If you suffer from migraines, you know how debilitating these episodes can be. They are much more than just a bad headache – they can seriously affect your ability to work and live a normal life. People who have multiple migraines per week may not be able to hold gainful employment because of their medical condition.
People can have these severe headaches from early childhood, but often, they do not begin until a person reaches adulthood or as a result of other conditions. Migraines are actually a neurological condition with symptoms that can negatively impact multiple areas of a person’s life. If you have this condition and you cannot maintain gainful employment, you may qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.
The way migraines can change your life
For many people in Alabama who suffer from migraines, there is difficulty leading up to these headaches and in the immediate aftermath. Migraines are often cyclical, and sufferers often know when they are coming based on certain symptoms that can arise days before the onset of the headache. The stages of a migraine include:
- Prodrome stage – This happens in the days leading up the headache. A person can experience mood swings, food cravings and fatigue.
- Attack stage – This is when the actual headache begins, and it can last for hours or days. Symptoms range from person to person, but the pain and side effects can be debilitating.
- Postdrome stage – This after the headache subsides, but a person can still feel a dull pain, experience fatigue or deal with other effects.
For some people, it is possible to identify a treatment plan that allows a person to live a relatively normal life with medication and other measures. However, your headaches may be as such that you cannot work and do things that you used to do. This can be frustrating and overwhelming, but there are options available to you.
Preparing your claim
If you suffer from migraines and believe you could have valid grounds to seek benefits, you do not have to walk through this process alone. A complete evaluation of your case will help you understand your options and gather the necessary documentation to validate your claim.
Your condition of chronic migraines may have robbed you of your ability to work as you did in the past and meet the demands of your job, but through a disability claim, there is hope available to you.