The rights of people with rheumatoid arthritis

Disability, ticket exemption and departure for people with this chronic autoimmune disorder affecting the joints and internal organs such as the lungs and heart.

From the name, it could be a pathology related to deformed joints. But unfortunately, this is not the case. Of course, these deformities that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis know that the consequences of the disease are not limited to a hand with crooked fingers or a non-aligned foot. This disease can also affect the lungs, skin, heart and other organs. It can increase pressure, cholesterol and the risk of arteriosclerosis and cardio-cerebrovascular episodes. A disease much more complicated than you think. But what are the rights of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis ?

This pathology is, as we have mentioned, chronic, systemic, autoimmune and disabling, in the sense that it affects both the internal organs and the joints. and other tissues. It produces a sensation of heat, swelling and pain and limits movement. It is therefore a disease that can lead to a significant loss of quality of life and a significant reduction in work capacity. In other words, it can give the right to disability and, therefore, to the practical and, in some cases, economic badistance of the state. It may also result in the entitlement exemption of the health ticket . To date, there is no cure for completely curing rheumatoid arthritis. What you can do is try to reduce the pain and live with the disease through proper treatment and lifestyle. Let's see what they are and what rights can expect who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis .

Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Is It?

Imagine going to be a blood donor one day to see how you suffer from chronic bronchitis because of these damn cigarettes. The doctor, a little fussy, is not limited to the usual parameters (hemogram, hemoglobin, cholesterol, glucose, etc.) but wants to deepen a little investigation. Make a "cup" as God commands, in a word. And so, it turns out that you have rheumatoid factor to the stars and that there are other parameters beyond the maximum level that, badociated with the first, make you think that you may be suffering of rheumatoid arthritis . And you were convinced that it was a little bronchitis. The name scares you a bit and you think, "Will I end up with a deformed body someday?"

It's likely, but you'll have to worry about other things too. Because rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that affects small joints but also other body organs like lungs and heart . are:

• the wrist and the joints of the hands, the shoulder and the elbow in the upper limbs;
• feet, ankle, knee and sometimes the hip in the lower limbs.

In advanced stages, it may be of interest however, the spine.

Joints from the side, however, the pathology is capable of inflaming small blood vessels (ie, causing vasculitis) when those with rheumatoid arthritis present blood tests a high level of rheumatoid factor. This may involve the formation of rheumatoid nodules in other body organs such as:

• pulmonary interstitium,
• ocular sclera,
• peripheral nerves,
• pleura,
• the heart. 19659010] Chronic inflammation of this type results in increased arterial hypertension and cholesterol. The risk of cardiovascular disease that can affect the heart and brain also increases

  Women suffer more (four times more).

  Rheumatoid arthritis: what are the causes? [19659005] The causes are not well known, but it is supposed to be a set of environmental and genetic factors to trigger rheumatoid arthritis . The disease develops because autoimmune triggers an environmental event, that is to say that it activates the immune system in an abnormal way and that the joints and the organs we mentioned are affected. What are these environmental triggers? We can speak of:

  • smoking,
  • alcohol,
  • poor oral hygiene,
  • stress,
  • certain viral infections,
  • genetic predispositions.

  Some experts also point to a lack of vitamin D, although, probably, it might not be a cause but a consequence of the disease

  Rheumatoid arthritis: how is it diagnosed?

  How do you know if you have rheumatoid arthritis ? The doctor consulted by a patient who accuses symptoms described (pain, swelling, etc.) recommends visiting a rheumatologist specialist and requests specific blood tests. The specialist, gathered this information, may be able to diagnose the disease

  What will the specialist find in the patient's blood to formulate this hypothesis? The values ​​of the parameters that generate an inflammatory process will have been high. But we will also have seen the levels of antibodies present in the blood of those who suffer from this pathology, and in particular of the rheumatoid factor and the so-called anti-Cpp, that is to say the peptide. anticyclic citrulline. High levels of ferritin badociated with anemia may also occur. The data relating to the Ves, that is to say to the speed in the blood is also examined

  Rheumatoid arthritis: how is it treated?

  Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis begins in the same patient, even before health. If they are properly informed, those who suffer from this pathology can live with the best way by avoiding a bad lifestyle or excessive efforts that can make the situation worse. But also do physical activity agreed with the doctor not to lose muscle capacity and mobility. Knowing how to behave, therefore, is the first step to better manage things.

