domingo, 20 de mayo de 2018

IS LYMPHEDEMA DISABLING - IS LYMPHEDEMA A DISABILITY - INABILITY TO WORK AND DISABILITY RECOGNITION DUE TO LYMPHEDEMA - AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - JOBS THAT CAN AGGRAVATE LYMPHEDEMA




Lymphoedema is an inflammation of limbs or parts of the body caused by dysfunction of the Lymphatic Circulatory System. It is usually due to consequences such as surgery on lymph nodes, cancer, radiation treatment, repeated infections, genetic and birth-related edema, chronic venous insufficiency, traumas, etc. The edema can be very mild and hardly noticeable or prominent with difficulty to use the swollen limb. National assessment teams evaluate people's physical impairments to assess degrees of disability and incapacity for work. Read more about what is the best treatment option for Lymphedema HERE. 

With reference to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the functional limitations of people with lymphatic dysfunction (i.e. the Heath Condition), and the recognition of disability, in the case of lymphedema, there is a dual disability. On the one hand, there is a Permanent Organic Disability (i.e. the Body Function), due to failure in the lymphatic system, and on the other hand a Permanent Physical Disability (i.e. the Body Structure), due to the functional deficit produced by the consequent inflammation and progressive chronic edema. Depending on the disease location and severity, patients may experience difficulties in executing activities (i.e. the Activity Limitation), or problems related to involvement in life situations (i.e. the Participation Restriction), making up the physical, social, and attitudinal circumstantial considerations (i.e. the Personal and Environmental Contextual Factors). Read more about what are the signs, symptoms, and complications of lymphedema, and the list of structural and functional impairments in Lymphatic dysfunction HERE.

Even after volume 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 are clinically equal in severity. Venous and lymphatic insufficiency occurs when veins and capillaries are blocked or damaged, and lymph in the case of lymphedema, builds up and pools in the limbs. The resulting chronic and progressive edema can make walking or movements of arms, difficult to undertake in some jobs and everyday tasks.

Lymphoedema can also cause joint dysfunction, pain, and disfigurement to limbs, and depending on the 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 such as: 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 the 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.




Sometimes it is important to access assessments by experienced disability lawyers, that know how to focus on lymphoedema symptoms and impairments to qualify for disability benefits. In some cases, the process for disability and work inability recognition is long and tiresome, and usually denied the first time, whereby patients should strive for just recognition of their personal, social, and work limitations.




References of interest:

Lymphedema and employability

Work with cancer-related lymphoedema

Chronic oedema/lymphoedema: under-recognized 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.




GERMANArbeiten, die ein Lymphödem verschlimmern können / Anerkennung von Behinderungen


FRENCH: Travail qui peut aggraver le lymphoedème / Reconnaissance du handicap



ITALIAN: Lavoro che può aggravare il linfedema / Riconoscimento della disabilità
 

PORTUGUESE: Trabalho que pode agravar o linfedema / Reconhecimento da deficiência


RUSSIAN: Работа, которая может усугубить лимфедему / Признание инвалидности


CHINESE可能加重淋巴水肿的工作/残疾的确认


JAPANESEリンパ浮腫を悪化させるような仕事/障害者認定


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 / Erkännande av funktionshinder


DUTCH: Werk dat lymfoedeem kan verergeren / Invaliditeitserkenning



FINNISH: Työ, joka voi pahentaa Lymfedeema / työkyvyttömyyden tunnustaminen


GREEK: Εργασία που μπορεί να επιδεινώσει το λεμφοίδημα / Αναγνώριση αναπηρίας



Articles that may also interest you: 
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  • WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS LYMPHEDEMA/LYMPHOEDEMA - WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR IS SPECIALIZED IN LYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION - WHICH MEDICAL SPECIALITIES ARE RELATED TO LYMPHEDEMA













CLICK ON THE TEXTS 
TO SEE  LYHMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE 
AND PREVALENCE






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