Over the years I have handled numerous Social Security disability claims for people who suffer from migraine headaches. For those of us lucky enough not to get migraines, it can be difficult to understand just how debilitating this condition can be.
Too Many Missed Days Of Work
In the realm of Social Security disability, migraines are significant because they interfere with the ability of a person to get to work often enough to stay employed. Many people with migraine headaches will miss several days of work a month. This is because when these terrible headaches strike, the person has to lie down in a dark room and avoid all such stimulus as light and sound. Most vocational experts agree that if a person misses more than one or two days of work per month no one will keep him or her as an employee.
Promising New Therapies
There are some new migraine treatments that are just now arriving. Two new drugs are in the late stages of human testing. Both of these drugs take a novel approach to not only treating migraines but also preventing them. The actual scientific details of how the new drugs work is beyond my understanding. That said, it looks like from the results of the human testing that they might provide real relief to migraine sufferers. As with so many new drugs, these will prove to be very expensive. They should be on the market sometime next year. But, the question remains if insurance companies will be willing to pay the steep price to provide these drugs to patients.
Have Migraines? Consider Applying For Social Security Disability
If you suffer from migraines that are preventing you from working, you may wish to apply for Social Security disability. In the meantime talk to your doctor to see if these new drugs may be able to assist you.
