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| Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis |
| & Social Security Disability |
| Attorney Stephanie Joy (c.2011) "Combining the practice of SS law with Compassion and Communication" |
TM
What is Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis?
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is characterized by a brief
but intense attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord that
damages myelin – the protective covering of nerve fibers. It often follows
viral infection, or less often, vaccination for measles, mumps, or rubella.
The symptoms of ADEM come on quickly, beginning with encephalitis-like
symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting, and
in severe cases, seizures and coma. It may also damage white matter
(brain tissue that takes its name from the white color of myelin), leading
to neurological symptoms such as visual loss (due to inflammation of the
optic nerve) in one or both eyes, weakness even to the point of
paralysis, and difficulty coordinating voluntary muscle movements (such
as those used in walking). ADEM is sometimes misdiagnosed as a
severe first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS), since some of the symptoms
of the two disorders, particularly those caused by white matter injury,
may be similar. However, ADEM usually has symptoms of encephalitis
(such as fever or coma), as well as symptoms of myelin damage (visual
loss, paralysis), as opposed to MS, which doesn’t have encephalitis
symptoms. In addition, ADEM usually consists of a single episode or
attack, while MS features many attacks over the course of time. Doctors
will often use imaging techniques, such as MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging), to search for old and new lesions (areas of damage) on the
brain. Old “inactive” brain lesions on MRI suggest that the condition may
be MS rather than ADEM, since MS often causes brain lesions before
symptoms become obvious. In rare situations, brain biopsy may show
findings that allow differentiation between ADEM and severe, acute forms
of MS. Children are more likely than adults to have ADEM.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment for ADEM is targeted at suppressing inflammation in the brain
using anti-inflammatory drugs. Most individuals respond to intravenous
corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone. When corticosteroids fail to
work, plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin therapy has been
shown to produce improvement. Additional treatment is symptomatic and
supportive.
What is the prognosis?
Corticosteroid therapy can shorten the duration of neurological
symptoms and halt further progression of the disease in the short term,
but the long term prognosis for individuals with ADEM varies. For most,
recovery begins within days, and half will recover completely. Others
may have mild to moderate lifelong impairment. Severe cases of ADEM
can be fatal. Some individuals who initially diagnosed as having ADEM
will later be reclassified as MS, but there is currently no method to
determine whom those individuals will be.
Courtesy of:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/acute_encephalomyelitis/acute_encephalomyelitis.htm
Regardless of your degree of severity, if you would like to
discuss the possibility of Social Security Disability benefits in the
event disability results from ADEM (or MS), please call Stephanie
Joy, Esq. and she will be happy to review your situation and
provide answers and direction. Or, fill out the quick and brief
ADE Disability Evaluation form, found here.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is characterized by a brief
but intense attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord that
damages myelin – the protective covering of nerve fibers. It often follows
viral infection, or less often, vaccination for measles, mumps, or rubella.
The symptoms of ADEM come on quickly, beginning with encephalitis-like
symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting, and
in severe cases, seizures and coma. It may also damage white matter
(brain tissue that takes its name from the white color of myelin), leading
to neurological symptoms such as visual loss (due to inflammation of the
optic nerve) in one or both eyes, weakness even to the point of
paralysis, and difficulty coordinating voluntary muscle movements (such
as those used in walking). ADEM is sometimes misdiagnosed as a
severe first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS), since some of the symptoms
of the two disorders, particularly those caused by white matter injury,
may be similar. However, ADEM usually has symptoms of encephalitis
(such as fever or coma), as well as symptoms of myelin damage (visual
loss, paralysis), as opposed to MS, which doesn’t have encephalitis
symptoms. In addition, ADEM usually consists of a single episode or
attack, while MS features many attacks over the course of time. Doctors
will often use imaging techniques, such as MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging), to search for old and new lesions (areas of damage) on the
brain. Old “inactive” brain lesions on MRI suggest that the condition may
be MS rather than ADEM, since MS often causes brain lesions before
symptoms become obvious. In rare situations, brain biopsy may show
findings that allow differentiation between ADEM and severe, acute forms
of MS. Children are more likely than adults to have ADEM.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment for ADEM is targeted at suppressing inflammation in the brain
using anti-inflammatory drugs. Most individuals respond to intravenous
corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone. When corticosteroids fail to
work, plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin therapy has been
shown to produce improvement. Additional treatment is symptomatic and
supportive.
What is the prognosis?
Corticosteroid therapy can shorten the duration of neurological
symptoms and halt further progression of the disease in the short term,
but the long term prognosis for individuals with ADEM varies. For most,
recovery begins within days, and half will recover completely. Others
may have mild to moderate lifelong impairment. Severe cases of ADEM
can be fatal. Some individuals who initially diagnosed as having ADEM
will later be reclassified as MS, but there is currently no method to
determine whom those individuals will be.
Courtesy of:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/acute_encephalomyelitis/acute_encephalomyelitis.htm
Regardless of your degree of severity, if you would like to
discuss the possibility of Social Security Disability benefits in the
event disability results from ADEM (or MS), please call Stephanie
Joy, Esq. and she will be happy to review your situation and
provide answers and direction. Or, fill out the quick and brief
ADE Disability Evaluation form, found here.
If you suffer from disabling Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADE) and can no longer work a full time work week, I would be happy to help you obtain your rightful Disability Benefits. You may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, even if you will eventually, and hopefully, recover. I would be honored to assist you. Start by filling out the FREE online Social Security Disability Claim Evaluation Form, calling me at 201-317-0610 or emailing me at StephanieJoy@MySsiCase.com. |