According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 12 out of every 100,000 people suffer from a debilitating pain condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). These victims’ frustration is compounded by two additional problems. First, many doctors have a difficult time understanding and diagnosing the condition because of its rarity. Second, TN is not recognized as a condition for which social security disability benefits are available.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition in which a person suffers from a type of shooting or stabbing pain sensation in the face. It’s believed that the pain is caused by the Trigeminal Nerve, a nerve responsible for carrying sensation from the brain to the face. Little is known about what causes of the disorder, but it can lead to severely debilitating pain. Even small stimuli, such as a slight breeze, can trigger a flash of pain. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the condition.
Currently, Trigeminal Neuralgia is not mentioned as a condition eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, but this could change as awareness grows among the medical profession and government agencies that make disability laws. The most important thing to do when facing a disability that prevents you from working is make certain you receive the best available medical care. Next, talk with an attorney familiar with disability benefits law. This is a field that changes constantly. Just because benefits may not have been available previously doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future.