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.
GERMAN: Arbeiten, 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
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