Cardiomyopathy refers to a disease of the heart muscle.  Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the ankles, fluid in the lungs, heart enlargement, swelling of the liver,  heart arrhythmias, passing out, angina, and palpitations.   There are two main tests that will show [...]

This disorder refers to damage to the inner ear.  Serious problems with balance is most common since the  inner ear is primarily responsible for balance.  This disorder also includes tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.  Tinnitus and progressive hearing loss is almost always present with [...]

Sarcoidosis is considered a rheumatic disease.  This disorder is usually found in a routine chest x-ray.  The most obvious symptoms from this disorder occur in the lungs.  Normally people with this disorder take prednisone which is a very powerful medication with very serious side effects.  [...]

This disorder is also known as wryneck.  It is caused by spasms or contractions of the neck muscles thereby causing the head to be turned to one side or tilted up or down.  This can cause severe pain and prevent the person from having a [...]

Syringomyelia is a severe neurologic problem.  There probably will be congenital malformations in the cervical spine or the base of the skull.  Normally there is a cavity within the brain stem or upper cervical spine that produces this disorder.  Many times a person with this [...]

The Social Security Administration does not like this impairment as the basis for awarding benefits simply because they believe that the disorder is subjective in nature.  Personality disorders are very common.  Assessing the severity of a personality disorder comes down to a doctor or psychologist [...]