Benign Lymphogranulomatosis and Receiving Social Security Disability
Benign lymphogranulomatosis is a disease in which abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells (granulomas) form as nodules in several of your organs. These granulomas develop most often in your lungs or lymph nodes. However, they can appear in virtually any of your organs. Benign lymphogranulomatosis is an inflammatory disease. It originates with a specific kind of inflammation. The granulomas mentioned above are tiny, grain-like lumps of cells. They are referred to as granulomas because they look like grains of sand or sugar. As also mentioned above, these granulomas develop and show up most often in your lymph nodes or lungs. However, they may then clump together and form larger lumps that attack other organs. In fact, it is possible for benign lymphogranulomatosis to affect practically any organ in your body. This may mean your skin, liver, eyes, heart or nervous system. The cause of benign lymphogranulomatosis has not yet been determined. However, researchers do know that it is an immune system disease. An immune system disease is one in which your immune system that normally fights anything foreign that invades your body, for some unknown reason, attacks the cells and tissues of your own body.Signs you could have Benign Lymphogranulomatosis
The signs and symptoms that you experience with benign lymphogranulomatosis will depend on which of your organs are being affected by the disease. As mentioned earlier, your lungs are the organs that are affected most of the time. Possible signs and symptoms are:- ? Lungs - You may experience a persistent cough that just will not go away, chest pain and shortness of breath that occur especially after any kind of exertion with the pulmonary form of this disease.
- ? Sinuses, nasal lining and larynx - You may have shortness of breath, hoarseness or sinusitis.
- Liver - Most of the time, when the disease develops in your liver, it does so without signs or symptoms and does not require any treatment.
- Heart - Your heart may beat weakly, which leads to shortness of breath and swelling in your legs. You may also experience an irregular heart beat (palpitations).
- Lymph nodes The lymph nodes that are affected most of the time are in your arm pits, neck, groin and under your chin, where they become enlarged.
- ? Bones, muscles and joints - Signs and symptoms include joint pain, a mass in your muscle, muscle weakness and arthritis in the joints of your feet, ankles, knees, hands, wrists and elbows.
- Skin Painful or red, raised bumps that form on your arms or legs, small painless and brown skin patches and discoloration of your cheeks, nose, ears or lips are indications of how benign lymphogranulomatosis affects your skin.
- Eyes You may experience tearing, dryness, red eye, itching, pain, burning, sensitivity to light, seeing black spots (floaters) and blurred vision.
- Brain and nervous system You may have numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, headaches, visual difficulties and facial palsy.