5,000 signatures reached
To: Department for work and pensions, Iain Duncan Smith - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Chronic, Daily Chronic and Hemiplegic Migraines to be classed as a disability UK
To reconise that Chronic and Hemiplegic Migraines are classed as a disability. On ESA forms and PIP Migraine sufferes have appeal because the Drs/healthcare proffesional have no understanding of migraines. Let us take a stand and put these down As an Official Disability status with fairer treatment on assessments for ESA and PIP.
Why is this important?
I want it also on the Social Security Benefits in the ESA and PIP assessments for people inUK! People who dont suffer with Migraines/Headaches may think "its just a headache/Migraine" but its not! Different symptoms depending on type and severity of them. My ESA claim got turn down because it was claimed that it doesn't affect my life!! It does!!
CHRONIC MIGRAINES
Chronic migraine is a distinct and relatively recently defined sub-type of Chronic Daily Headache. The International Headache Society defines chronic migraine as more than fifteen headache days per month over a three month period of which more than eight are migrainous, in the absence of medication over use. Episodic migraine is the other migraine sub-type, which is defined as less than 15 headache days per month.1
Impact of chronic migraine
It is estimated that this condition affects fewer than 1 percent of the population, but this still means that there over 610,000 chronic migraine sufferers in the UK.2 Due to the nature and length of time that the sufferer is affected, people with chronic migraine experience significantly more time absent from work, school, leisure, housework and social activities than episodic migraine patients.3 Efficiency is also reduced due to chronic migraine, resulting in a more than 50% reduction in productivity from work or school.3,4 This is often described as a migraine ‘hangover’ by sufferers.
The impact of chronic migraine can be very disabling.5 Being incapacitated for over half the month sometimes means that people are unable to work at all, with some claiming disability living allowance. Unfortunately, in many cases, current therapies are not enough to prevent or reduce the impact that chronic migraine has on people’s lives. This can lead to sufferers frequently becoming depressed and unable to cope.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised the impact of migraine worldwide and categorised it as the same level of disability as dementia, quadriplegia and acute psychosis. Furthermore WHO classified chronic migraine as more disabling than blindness, paraplegia angina or rheumatoid arthritis.6
Some estimates put the cost of migraine, just in terms of medications at £150 million annually in the UK, but the overall cost is much more than that. An estimated 25 million working days are lost due to migraine, and at average gross weekly pay of £450, this costs the UK £2.25 billion per annum.7
Causes of chronic migraine
Just like episodic migraine there is no single cause for chronic migraine. Some people find that they have defined triggers such as caffeine, bright lights, hormone, food or sleep deprivation.
Many of the therapies prescribed for chronic migraine are the same as those prescribed for episodic migraine. These include both prescription and over the counter painkillers and as well as migraine specific drugs such as triptans. These are known as abortive or acute medications.
A combination of lifestyle changes and understanding the migraine triggers is important. There are also preventative treatments available for chronic migraine, but these are often associated with side effects, and many people cannot tolerate them for long periods of time.
Hemiplegic Migraines
Hemiplegic migraine is referred to as a “migraine variant”. The word hemiplegic simply means paralysis on one side of the body. A person with hemiplegic migraine will experience a temporary weakness on one side of their body as part of their migraine attack. This can involve the face, arm or leg and be accompanied by numbness, or pins and needles. The person may experience speech difficulties, vision problems or confusion. This can be a frightening experience for the individual as these symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. This weakness may last from one hour to several days, but usually it goes within 24 hours. The head pain associated with migraine typically follows the weakness, but the headache may precede it or be absent.
