Gout and disability
I have had severe gout attacks off and on for 10 years now…I have researched a little, however this groups disscussions havebeed helpful in educating myself….thanks to all!
My question is severe gout considered a disability…..?
like most suffers I am down for 2-20 days at a time..If I did not own my own business…I dont know how any employerwould tolorate this many missed days???
Terrance Molock on June 15th, 2007
Gout a “disability”..yes and no.Disabilities are ALWAYSdetermined by a doctor(s).SOMETIMES the insurancecompany,company,workman’s compensation.Your own doctor?Some peopleWANT to get disability..others DO NOT! fearing/knowing it will prettymuch destroy their insurance record,work record..AND a LOT of otherchances too..employment,insurance.THEN you get into thedoctors/LAWYERS opinions. Personally I always had perfect health..first “documented”goutattack 1999..2nd..March 2001..March,April,May I was in bed 20 hrs aday..June I was sort of ok..Jul..the gout crept back in,mid Aug tomid Sept.back in bed 20 hrs a day. I went on allopurinol in March..on and off drugs..30prescriptions..30 Dr.s/specialists in 6 months..in that Sept. aspecialist asked me if I brought the papers..he’d sign them..Whatpapers?I asked..the disability papers.Disabled..this was one of thelowest points in my life.The prognosis did not look good..and I wastold such.ALL I could do was stay on allopurinol and keep TRYING torest/walk..ETC.I was/am self employed..even still I REFUSED to acceptbeing disabled..and FOUGHT LIKE A TIGER..
Was I “disabled”..HMmmm..yeah I guess for a time..AND the nextyear!on and off.Am I “disabled” now..ABSOLUTELY NOT! almost perfecthealth in any way..
It is a REAL tough call..someone shows up seeking medicalattention for gout..if they have “snake oiled” and mucked around withthis to the point WITHOUT the proper treatment..and have NOWpermanentlly damaged stuff..joints,tendons,ligaments,boneends,ball/sockets,synovial tissue..and this stuff cannot now bereally fixed and the damage is clear on x-rays..yeah..I guess..andI’m sure the Dr would agree.Disabled.
On the OTHER hand..someone seeking medical attention forgout..with NO damage..”snake oiled” or not..and NO medicaltreatment.I am pretty sure the Dr. would say ALLOPURINOL OR NODISABILITY!I expect that they would expect you to “take yourmedicine” for 1-3 years..maybe up to 10..before they would classifyyou as disabled..
I do know people who NO WAY!! EVER had gout as bad as I did..BUTthey “Fiddled while their joints(Rome) burned”..refusing to takeallopurinol.
They are now no doubt clearly,permanently disabled.
Sad.
In modern knowledge gout is often referred to as “once”disabling,disfiguring,crippling,treatable..borderline cureable..wellcontrollable to a good point..