If you’re a woman, chances are that you’ve experienced a urinary tract infection. Pain and burning during urination and the sensation of constantly needing to urinate are key symptoms. Chances are good that you were prescribed an antibiotic and it went away.
Now imagine not having it go away with antibiotic treatment but instead experiencing those symptoms, as well as acute and chronic pain in the pelvic region, on a daily basis, and you can understand what an estimated 3-8 million women in the United States are coping with. This is called Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and it is a serious disease that can affect a person’s ability to function, to concentrate, and to carry out any type of work or home life. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recognized this fact with new guidance on evaluating Interstitial Cystitis for disability benefits.
If you suffer from IC, please know that SSA does recognize it as a basis for approving a disability application when: (1) your treating physician has done certain laboratory tests; (2) your medical records demonstrate that you have suffered from this condition for at least six weeks to meet the American Urological Association guidelines and at least a year to meet the general disability duration requirement; (3) you have the symptoms consistent with this disease.
We recommend that you keep a daily journal documenting your condition and how it limits you.