On the Record: Why You Should Keep a Diary of Your Disability

A common piece of advice given by a Ocala Social Security disability lawyer to disability claimants is to keep a diary of your disability. It is easy for claimants to speak in generalizations about their impairment and what they can or cannot usually do, but your case will be stronger if you can provide detailed facts about your symptoms and the impact they have on your life over a period of weeks or months.

The type of your diary recommended by your Ocala Social Security disability attorney will depend on the specific impairment you are claiming and the facts of your case. Here are some possibilities of diaries you might want to keep.

Fever Diary

Some medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, autoimmune disorders and chronic colitis are known to produce night and daytime fevers. These fevers are significant in that they constitute important signs of the disease’s progression and can easily be seen to interfere with your work capacity. Recording your temperature each day on a grid will establish your credibility in claiming that you have been beset by a serious fever for a prolonged period of time.

Fatigue Diary

Fatigue is commonly associated with conditions such as drug side effects, fibromyalgia, depression, ischemic heart disease, multiple sclerosis and immune system diseases, to name a few. Your Ocala Social Security disability attorney might advise you to keep a daily record of how severe your fatigue is on a scale of one to ten and what parts of your body are most affected.

Headache Diary

Headaches are common, especially migraine headaches, but they can be debilitating. They are associated with immune disorders, hypertension and brain and neck trauma. Your Ocala Social Security disability lawyer might tell you to keep a diary of the date when you feel headaches, how intense they are, where they hurt and other symptoms you experience such as vomiting or sensitivity to bright light and loud noise. Also, record what medications you have taken to try to alleviate the pain.

If you want more help preparing to make a claim for disability benefits, contact an Ocala Social Security disability lawyer. Call CJ Henry Law Firm, PLLC. Call 352.304.5300.