Lymphoedema is an inflammation of limbs or parts of the body caused by 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 oedema 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.
With
reference to Functional limitations
and quality of life of patients with lymphatic dysfunction (this
is the
Heath Condition) and their
disability
recognition,
in the case of lymphoedema there is a dual Functioning
impairment.
On
the one hand there is a permanent Organic Disability ( this
is the
Body Function),
due to failure in the Lymphatic System, and on the other hand a
permanent Physical Disability (this
is the
Body Structure),
due to the functional deficit produced by the consequent
inflammation and progressive chronic
oedema.
The
difficulties in executing activities (this
is the Activity Limitation), are
the
problems relatedted to experiences in involvement in life situations
( this is the Participation Restriction), which
make up the physical, social and atttitudinal circumstantial
considerations
(these
are the
Enviromental and
Personal Factors).
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 may be eligible for
disability and inability to work recognition, when the condition affects their personal,
family, social or work level.
Lymphoedema
as well as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), have symptoms that clinically 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, can make walking for legs and movements of arms,
difficult to undertake some jobs and everyday tasks.
Lymphoedem 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 lymphoedema and CVI are
essential, for they are thus to prevent the progression of the disease, and can 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
lymphoedema can condition and may not permit
an active working life, in the same circumstances as healthy people or
without
a
disability.
If
lymphoedema 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 lymphoedema 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 lymphoedema.
It is very important to access assessment by experienced disability lawyers, that know how to focus lymphoedema symptoms and impairment to qualify for disability benefits. Sometimes the process for disability and work inability recognition is long and tiresome, and usually denied the first time, but patients should 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
Chronic
venous disease (CVD), a common cause of lymphedema
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.
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CAMPAIGN
For global awareness it is being asked that the
WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION,
name:
"LYMPHEDEMA - AWARENESS & CURES"
as the World Health Day campaign
KATHY BATES
LYMPHEDEMA EMBASSADOR
