Why is rls not a disability ?

[Bettyboop45]

Hi

Why can't rls be diagnosed as disability , as some days I'm so tired to get my little girl up for school and get to work , why can't a doctor see how it effect lives ?

[Rish]

Yes I think it should be to as in the past with jobs I have been so tired and grumpy and depressed that I have not went to work and lost jobs and not get paid for not attending so yes I think we should get some sort of money to help with bills and things as we suffer just as much as some other people who get disability allowances ! Sleep deprivation should be a disability we defiantly come under that category !

[peterk in reply to Rish]

Please see my blog on this

[nightdancer]

RLS may not be an actual disability, and I can only speak of my experience in the US. The EFFECTS of what RLS causes adds up to disability. Drowsy driving from sleep deprivation, depression (that is HUGE and HAS to be included to get a disability approval here) after me and my lawyer and doctors showed Social Security exactly what RLS can do to you, I got mine. So, you can mention RLS, and then all of the crap it causes. Of course, I don;t know how it works in the UK specifically. I do know a lawyer should be had right from the beginning of the process, not after one has been turned down the first time, per usual. BUt, it is essential to develop a doctor/patient relationship with a neurologist, a regular doctor and a psychiatrist. This is not to say you are "nuts". But, sleep deprivation kills because of all the effects it has on all your bodily functions and systems. ALSO, side effects of meds you take are VERY important. If you cannot drive, you cannot work. Simple, right? Yes, until it comes to dealing with the gov't.

[mmm66 in reply to nightdancer]

I think I replied to an earlier similar post and didn't think it would work for disability. Said when i worked, I relied on klonopin and that helped me survive. I think the above shows huge progress, but does surprise me. Show people are listening.

[peterk in reply to mmm66]

Please see my blog on this.

[eileen49]

in the UK it is classed as a disability. I was claiming the allowance for 2 1/2 years until I retired and all the doctors who I saw passed me every time.

[Kolla]

Hi there fellow RLS people

Rls a disability. Now there is a question that has different answers in different countries.

In my opinion a illness/syndrome/disability is not a disability in itself but these can lead to disability as you have so clearly explained. I was on disability pension because of the consequences of the different syndromes/long term illnesses I carry with me. I have epilepsy, rls , Dystonia, polimyalgia ,giant cell arthritis plus having been in 3-4 car accidents.

I live in Iceland and get old age pension at 67 then my pension changed from disability pension to old age pension it is about the same amount I get but it says on my card OP on disability pension till 67 years. I do not know if this is of any help for you, but what I find important is that you get assistance to be able to help your self

Merry Xmas

Kolla

[peterk in reply to Kolla]

Please see my blog on this.

[Hidden]

As far as i knew RLS was not classed as a disability here in the UK. I think someone else on here asked the same question a long while back. They tried to apply for RLS disability and was refused.

In the the present climate here, lots of people with disability are getting benefits cut, and being told they are fit for work. So, would, i think be hard to fight your cause to get it.

[Karen85]

I was told that I am not disabled even though I suffer from RA

and RLS, Panic Attacks. I was told that I can still answer

phones for an office job where I can stand and sit. =/.

My doctor as well as my Rheumy told me that it's really super

hard to get disability..I can't fake what I don't have but RLS

is 100X worse than my RA symptoms.

I can't get a good lawyer right now. Money is tight again, very!

I am working for little money and my hubby is working over-time

We had a spell of things (major) breakage (furnace, fridge)

With the holidays here, I am tapped out financially...I took money out

of savings (emergency) to replace those items. That is an emergency?

I think so, It's zero degrees and major snowstorm here (WI, USA)

[peterk in reply to Karen85]

Karen, please see my blog on this which answers your question although this was in the UK.

[Hidden in reply to peterk]

Looking now at it. Thank you Peterk. =)

[eileen49]

it was the incapacity benefit I was on from age 57 - 60. I live in London and I had absolutely no problems with all the doctors and assessers I saw, I just said I couldn't work because of it and I got it passed every time.

[peterk in reply to eileen49]

Please see my blog on this

[nightdancer in reply to peterk]

Peter, when you say "see my blog" tell us the title of it, as it is hard to wade thru all the posts at times. Otherwise, we click on a person's name and see a hundred posts, but have no idea what direction to go in. Especially our newbies! Welcome to all. so, at least give the title of the blog you are referring them to.

[Hidden]

Ah, incapacity benefit used to get passed more than actual Disability benefit.. I got incapacity benefit when i couldnt return to work, but not for RLS. didnt bother me after i retired.

[peterk in reply to Hidden]

Please see my blog on this Elisse

[Hidden]

That should have read....my RLS didnt bother me til after i retired. I got incapacity benefit for something else.

[peterk]

It is a serioud disability depending on how badly the symptoms affects your day to day activities and ability to do them. I was ill health retired on account of severe RLS and had just undergone suspected cancer surgery. Turned out fortunately it was not cancer. I haven't had a problem with Dr's finally accepting RLS as a serious disability in my case. My aim though is to return to employment. I am undertaking voluntary work at present.

[peterk]

Please see my blog on this.

[peterk]

Please see my blog on this.

[Avosyl in reply to peterk]

Could you put a link or title on so i can find this blog please. Thank you

[nightdancer in reply to Avosyl]

click on member's name in blue and it will take you to their profile, and you can see what questions, blogs, and answers they have put up, and then just click on the one you want to read. Our profiles show all our activities on this web site, so it is easy to follow someone around. hope that helps!

[peterk]

Please see my blog on this which was prompted by your question bettyboop45.

[Tpebop]

PeterK: I may be semi-computer-illiterate but I've clicked the blue peterk, gone to what appears to be your blog but can find nothing on RLS and answering points about disability. Please explain how to do it in language a four year old could understand or provide a link I can click on. Cheers, Tpebop.

[Bettyboop45 in reply to Tpebop]

I've tried to look for this too

[debchau]

go to a neurologist, they can determine if it's hereditary or not and help prescribe meds, but it is trial in error for the meds because they don't all work.