What is fibromyalgia? Is fibromyalgia a disability? How do you get fibromyalgia, anyway? These may well be questions that you need to find answers to. Basically, chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than three months. Widespread pain is defined as pain both above and below the waist and on both the right and left sides of the body. This is the main symptom of Fibromyalgia: widespread and chronic muscle pain. Symptoms may also include fatigue, depression or anxiety, and restlessness when trying to sleep.
Some fibromyalgia sufferers describe their pain as being “everywhere” or “all over.” For some people, the symptoms of pain and stiffness are worse when they first wake up, but then improve during the day, and then increase again at night. Other people, however, have constant pain throughout the day. The pain may get worse with physical activity, stress, or anxiety. Fibromyalgia patients may also be more sensitive to things around them such as heat or cold, bright lights, or loud sounds.
The cause of fibromyalgia has not yet been definitively proven. Experts do, however, have a number of theories about the possible causes of fibromyalgia. It is likely that a number of factors may trigger and contribute to fibromyalgia. These factors include heredity, accidents and injuries, infection, autoimmune disorders, and even psychological and emotional stress.
Social Security Disability and Work with Fibromyalgia
Fortunately, the awareness of the condition has grown rapidly in recent years. This has made it easier to win fibromyalgia disability benefits. Fibromyalgia can interfere with your ability to perform work activity. As a result of this, you may want to consider applying for Social Security Disability benefits, since the unpredictable nature fibromyalgia attacks can make hard for you to work and maintain a normal and productive lifestyle.
Disability Attorneys Florida for Fibromyalgia Claimants
The Social Security Disability application process is full of bureaucratic red tape since you have to deal with federal and even state government entities to prove your case and receive your benefits. Therefore, you should consider hiring an attorney who is experienced and qualified to help you.
At the moment, there is no entry in the Social Security Disability’s Listing of Impairments manual for the condition known as fibromyalgia. Nevertheless, many claimants with fibromyalgia apply for disability and go on to win their cases. For this reason, fibromyalgia disability claimants who have been denied shouldn’t give up on their cases. Instead, they should pursue their disability claim through the appeals process.
During the appeal, keep in mind that the main issue is your ability to perform an easy job. Your underlying medical condition is only important to the Social Security Judge if your symptoms limit you from performing a job eight hours a day, five days a week. In most cases, the judge’s decision simply comes down to his or her decision about whether you could hold down a simple, sit-down job that requires no training, allows you to sit, stand, and adjust your position, and is not production-oriented.
