ME/CFS: The Severely Disabling Condition Many Have Never Heard Of

Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is a disease that can be severely debilitating and leave many patients bedridden for the remainder of their lives. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that as many as 2.5 million Americans suffer from ME/CFS, there is relatively little public awareness of the disease and disability claims on this basis are frequently contested by the insurance companies.

After a recent and eye-opening article by CNN’s Ryan Prior about his personal battle with the disease and the severity of the situation for many Americans, public knowledge of the disease is beginning to shift in the right direction. At Capitan Law, we help people who are no longer able to work due to debilitating health conditions, including ME/CFS, submit disability insurance claims and appeal claim denials, so they can get the benefits they need to support themselves.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the case of CNN associate producer Ryan Prior and how Capitan Law can help some of the millions of Americans suffering from ME/CFS obtain disability insurance benefits to support themselves financially during their ongoing battle.

What We Can Learn from Ryan Prior

In his article, Mr. Prior brings awareness to ME/CFS, a serious, but little-known disorder that he himself struggles with. He explains how he first noticed something was wrong in high school after sleeping for sixteen hours each night for two weeks. He describes severe headaches and flu-like symptoms keeping him bedridden for the remainder of the school year, which he finished remotely through his school’s “hospital housebound program.”

After six months of visiting a variety of specialists, he received the unfortunate diagnosis of ME/CFS, an incurable yet not terminal disease. While Mr. Prior is still able to continue doing the work he loves, many others are not so fortunate. With no FDA-approved drugs to treat the disease and no known cure, patients are left with very few to no options for relief. Many are left unable to walk or speak, let alone work.

Read the full story by visiting the following link: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/08/health/iyw-ryan-me-cfs-story/index.html 

The Lifelong Battle with ME/CFS

While prominent doctors and scientists across the world are working diligently to learn more about the disease and how to cure it, many patients are left overcome by their symptoms and unable to work.

At Capitan Law, our long term disability lawyers help clients that can no longer work due to disabling health conditions. This includes serious, rare, and often misunderstood conditions such as ME/CFS. We help these individuals overcome the barriers placed in front of them, prove disability, and obtain the insurance benefits they need to support themselves. If you or a loved one is suffering and can no longer work, contact us today.