The nervous system controls almost everything in the body below the neck and works with the brain to carry out complex behaviors. Any kind of damage or degeneration from diseases, medical conditions, or physical injuries can cause mild to severe impairments in the afflicted person. This can impact job performance, daily living skills, learning abilities, and basic self-care. For those with jobs that require physically demanding work or mentally complex tasks, nervous system disorders may make them unable to continue their job. 

Many of these disorders can lead to long-term disabilities. Talk to a Philadelphia disability lawyer if you were diagnosed with a nervous system disorder and have concerns about your finances. 

Different Nervous System Disorders

Nervous system disorders or neurological disorders make up a wide range of diseases, developmental problems, degenerative diseases, infections, physical injuries, cancers, seizure disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Genetic diseases like Huntington’s disease or muscular dystrophy can significantly impact a person’s ability to carry out complex tasks. Developmental conditions can happen at birth or early on in childhood. For example, some people are born with spina bifida, a deformation of the spine that can lead to movement problems. 

Cardiovascular problems like strokes can lead to brain damage because they affect the brain’s blood flow. Some people who have strokes may have trouble walking or using one of their arms. Others may have problems with speech production. Physical injuries to the spinal cord can impair movement and sensation while traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from hits to the head can affect these abilities and more. 

Depending on the TBI severity, a person may also struggle with communication, perception, emotional control, and decision-making. These can all impact job performance in some way. Cancer may lead to similar problems depending on where the tumor is located in the brain. 

Certain seizure disorders like epilepsy can happen unexpectedly and are often life-threatening. Infections in the brain like meningitis can mimic degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. 

Types of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases include a class of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Frontotemporal Disorders, Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and Vascular Dementia. Different degenerative diseases can have different effects and can come with different disabilities. 

In general, many of these neurodegenerative conditions impact a person’s ability to think, retrieve information from memory, and use adequate self-care. This is because these conditions can invoke confusion, problems with attention, and difficulties with movement. Parkinson’s and Huntington’s are both examples of conditions that can affect movement.

Vascular Dementia is less well-known and can happen after multiple strokes over a person’s lifetime. Symptoms of this condition are similar to other neurodegenerative brain disorders because they involve problems with memory and behavior. 

Philadelphia Disability Lawyer

Consider hiring a Philadelphia individual disability insurance lawyer if you were diagnosed with a nervous system disorder and are currently struggling financially. Call Edelstein & Nelson at 1-800-300-0909 today for a consultation. We can walk you through the disability benefits application process, but can also help you through the appeals process if your application was denied.