema affects arms, the RFC assessment may limit the kinds of work that involve lifting weights, writing or typing, pushing, grasping, or anything else that requires fine movements of arms or hands. Extreme temperatures must be avoided for all lymphedemas.
It is very important to access assessment by experienced disability lawyers, that know how to focus lymphedema symptoms and impairment to qualify for disability benefits. Sometimes the process for disability and work inability recognition is tiresome, and usually denied the first time, but patients must strive for a just recognition of their personal, social and work limitations.
References of interest:
Lymphedema
and employability
Work
with cancer-related lymphoedema
Chronic
oedema/lymphoedema: under-recognised and under-treated.
Disability
and lymphedema
Lymphoedema
Disability Questionnaire (Lymph-ICF)
Lymphoedema
Disability Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema
Facts
about lymphedema and filing for disability
Chronic
venous disease (CVD), a common cause of lymphedema
Guía
de valoración de incapacidad laboral para linfedema
Cáncer
de mama y discapacidad. Criterios de valoración y controversias
médico-legales
Invalidez
y linfedema Lymphostatic
edema
POSTER
IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
SPANISH:
Trabajos que pueden agravar linfedema / Reconocimiento discapacidad.
GERMAN: Arbeitsplätze,
die Lymphödeme verschlimmern können / Anerkennung von Behinderungen.
FRENCH:
Les travaux qui peuvent
aggraver le lymphœdème /
Reconnaissance du handicap.
ITALIAN:
Lavori che possono aggravare
il linfedema / Riconoscimento della disabilità.
PORTUGUESE:
Obras que podem agravar o
linfedema / Reconhecimento de deficiência.
RUSSIAN:
Работы, которые
могут усугубить лимфедема / Признание
инвалидности.
CHINESE:
可加重淋巴水腫的作品
/
殘疾承認
/
残疾承认
JAPANESE:
リンパ浮腫を悪化させる可能性のある作品
/
障害の認識
KOREAN:
림프
부종을 악화시킬 수있는 일 /
장애
인식
ARAB:
الأعمال
التي يمكن أن تؤدي إلى تفاقم وذمة لمفية
/
التعرف
على الإعاقة
SWEDISH:
Arbete som kan förvärra
lymfödem / Funktionshinder.
DUTCH:
Werk dat lymfoedeem kan
verergeren / Handicap erkenning.
FINNISH:
Työ, joka voi pahentaa
lymfedeemista / Vammaisuuden tunnistaminen.
GREEK:
Έργα που μπορούν
να επιδεινώσουν το λεμφοίδημα / Αναγνώριση
αναπηρίας.
LYMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE
NEW CAMPAIGN
For global awareness it is being asked that the
WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION,
name:
"LYMPHEDEMA - AWARENESS & CURES"
as its World Health Day campaign - 2018
KATHY BATES
LYMPHEDEMA EMBASSADOR
