A disability that changes from day to day? Let's talk about 'Dynamic Disability'

Imagine, you are feeling very refreshed this morning. You have no pain in your body. You can do all your daily tasks beautifully. But when you wake up tomorrow morning, you feel like you can't even get out of bed. Your whole body is sore and tired. You can't even think about the work you did well yesterday. This is a situation where symptoms increase and decrease day by day, week by week, which is what we call 'Dynamic Disability' in medicine. Although this is a somewhat complex topic, let's talk about it simply today.

What is 'Dynamic Disability'?

Simply put, 'dynamic disability' is when the symptoms of a condition don't always stay the same, but change in intensity and severity over time. Some days you can function normally. But on other days, those symptoms suddenly increase (we call this a 'flare-up') and make it difficult for you to do your daily activities.

These periods of increased symptoms can last for a few days, a few weeks, or even months. After that, the symptoms subside and return to normal.

The difference between a 'good day' and a 'bad day'

To better understand this situation, let's look at this chart. This will clearly show you the difference between two days for someone with a 'dynamic disability' condition.

Common medical conditions that cause 'dynamic disability'

This condition is not limited to one disease. 'Dynamic disability' can occur with any chronic disease whose symptoms change from day to day. Some examples are:

• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS): This is an arthritis condition that affects the spine and other joints in the body. Some days the pain and stiffness are mild, but other days the pain is so severe that it is difficult to even hold the spine straight.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): This is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (nervous system). Symptoms come and go (relapse), and then go away completely or partially (remission) after a few days or weeks. This is also called a relapsing-remitting disease pattern. You may not have any problems for months or years.
• Other conditions: In addition, people with chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and Crohn's disease can also experience this 'dynamic disability' condition.

Are 'Dynamic Disability' and 'Invisible Disability' the same thing?

Although these two words are often confused as one, there is a slight difference between the two.

• 'Invisible Disability': refers to any disability that is not visible to the outside world. For example, someone who does not wear glasses, has poor eyesight, has chronic pain, has a mental illness, or has a hearing impairment. These are not visible to the outside world.
• 'Dynamic Disability': refers to a condition in which the severity of symptoms fluctuates , meaning that it changes from day to day.

Simply put, a 'dynamic disability' can almost always be an 'invisible disability.' However, not every 'invisible disability' is 'dynamic.'

The challenges of living with this condition

Living with a 'dynamic disability' is not easy. There are several reasons for that.

1. Misunderstandings from others: "You were fine yesterday, why are you lying in bed today?" "You must be bored." It hurts when you hear stories like this. People don't see your situation, so they think you're lying.

2. Difficulty planning: It's scary to plan something like going on a trip with friends or attending an event because if your symptoms worsen at the last minute, you'll have to cancel everything.

3. Employment and Education: Even if you can go to work today, the uncertainty of whether you will be able to go tomorrow makes it difficult to hold down a steady job and continue your education.

4. Guilt: On good days, you feel like, "Oh, I should have worked harder." On bad days, you feel guilty, "I'm making other people suffer because of me."

So how do you deal with this situation?

Despite these challenges, with the right support and management, you can live a more comfortable life.

• Talk to your doctor: This is the most important thing. Be clear with your doctor about how your symptoms change from day to day. Keeping a symptom diary can be very helpful. This means writing down your bad days, your good days, and how you were doing on those days. This will help your doctor understand your condition better and develop the best treatment plan.
• Be kind to yourself: Don't beat yourself up for the tough days. Listen to your body. Take a break if you need it.
• Communicate: Explain your situation to your family, close friends, and a trusted person at work. When they understand your situation, it will be easier for them to provide you with the support you need.
• Use your 'good days' wisely: Don't overexert yourself by doing too much work on your good days. If you do, you're more likely to have a 'flare-up' the next day. Manage your energy.

Although living with this condition can be challenging, remember that you are not alone. With proper medical advice, support from loved ones, and kindness towards yourself, you can make this journey easier.

Dynamic Disability, Symptoms, Multiple Sclerosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Invisible Disability, Chronic Disease