Knowledge and Empathy Are the Best Tools for Helping COVID 'Long Haulers' and Others With Disabilities

As more and more COVID-19 survivors face persistent symptoms after their illness and become “long haulers,” experts and clinicians struggle to provide treatment and guidance. Nevertheless, there is some knowledge waiting in another lesser understood condition: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Like the symptoms in COVID long haulers, the symptoms of ME/CFS are often triggered by serious infections. Patients also reported similar symptoms after the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003, and in relation to the Epstein Barr virus and mononucleosis. Unfortunately, research and awareness for ME/CFS and similar post-viral conditions are shockingly low – especially when figures from U.S. News & World Report suggest the illnesses cost the economy almost $24 billion each year.

Poorly Trained Providers

Many medical providers simply do not know how to diagnose or treat conditions like ME/CFS, and worse still, some doctors do not believe the illness is real. Many patients struggling with ME/CFS have been told their problems must be “in their heads,” and directed toward mental health services. Meanwhile, their symptoms rage on, and they are deprived of much-needed physical therapy, as well as biologic and holistic care. Patients need personalized, well-paced treatment plans and physicians who understand and believe them, not doctors who run standard medical tests and tell them “everything seems to be fine.”

This kind of stigma is the reason why COVID long haulers have been met with more questions than answers about their illness – and why many of them have created and joined social media support groups to find information, advice, and solidarity.

Existing Information

With the limelight on COVID-19, patients and physicians alike are grappling to find effective treatments without a body of research to work with. Still, health experts must remember that they are not starting from scratch. The existing research and evidence surrounding ME/CFS can help us understand a large collection of connected conditions and improve the lives of millions of Americans, including but not limited to COVID long haulers.

For now, the most important piece of the puzzle is ensuring patients with ME/CFS, long-term COVID symptoms, and similar conditions feel heard, believed, and understood. If you are one of the survivors, you need to know that you’re not alone and that experts have valuable information on your illness and are gathering more every day.

A Special Note From Dabdoub Law Firm

If you have disability insurance, you should also know that short-term disability benefits can help you financially while you learn to manage your lasting COVID symptoms or ME/CFS. Because treatments are still in their early stages, you may even qualify for long-term disability benefits if you are unable to return to work.

We are here to help when medical conditions rob you of your ability to work and make a living. We help people in all sorts of occupations all over the country.

Attorneys That Specialize in Handling Your Disability Insurance Claims

As a legal team that specializes in helping people get disability benefits from insurance companies, our lawyers are experts in disability insurance.

Why Us?

With your health and livelihood at stake, shouldn’t you have experienced disability lawyers on your side?

Federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, so we do not have to be located in your state to help.

Call us at (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with a disability insurance lawyer today.

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