Meet Poet and MS Survivor Kimberly Redgate! Packard Wins Social Security Payments for an Inspiring Client
What Are Compression Socks? And How CanThey Help You With Aches and Pains?
When Kimberly Redgate was 16 years old, one of her biggest passions was capoeira — a Brazilian martial arts style that combines defense, dance, and acrobatics. It’s beautiful to watch, and Kimberly loved performing it. But during one trampoline practice at a local gymnasium, things went terribly wrong. “Everything that I did I’ve done hundreds of times before, and it was fine,” she remembers 13 years later, “but not that night.” Kimberly got stuck in the middle of a bridge rotation. She was upside down, balanced on her hands and feet with her back arched. She wanted to kick her legs over but her body wouldn’t cooperate. She couldn’t move. Then, her arms gave way and she crashed down on her neck. “It was a very bad fall. I could have died. I could have been paralyzed. I’m very, very blessed and very grateful,” she says. Kimberly survived, but during her time at the hospital due to the injury, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). The condition made her life much more difficult. She graduated high school and attended college, but symptoms like tremors, vision problems, fatigue, and difficulty focusing made it impossible for her to continue to work part time. She turned to the Social Security Disability (SSD) system for financial help. “I had been trying for years to get on Social Security Disability but every time, I
didn’t make it,” she says. Then, she found our team at Packard.
At the very best, poor blood circulation in the body can lead to various annoying aches and pains. At worst, it can cause serious health conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a blood clot forms in the deep veins and makes its way to a main artery, potentially causing a fatal pulmonary embolism.
We were inspired by Kimberly’s persistence and positive attitude, and we fought hard to secure SSD payments for her. Finally, we succeeded! “I appreciated Packard’s preparation for every step in the process and their patience with my questions throughout. Additionally, everyone was so kind and supportive. I am so, so grateful that I have a steady income from Social Security that I can depend on,” Kimberly says. “Yes, I have a disability, but I just want to be all I can be.” Today, Kimberly dreams of becoming a professional writer. Her poems have already been published, and we’ve included one here. Hopefully, you enjoy it as much as we do! Keep Onwards Breathing full and steady Remember gratefully, Formerly life much harder, Incapable of self sufficiency, Regardless of degree. Then, by recommendation, Connect with who could help. Achieved success! Am steady, much more ready, For life to come—NOW! Thank you, Packard!
Whatever the case, one tool you might not know much about could be the solution to your aches and pains: compression socks.
Compression socks are a type of sock that tightly compresses your leg as you wear them, reducing the diameter of major veins and increasing blood flow to the heart rather than downward to your feet or laterally into superficial veins. Among several other benefits, compression socks are meant to support veins, prevent blood from pooling in them, decrease swelling, and reduce orthostatic hypertension. Compression socks can come in a variety of types, lengths, and compression levels. The three basic types of compression socks are: • Graduated compression stockings compress more strongly toward the ankle than at the top of the sock. These are designed for people who plan to be up and moving about. • Anti-embolism stockings are designed specifically for nonmobile people to help them fight against DVT. • Nonmedical support stockings are available without a prescription. They help alleviate aches and pains caused by poor circulation in the legs. Each type of compression sock may vary in the level of pressure they apply to your legs. Mild pressure, which is anything less than 15 mmHg, will help you combat aches and pains just fine; 15–20 mmHg can help people with minor swelling or who have concerns about DVT. Anything 20–40 mmHg is considered medical grade and is only necessary if you have severe swelling or you’re recovering from surgery. Typically, the only negative side effect that might result from wearing compression socks is some irritation and redness, but if you wear them correctly, they should fit flush against your skin and feel snug but not painful. If you think that compression socks could help you, try on a pair of nonprescription socks or check with a health care professional to see what option would be best for you.
2 PACKARDFIRM.COM
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