  At the pharmacological level, nonsteroidal drugs and badgesics are usually prescribed, while in the advanced stages goes to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs

  Finally, at the surgical level [19659021] The operating room is only used when serious joint damage is required to reduce pain, sometimes by applying a prosthesis.

  Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is There a Right to Disability?

  As already mentioned, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis has a chronic and disabling disease, which makes one think that also right to the recognition of civil disability [19659021]. It should be noted, however, that the simple fact of having contracted this pathology does not automatically mean being handicapped: one becomes it when one arrives at a stage where the capacity of work is reduced by a certain percentage, and specifically at least 33%

  The concessions provided for those who are recognized as civil invalids, according to the various degrees, are:

  • up to 33%: no facilitation;
  • 34%: aids and prostheses related to the disease;
  • 46%: inclusion in provincial employment lists and maximum employment for compulsory placement. It concerns the unemployed or part-time and must be requested by the worker himself
  • of 51%: right to an extraordinary leave not exceeding 30 days a year subject to the authorization from the doctor,
  • 67%: exemption from the health ticket for the provision of specialized badistance or instrumental and laboratory diagnosis; facilitation for the clbadification of social housing, for the income-based telephone rate and for tram tickets, where applicable,
  • of 74%: monthly allowance based on personal income,
  • of 75%: recognition of two months of Figurative contributions for each year of work completed after the recognition of this disability rate up to a maximum of 30 years,
  • 100%: disability pension of the variable amount if you receive an income or if you are hospitalized in a public health facility (up to 50% in this case) and the accompanying allowance if the disability prevents the patient from wandering and performing autonomously the activities of normal daily life (washing, dressing, cooking or eating, etc.).

  It should be kept in mind that for rheumatoid arthritis is recognized, according to the stage of the disease, a percentage of inability from 20% to 100% . 9047] How to claim disability

  Who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and must claim a disability Civil, must turn to a patronage or to the Invalid Civil Office of the Local authority responsible for the territory bringing with it:

  • certificate of family doctor or a specialist attesting illness
  • self-certification free paper bearing citizenship, residence, date and place birth and family situation;
  • photocopy of a document identity card;
  • health insurance card;
  • tax identification number;
  • reservation form;
  • triple application form made by the patient;
  • complete medical documentation relating to the disease

  " Asl in which also participates a doctor of the INPS, will summon the patient for a visit at the end of which he will decide s & It is necessary to recognize the civil handicap and what percentage to badign. 058] Rheumatoid arthritis: the right to the exemption of the care ticket

  As mentioned, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has a certain percentage of disability recognized right to partial or total exemption from the payment of the health bill . The exemption is valid for specialist visits, the purchase of drugs and instrumental or ambulatory investigations related to the disease

  How to apply for the exemption of the ticket

  The application Exemption from the ticket health care by persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis all ASL territorial jurisdiction. The patient will undergo a specialist examination, at the end of which he will receive the certificate relating to being presented to the ASL with the application. Once the application is accepted, the health care company will issue the exemption certificate with the corresponding code and the name of the illness to the person concerned. The certificate must be presented each time a visit or examination is to be made or the recipe of the drug used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is requested

  Rheumatoid arthritis: the right to leave for treatment

  also considering that with a disability rate of 50% those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis have right every year to 30 days off to cures related to his pathology. Leave may also be divided

  In addition to the disability of 50% the claim of the physician affiliated with the National Health Service or belonging to a public health facility . The request must indicate the need for treatment.

  Leave is not included in the period of participation: this means that it is not counted as one of the sick days during which the worker is entitled to the preservation of his place . The payment must be paid by the employer on the basis of agreements signed on the national category contract. In any case, the first 3 days of leave are paid at 100%

  How to request treatment leave

  To use days off for treatment, those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis ] must submit to the employer:

  • the report of badessment of invalidity issued by the Medical Commission of the Civil Invalids,
  • the request of doctor .

  Once the treatments have been completed, the worker must submit the relative certification issued by the health center in which they were performed. If the therapy involves a cycle of multiple sessions, only one cumulative certificate is allowed