New Persiant Daily Headache/Migraine
New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a primary headache syndrome which can mimic chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache. The headache is daily and unremitting from very soon after onset (within 3 days at most), in a person who does not have a past history of a primary headache disorder. The pain can be intermittent, but lasts more than 3 months. One feature of the condition is its abrupt onset. People often remember the date, circumstance and, occasionally, the time of headache onset. One retrospective study stated that over 80% of patients could state the exact date their headache began.[1]
The cause of NDPH is unknown, and it may have more than one etiology. NDPH onset is usually in relation to an infection or flu-like illness, stressful life event, minor head trauma, and extra cranial surgery. Infection or flu-like illness and stressful life event are most often cited.[1] The pathophysiology of NDPH is poorly understood
CHRONIC MIGRAINES
Chronic migraine is a distinct and relatively recently defined sub-type of Chronic Daily Headache. The International Headache Society defines chronic migraine as more than fifteen headache days per month over a three month period of which more than eight are migrainous, in the absence of medication over use. Episodic migraine is the other migraine sub-type, which is defined as less than 15 headache days per month.1
Impact of chronic migraine
It is estimated that this condition affects fewer than 1 percent of the population, but this still means that there over 610,000 chronic migraine sufferers in the UK.2 Due to the nature and length of time that the sufferer is affected, people with chronic migraine experience significantly more time absent from work, school, leisure, housework and social activities than episodic migraine patients.3 Efficiency is also reduced due to chronic migraine, resulting in a more than 50% reduction in productivity from work or school.3,4 This is often described as a migraine ‘hangover’ by sufferers.
The impact of chronic migraine can be very disabling.5 Being incapacitated for over half the month sometimes means that people are unable to work at all, with some claiming disability living allowance. Unfortunately, in many cases, current therapies are not enough to prevent or reduce the impact that chronic migraine has on people’s lives. This can lead to sufferers frequently becoming depressed and unable to cope.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised the impact of migraine worldwide and categorised it as the same level of disability as dementia, quadriplegia and acute psychosis. Furthermore WHO classified chronic migraine as more disabling than blindness, paraplegia angina or rheumatoid arthritis.6
Some estimates put the cost of migraine, just in terms of medications at £150 million annually in the UK, but the overall cost is much more than that. An estimated 25 million working days are lost due to migraine, and at average gross weekly pay of £450, this costs the UK £2.25 billion per annum.7
Causes of chronic migraine
Just like episodic migraine there is no single cause for chronic migraine. Some people find that they have defined triggers such as caffeine, bright lights, hormone, food or sleep deprivation.
Many of the therapies prescribed for chronic migraine are the same as those prescribed for episodic migraine. These include both prescription and over the counter painkillers and as well as migraine specific drugs such as triptans. These are known as abortive or acute medications.
A combination of lifestyle changes and understanding the migraine triggers is important. There are also preventative treatments available for chronic migraine, but these are often associated with side effects, and many people cannot tolerate them for long periods of time.
Hemiplegic Migraines
Hemiplegic migraine is referred to as a “migraine variant”. The word hemiplegic simply means paralysis on one side of the body. A person with hemiplegic migraine will experience a temporary weakness on one side of their body as part of their migraine attack. This can involve the face, arm or leg and be accompanied by numbness, or pins and needles. The person may experience speech difficulties, vision problems or confusion. This can be a frightening experience for the individual as these symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. This weakness may last from one hour to several days, but usually it goes within 24 hours. The head pain associated with migraine typically follows the weakness, but the headache may precede it or be absent.
New Persiant Daily Headache/Migraine
New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a primary headache syndrome which can mimic chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache. The headache is daily and unremitting from very soon after onset (within 3 days at most), in a person who does not have a past history of a primary headache disorder. The pain can be intermittent, but lasts more than 3 months. One feature of the condition is its abrupt onset. People often remember the date, circumstance and, occasionally, the time of headache onset. One retrospective study stated that over 80% of patients could state the exact date their headache began.[1]
The cause of NDPH is unknown, and it may have more than one etiology. NDPH onset is usually in relation to an infection or flu-like illness, stressful life event, minor head trauma, and extra cranial surgery. Infection or flu-like illness and stressful life event are most often cited.[1] The pathophysiology of NDPH is poorly understood
How it will be delivered
Send a Copy to the Department of Work and Pensions and to Iain Duncan Smith secretary of State for DWP
