It is not an overstatement to say that our autoimmune system is constantly at work to protect us from infections, toxic substances we are exposed to in everyday life, and even cell changes in our own body (such as cancer). For this reason, it has been called the “policeman” of our bodies. When it is not functioning properly, we become sick in response to germs, viruses, parasites, and other harmful substances (maybe even substances that did not used to harm us). Numerous medical conditions, such as Crohn’s disease/irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis fall into this category and affect people with them in a wide variety of ways. These conditions frequently cause significant pain, gastrointestinal distress, profound fatigue and a general sense of malaise, and a host of other chronic symptoms. It is also typical that many of the worst symptoms do not occur as long as someone is getting frequent rest throughout the day. And, sometimes the treatment itself causes additional side effects that further limit a person’s ability to function.

Most autoimmune disorders do not affect a person the same way every day; it is very typical for a person with this kind of medical condition to have “good days and bad days,” days where functioning does not seem very affected at all, but other days where it’s a struggle to even do basic daily activities.

A disabling condition does not need to be disabling every day to support a finding that a person is unable to work, because being able to work means being able to do it day after day, week after week, on a regular and continuous basis.