October 11, 2011

A Tardive Dyskinesia sufferer from Watauga County, North Carolina, has reportedly battled to receive approval for Social Security Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, reports The Watauga Democrat.

Tardive Dyskinesia — which is a permanent neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable facial movement — most often surfaces after a patient has taken a prolonged dosage of the anti-nausea or anti-heartburn prescription drug Reglan (or its generic counterpart, metoclopramide).

“If I wouldn’t have had my daughters, [my bills] wouldn’t have been paid,” the man told The Watauga Democrat.

“[Government officials] don’t care about me,” he continued. “I’m frustrated at not being treated right.”

The man, who is now on Medicaid, has had to accrue financial debt to cover his treatment. His case is indicative of a much larger problem in Watauga County, where around 13,000 people are uninsured.

“I don’t see it getting better any time soon,” said Appalachian Healthcare Project’s Bryan Belcher. “In 2014, when Healthcare Reform kicks in, there are a significant people who will be eligible for Medicaid … but until then, with the economy not rebounding and the poverty rates staying the same or increasing, I don’t see it getting better.”

Read more.

If you’ve been diagnosed with Tardive Dyskinesia, have you found it difficult to get Social Security Disability benefits in connection with the condition?

To find out more about Reglan, visit www.reglandruginjury.com. Our Reglan drug injury lawyers may be able to help.