Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Sorted by date Results 151 - 171 of 171
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Lyme Disease is caused by a bacterial infection resulting from the bite of a tick that is very small and often escapes detection. While Lyme Disease can be overcome in its earlier stages, chronic Lyme Disease is not so easy a foe to beat. The bacterial organisms infest the brain of the afflicted and cause symptoms that have made Lyme Disease very hard to diagnose as these symptoms mimic those of Multiple Sclerosis and...
Sjögren’s syndrome is an immune-mediated disorder of the exocrine glands. Involvement of the lacrimal and salivary glands is the hallmark feature, resulting in symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth, and possible complications, such as corneal damage, blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), dental caries, and the inability to speak for extended periods of time. Involvement of the exocrine glands of the upper airways may result in persistent dry cough. Many other or...
In the human circulatory system, arteries carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. After the oxygen has been delivered to its destination in the other organs and the extremities, the veins return the now oxygen-poor blood to the lungs, where it can be re-oxygenated. In the legs, contractions of the muscles force the blood upward toward the heart, against the pull of gravity. Small one-way valves in the veins prevent the blood from flowing backward down into the legs so it can make the...
What exactly is connective tissue disease? Connective tissue diseases are referred to as a group of medical diseases. A connective tissue disease has a primary target of the connective tissues of the body. The connective tissues are the structural portions of our body that essentially hold the body together. These tissues form a framework for the body. Because many connective tissue diseases feature abnormal immune system activity with inflammation, the disease targets one’s own body tissues (...
Psoriasis, also termed, ‘psoriasis vulgaris,’ is a common, chronic, relapsing/remitting, immune-mediated skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches, papules, and plaques, which usually itch. The skin lesions associated with psoriasis may vary in severity from minor localized patches to, at its worst, complete body coverage. The disease affects 2-4% of the population and often runs in families. The patches range in size and most commonly appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, and...
Social security myths and facts MYTH: “I was told by Social Security that even if I applied for disability and my claim is allowed, I wouldn’t be able to draw any money because I’m drawing Workers’ Compensation, so I guess there is no need to apply.” FACT: Monthly benefits are not the only advantage to receiving a favorable decision from Social Security on your disability claim. Also: Protect your retirement benefits with “Disability Freeze”. You may be eligible for Medicare coverage just...
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or lupus is an inflammatory auto-immune disorder that can affect any body part or only one or a combination of body parts. For example, SLE may harm joints, heart, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood vessels or even the nervous system. While lupus is incurable and can be fatal, it can most often be treatable. Unfortunately, the disease course is often unpredictable because of alternating periods of exacerbation and remission. Some of the symptoms of lupus are severe...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects how the brain processes information. Symptoms of Autism vary in both type and degree and can develop gradually, but the condition is usually recognized by age three, and often sooner. An infant with autism does not react to social stimulation with healthy behavior such as babbling, laughing, smiling, or making eye contact. Instead, an infant with autism may show a marked inability to interact, and often begins to show...
Addison’s disease (AD) is a disorder of the endocrine system, specifically the adrenal glands, in which the affected individual’s body does not produce the right amount of hormones necessary for controlling the conversion of food to energy, inflammatory and stress response, and blood pressure levels. Symptoms of Addison’s disease include muscle ache, joint pain, weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, fainting, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, loss of appetite and body weight, craving sodiu...
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) refers to a group of inherited disorders that involve your connective tissue. Mainly, it affects your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Your connective tissue refers to the structural parts of your body. The cells of your body are essentially held together by your connective tissue. They form a framework, or matrix for your body. The specific listing connective tissue refers to is in 14.06 that states: 14.06 Undifferentiated and mixed connective tissue disease....
1. Tell all your doctors about all your symptoms. If you have depression and you go to your primary doctor or a referral to a specialist, fill out a health questionnaire, and check “NO, you do not have any mental health problems”, it makes you look less believable. 2. Tell all your doctors about all your symptoms. Social Security disability is a system based on medical problems and how these medical problems affect your ability to work – full time. This means that Social Security puts a lot o...
In every Social Security Disability claim the Social Security Administration (SSA) or, in this case the judge, making the final decision must determine how credible or believable the claimant is regarding their limitations. The credibility issues and subsequent analysis is extremely important in a disability claim because, face it, if the SSA believes the claimant to be fully credible then they should almost always consider the claimant to be disabled. We are not talking about not being...
Being blind or having a visual impairment can be very financially taxing. Not only are there direct medical costs, such as doctor visits, medications, nursing home care and guide dogs, but there are also indirect costs, such as the inability to work and generate an income. The lack of income, added to mounting medical expenses, can cause financial difficulties to spiral quickly out of control. Fortunately, in some cases, Social Security Disability benefits can alleviate some of this financial st...
Hearing Loss - Condition and Symptoms A person hears when sound waves inside the ear are converted into nerve signals that are recognized by the brain as sound. The eardrum and three bones in the middle ear amplify sound vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. Inside the inner ear is the cochlea, which contains fluid and to which are attached tiny hairs that translate the vibrations to electrical signals which in turn stimulate the brain to hear sound. When these hairs are damaged, the...
A person hears when sound waves inside the ear are converted into nerve signals that are recognized by the brain as sound. The eardrum and three bones in the middle ear amplify sound vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. Inside the inner ear is the cochlea, which contains fluid and to which are attached tiny hairs that translate the vibrations to electrical signals which in turn stimulate the brain to hear sound. When these hairs are damaged, the electrical signals are not transmitted...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects how the brain processes information. Symptoms of Autism vary in both type and degree and can develop gradually, but the condition is usually recognized by age three, and often sooner. An infant with autism does not react to social stimulation with healthy behavior such as babbling, laughing, smiling, or making eye contact. Instead, an infant with autism may show a marked inability to interact, and often begins to show...
Graves disease is an autoimmune disease, which is a disorder characterized by the body not recognizing itself, causing it to attack its own tissues and cells. Graves disease most often affects the thyroid gland causing it to be overactive, to swell larger than it should be, and can lead to hyperthyroidism (the thyroid producing an overabundance of thyroid hormones). The thyroid gland regulates things like weight, mental energy, mood, and physical energy. Symptoms of Graves disease can range...
Whether you are collecting Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your medical records will be reviewed periodically to see if you are still disabled enough for benefits to continue. Social Security calls these medical reviews “Continuing Disability Reviews” or CDRs. They should not be confused with the financial reviews that SSI recipients receive every year to confirm their financial need for SSI. Each time Social Security reviews your medical file, they set t...
I often get calls asking about whether someone should to use an attorney or an advocate. My short answer is “there is no difference.” Attorneys and Advocates both represent claimants the same way and have the same authority. One major difference is that most Advocates have not gone to law school. Many, like myself, have been Paralegals for many years. I have been a Paralegal for 34 years and 19 years as an Advocate. When I graduated from Paralegal school, I decided that I wanted to find a non...
In order for Social Security to determine support for Parkinson’s disease, it must be severe enough to significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most jobs. For example: • Walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying or handling • Seeing, hearing and speaking • Understanding/carrying out and remembering simple instructions • Responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers and usual work situations • Dealing with changes in a...
One question the judge is likely to ask you at your SSD hearing is “How far can you walk?” Your first inclination might be to give a simple straightforward answer like: “Two blocks.” But an answer like this doesn’t paint much of a picture of your walking ability and limitations. Pretend the Judge Is a Friend If you were talking to a friend about your ability to walk, you would probably describe where you have walked to recently, how you felt when you got there, whether you had to stop and rest...
