Question

Do I have a case for permanent disability?

Asked on July 21st 2023 by Ruth
I am a 27 year old living with geniculate neuralgia/chronic pain. I have had the pain as far back as I can remember (Around 7-8), but was only diagnosed after my condition worsened in 2019. Between 2002-2018 I had very brief shocks of pain (approx. 1 debilitating shock that lasted a few seconds every year.) It was very noticeable, but at that time easier to ignore as it happened so infrequently. In September 2019 my life changed completely. Although I had been living with this condition for the majority of my life and it never affected me to the point of missing school or losing work, my condition worsened drastically. For the entire month of September 2019, I was experiencing shocks of pain every couple seconds. This caused me to immediately miss work almost on a daily basis. I began making a large amount of Dr appointments and ER visits when the pain was at it's peak. Most doctors didn't know what was wrong with me as the condition is very rare. Between the pain I was experiencing and the doctors not knowing what was causing my pain, let alone give me something to take it away, my mental health began to deteriorate rapidly. It wasn't until July-August 2020 I was diagnosed with at the time my neurologist said glossopharyngeal neuralgia, later it changed to geniculate neuralgia. I was prescribed many different types of medications hoping to find something to help ease my pain. Eventually something worked and it helped for a few months. When the pain came back and the medications no longer worked I looked into surgical options. I found a Neurosurgeon that specialized in the specific surgery I needed and I was approved for surgery. I received an MVD (Microvascular Decompression) in September 2021. The recovery was stated to last between 12-18 months if it even worked. This surgery was not a fix all solution, it doesn't work for some. In the earlier months of 2022 I began experiencing pain again on a random basis pretty frequently. To the point it began to affect my work and mental health again. I eventually had to leave my job in May 2022 because I was not able to work, I couldn't do anything without experiencing pain, followed by anxiety attacks. I still am unable to work, I have good periods (days, sometimes weeks) where my pain is minimal, but it never leaves me for long. I will never be the same person I once was, mentally or physically. I am unable to hold a job due to my pain, I haven't driven a car since May 2022 because I am too worried of experiencing pain while driving.

I hope this wasn't too much information to include, I usually begin to ramble I apologize. I am happy to answer any questions and hope to hear back as I don't know what to do now or if I even have a case.

Answer

Answered on July 21st 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell

I am sorry to hear about everything you have been through. If you had a disability insurance policy when you stopped working then you would eligible to file a claim. You should also look into filing for social security disability benefits. We only handle long term disability insurance claims and for social security you will need a social security disability lawyer.