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The Social Security Administration recognizes some digestive system disorders under listing 5.00. Even if your condition is not included in the Listing of Impairments, there are a wide variety of digestive disorders which, if severe enough, may qualify a person for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
Digestive System Disorders
Colitis is a condition that arises due to long term or sudden inflammation of the lining of the colon or large intestine. Its types, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, ischemic colitis, necrotizing colitis, and fulminant colitis, vary in the degree of damage they cause to the colon. Regardless of the type, colitis is a severe health issue that may lead to intense pain and inflammation. In some instances, it could result in a decrease in blood flow or an increase in infections typically caused by foodborne bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
The symptoms of colitis differ based on the specific type. General signs include abdominal discomfort, bloating, dehydration, chills, diarrhea, high fever, an intense and continuous urge to defecate, and the presence of blood in the stool. More severe symptoms might involve difficulty in urination, intense rectal or abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. If a person with whom you’ve shared meals starts showing similar symptoms, it’s usually a cause for concern.
Crohn’s disease is one of the more common forms of inflammatory bowel disease. It affects the gastrointestinal tract, including the entire wall of the bowel and intestines. Inflammation occurs, most often in the intestines, but can also affect any area between the mouth and the anus. It is a chronic autoimmune disease, meaning that it is a result of the body’s immune system attacking itself and the effects are ongoing.
It can occur at any age, but usually affects those between the ages of 15 and 30. Although the exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, it is assumed to be a hereditary disease. It is more likely to occur in people whose bodies are already known to over-react to the appearance of bacteria in the intestinal regions. Smoking can be a high-risk factor as well.
The typical symptoms of Crohn’s disease are fatigue, high fever, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and pain with bowel movements that may also be bloody. These signs can vary depending on which area of the gastrointestinal tract is being affected. Others include constipation, eye inflammation, mouth ulcers, skin ulcers, and joint pain. Children may experience delays in growth or sexual development.
Necrotizing colitis, also known as pseudomembranous colitis, is a unique form of the disease characterized by the excessive growth of a bacterium known as Clostridium difficile, which leads to infection. This bacterium produces a toxin that inflames the colon’s lining upon release, promoting further bacterial growth and potential bleeding within the colon.
A key contributor to contracting this illness is the usage of antibiotics such as ampicillin, clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, and cephalosporins, which seem to promote bacterial overgrowth. Additional causes can include recent surgery or simply aging. The condition is frequently observed in hospital settings due to the potential for bacteria transfer between patients. Typical signs of necrotizing colitis include dehydration, nausea, abdominal cramps of varying severity, a strong need to defecate, and passing stools that contain blood, pus, or mucus. Affected individuals often experience watery diarrhea between 5 and 10 times a day.
Pancreatitis is a digestive issue where the pancreatic digestive enzymes, which are supposed to digest food in the small intestine, instead become active within the pancreas, causing the organ to self-destruct. This condition can manifest suddenly, known as acute pancreatitis, or persist for several years, causing serious digestive harm, known as chronic pancreatitis.
The primary causes of pancreatitis are gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption. Gallstones, hardened deposits of bile in the gallbladder, may travel through the biliary tract, which includes the pancreatic duct. Other factors, like environmental or genetic influences, mumps, scorpion venom, specific medications, steroids, and abdominal injuries, can also cause pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis typically causes severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back. Other signs include high fever, nausea, vomiting, an unusually fast pulse, low blood pressure, dehydration, rapid weight loss, and internal bleeding. Chronic pancreatitis might also present signs of diabetes or pancreatic cancer. An inexpensive abdominal ultrasound can usually help diagnose pancreatitis by revealing whether the pancreas is inflamed and by detecting gallstones or an alcoholic fatty liver.
Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim
If you’re struggling with a debilitating digestive disorder and require assistance with your Social Security disability claim, we’re here to help. Nick Ortiz is a Social Security disability attorney who represents claimants nationwide. Call the Ortiz Law Firm today at (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free case evaluation.