Of Migraine and disability, Dr. Fred Sheftell, founder and director of the New England Center for Headache said, "Historically, patients with the most intractable Migraines experience a downward spiral in terms of income and contributions to society at large." One of the more recent studies on the impact of Migraine showed the U.S. unemployment rate of Migraineurs to be 10% - 20%, which is far higher than the general population. Data from the Migraine Association of Canada indicates Migraine causes an annual loss of nearly 500 million dollars in the workplace.
Many employers are quite willing to make accommodations for Migraineurs in the workplace. Different lighting, glare screens for computers, flex-time scheduling and other can make it possible for some Migraineurs to work around their Migraine attacks and continue working Partly because Migraine is so misunderstood, some employers are not willing to make those accommodations. In some workplaces, such as industrial settings, there are safety issues that must be considered as well. There are some things that Migraineurs can do to better handle Migraine at work:
- Be prepared. Always have medications with you. Find out in advance if there is someplace at work where you can rest quietly if a Migraine strikes at work.
- Scope out your work environment for possible environmental triggers.
- Talk to your employer/supervisor before a Migraine strikes you at work. You may find it helpful to have your doctor give you a letter to take to work explaining that Migraine is a neurological disorder. This lets your boss know in advance that you are conscientious and not just calling in to take the day off.
- Don't be embarrassed or try to hide your Migraines. The more others know about your Migraines, the more understanding they will be.
Unfortunately, for some Migraineurs, no matter how good their treatment regimen is, their Migraines will cause varying levels of disability, perhaps severe enough to compromise their ability to earn a living. Assessing the level Migraine's impact on one's life is quite helpful to doctors in evaluating treatment plans. It will also be necessary if the patient is going to apply for disability benefits. One method of measuring the level of Migraine impact is the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS). This simple survey is available online through the MAGNUM, The National Migraine Association or the ACHE, The American Council for Headache Education. If your level of disability is to the point of applying for disability benefits there is much you will need to know and do. Your physician should be able to point you in the right direction. His or her records and input will be vital to your application for benefits.
"I am sitting here reading this material with tears running down my cheeks. Heaven forbid a family member would come into the office and see me crying. Once again I would hear: "Oh mom, what are you crying about this time!" I have had Migraine Headaches for over 25yrs, and still suffer from them. The worst part is the way I have been treated. Everyone from the office staff at a Dr.'s visit to E.R. personnel, co-workers, friends, and family think I am CRAZY! There is not enough room to tell you what it is like to live with MH. I have wanted so many times to stand on a roof top and SCREAM - Life is Hell! (Jane Henderson*, Migraineur)
* Raymond Dziezynski, Jo, and Jane Henderson have very generously shared their experiences with us for this look at the disabling effects of Migraine. Thank you.
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