Does a pituitary tumor qualify for disability?

If you suffer from a pituitary gland malfunction and it makes you unable to work, you may qualify for Social Security disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program to pay monthly benefits for those who are unable to work.

Can you work with a pituitary tumor?

Additionally, there is a need for regular medical care and monitoring of hormone treatments. Most patients who have had a pituitary tumor engage in normal work and social activities.

Is a pituitary tumor a chronic illness?

The burden of patients with pituitary conditions is considered severe and chronic, as these patients usually need life-long care and treatment. Daily life remains affected despite long-term remission. The causes of disease burden for patients are numerous.

How long can a person live with a pituitary tumor?

The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 5 years after the tumor is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 5-year survival rate for people with a pituitary gland tumor is 97%. Survival rates depend on the type of tumor, the person's age, and other factors.

Do pituitary tumors affect memory?

The tumor may also press on the nerves that move the eye and cause double vision. If the tumor is very large it may press on other parts of the brain and cause problems with memory, weakness, or numbness. Some pituitary tumors may be observed without treatment because they may grow very slowly.

Pituitary Gland Tumors and Social Security Disability

Can a pituitary tumor change your personality?

Personality changes are also common when a pituitary tumour causes the pituitary gland to over- or under-produce hormones. This can affect your emotions and cause changes in your sex drive. Larger tumours can have a greater effect on personality, as they generally affect a greater area of the brain.

Will I lose weight after pituitary tumor is removed?

In general, most patients lose all of the weight they are going to lose within a year of surgery with most of the weight loss occurring between four and eight months after surgery.

What happens if pituitary tumor is left untreated?

Most pituitary tumors are curable, but if left untreated, they can lead to serious complications such as complete vision loss.

Can you live a normal life with a pituitary tumor?

In general, when a pituitary tumor is not cured, people live out their lives but may have to deal with problems caused by the tumor or its treatment, such as vision problems or hormone levels that are too high or too low.

Can pituitary tumors cause mental illness?

Pituitary tumors and other disorders of the neuroendocrine system can certainly bring about change: physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral. And, such changes often disrupt and change family connections and relationships.

Can you drive with a pituitary Tumour?

For example, with pituitary tumours, low grade tumours in the cerebellum or brain stem, and grade 1 meningiomas, you can generally drive once you have recovered from treatment. This is as long as you have NOT had treatment via a craniotomy (where part of the skull is removed to allow access to the brain).

Where does your head hurt with a pituitary tumor?

A person with pituitary tumor apoplexy usually has a sudden-onset, severe headache at the front of the head (either located on one side of the head or both) and/or behind one or both eyes.

What are the two types of pituitary tumors?

Does pituitary tumor cause fatigue?

A pituitary gland tumor may cause fatigue if it lowers levels of cortisol, thyroid hormone, or growth hormone. High levels of cortisol can weaken muscles, which may also cause fatigue.

Is endocrine disorder a disability?

Even the smallest change in hormone levels can produce complications throughout your body. As a result of the debilitating effects of some endocrine disorders, they may be recognized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as a disabling disease and be eligible for disability.

What is considered a large pituitary tumor?

Large pituitary tumors — those measuring about 1 centimeter (slightly less than a half-inch) or larger — are known as macroadenomas. Smaller tumors are called microadenomas. Because of the size of macroadenomas, they can put pressure on the normal pituitary gland and nearby structures.

What causes a pituitary tumor to grow?

Tumors can be caused by DNA changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes. Some people inherit gene mutations (changes) from their parents that greatly increase their risk for developing pituitary tumors.

When is a pituitary tumor an emergency?

When the tumor enlarges it often causes headache. On rare occasion there is a sudden, severe headache from bleeding into the tumor. This is called pituitary apoplexy and is a medical emergency.

Will I get my vision back after removing a pituitary tumor?

In many cases, loss of vision can recover considerably after surgery or medical treatments. However, the extent of recovery depends on how long the visual loss has been present and how severe it is. Unfortunately, in some cases there is permanent visual loss, despite treatments for the pituitary tumor.

Is a pituitary tumor considered a brain tumor?

“Pituitary tumours arise from the pituitary gland that lies on the floor on the inside of the skull, underneath and separate from the brain, back behind the eyes. These are not brain tumours, and the pituitary is not part of the brain itself.

Can a pituitary tumor affect sleep?

Summary: Pituitary disorders are associated with different sleep disorders. Different studies point to irreversible changes in sleep-wake rhythmicity in patients treated previously for pituitary tumors with chiasm compression.

Are pituitary tumors life threatening?

Pituitary tumors are common, but most are benign (noncancerous) and are almost never fatal.

Can Prolactinomas grow back?

Prolactinomas can come back within five years. We will monitor you, especially if you had a large prolactinoma. Our research shows that these tumors can be especially aggressive in men. We have also developed ways to predict how likely a tumor is to return, based on a study of more than 800 of our surgical patients.

What is the recovery time after pituitary tumor surgery?

It can take up to 6 weeks to fully recover. The cuts the doctor made (incisions) may be sore for about 5 days after surgery. You may also have numbness and shooting pains near your wound, or swelling and bruising around your eyes. As your wound starts to heal, it may start to itch.

Can a pituitary tumor make you fat?

When the cause is too much ACTH production from the pituitary it's called Cushing's disease. In adults, the symptoms can include: Unexplained weight gain (mostly in the face, chest, and belly)