Suffering from a Disability? Why Honest Communication with Your Medical Providers Matters

Do You Need to Disclose All of Your Symptoms to Your Doctor or Medical Provider?

Do you need to tell your doctor everything that is wrong with you? This might seem like a very ridiculous question, with a very obvious answer, – which is OF COURSE! Honest communication with your medical providers is crucial to your health and wellness. However, what many people don’t realize is that just telling the doctor about one symptom is not always enough.

Picture this…you have leg pain. You go to your primary care physician’s office and tell them, “I have leg pain.” They refer you to an orthopedic doctor. You go to the orthopedic doctor and tell them, again, “I have leg pain.” They perform a series of tests, but can’t find anything wrong based on the objective medical tests and now they have no other roads to go down and hit a dead end.

What you failed to mention to these doctors is that you also have intermittent headaches, hand tingling, and numbness. Maybe there is numbness in your feet and toes. Well, now you have given them a host of additional symptoms to narrow the scope of their investigation into your leg pain.

What is my point? Well, it’s simple, tell your doctor everything! As the saying goes, it’s better for your doctor to have all the information and not need it, than to need it but not have it.

It goes without saying that the human body is an intricate network of systems that all work together to keep us alive. What most of us don’t always think about is that symptoms from one body system can be directly related to another body system, or at the least, symptoms give the doctors clues about what else might be going on.

Properly relaying all of your symptoms to your doctor is critical to getting a proper diagnosis. A proper diagnosis leads to the correct treatment plan for your condition and, for disability claims, provides significant snapshots and information about what is happening with your body at that moment in time.

In addition, medical records are scrutinized for inconsistencies in the things you say, versus the things that are written by your doctors. Often times, adjudicators will review the medical records, and note that you may not have complained about specific symptoms to specific providers, or that you are denying symptoms. In your mind it might be as simple as, why does my orthopedic doctor care about my mental health symptoms? But the fact is that everything you report to your doctors is recorded in your medical records, and if you deny symptoms to one doctor, it can be gleaned that you didn’t think it was enough of an issue to report.

Tips for Honest Communication with Your Medical Providers

1. Never say you are “pretty good” “great” “fine” or “ok”. Your medical provider is there to assess your current condition and these vague terms won’t help you. Be as descriptive as possible – about any physical AND mental pain you are experiencing. And don’t just focus on the current day – think back to yesterday or last week to get a better assessment of your overall current state of health. This is where preparation in writing things down before your appointment will come in handy.
   
2. Don’t play the hero. You may have learned to hide your pain in your everyday life – but in speaking with your medical provider you need to be honest and describe your pain and weaknesses. It’s ok if it’s difficult to put into words – just try your hardest so the provider understands the extent of your pain. This will help your medical provider better assess your current condition, your condition expected for the next 12 months, and your ability to work and earn income on your own.
   
3. Side Effects Matter! Always report any and all side effects from your medication or medication cocktail. We have all seen the commercials that list significant side effects from medications. It is important not to focus on the fact that you do NOT have these side effects, especially if you have other side effects. Opiates tend to cause drowsiness, fatigue, and brain fog. Other medications can increase mental health symptoms, cause abdominal pain or diarrhea, headaches, or any number of side effects. It is important for you to discuss these side effects with your doctors. Disability benefits are not just paid because you have specific medical conditions, benefits are awarded when we can prove that your medical conditions impact your day to day life. This includes not just the conditions, but the side effects from medications as well.
   
4. Do not lie about or fabricate symptoms to make your condition seem even worse. While you should always be open and honest, a doctor will likely see through any exaggerations and could leave them wondering what else you aren’t being forthcoming about. You don’t want to jeopardize the trust between you and your medical provider – honesty is always the best policy.
   
5. And conversely…now is not the time to downplay your condition. You want to build the strongest case possible for the state of your health – make sure to describe all symptoms, pain, and other necessary details (even those that are embarrassing) to better prove your case. It may seem like a lot and it may even become overwhelming – take your time as you gather your thoughts. If you rush through describing your current symptoms and conditions there is the likelihood that you’ll forget something or leave out important details altogether.

Using the Medical History You’ve Compiled to Apply for Disability Benefits

You’ve seen your medical providers and communicated ALL of your symptoms honestly. They’ve been able to successfully diagnose your condition and provide a treatment plan for you. Now what?

If your condition will keep you from working for the next 12 months (at least) then you may be eligible to file a Social Security disability claim and collect disability benefits while your condition renders you unable to work.

Bross & Frankel, P.A. are New Jersey disability benefits attorneys in private practice.  We are focused on helping individuals obtain disability benefits and fight to get back to work when something or someone has affected their livelihood.  Our experience in advocating for individuals who have found themselves unable to work due to their own health problems gives us a comprehensive set of tools to help get you back on your feet. Contact us online or call us today for a no-obligation claim review at (856) 795-8880.