33-Year-Old Female from Pelham, North Carolina who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome – a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves and immune system – since 2020.
The claimant testified she was prescribed and wears braces walking as her legs are unstable with added sensations of pain, numbness and tingling. The client testified she can barely walk and needs either a cane or walker for ambulation. In Addition, the client suffers from bipolar, depression, anxiety, and hypothyroidism.
Initially, the Administrative Law Judge asked her many questions about her previous work experience. He then turned the questioning over to one of our attorneys to ask further work questions and the reason she stopped working. The claimant testified about initially being hospitalized and then being diagnosed with the Guillain-Barre syndrome. She described having weakness in her legs and loss of feeling below her waist. She additionally testified about the need for a bedside commode because she’s not able to make it to the bathroom and described the need to wear an adult diaper.
She has bilateral leg braces and a back brace. She also uses a walker and cane.