Fibromyalgia Information From Disability Lawyers
According to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4 million adults in the United States suffer from fibromyalgia. This is equivalent to approximately two percent of the adult population in our country. Fortunately for some, fibromyalgia symptoms can be managed effectively with medication and treatment. However, this is not always the case. There are many instances where people are left completely disabled as a result of the symptoms they experience. In these cases, patients have the ability to file for Social Security disability benefits.
In order to receive disability benefits for fibromyalgia, you must be able to prove that you qualify. Supplying medical evidence and other documents and information can help bolster your claim. However, it is in your best interest to seek guidance from a Social Security disability lawyer at Edelstein Martin & Nelson right away. We represent clients all across the United States to help them get the benefits they are entitled to.
For decades, our legal team has fought to protect the legal rights of patients who suffer from fibromyalgia and various other disabilities. Our team will provide invaluable assistance when it comes to filing your fibromyalgia disability claim and ultimately succeeding in obtaining your benefits. We can help build your case with the strongest evidence to ensure a favorable outcome for your situation.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a debilitating disorder that generally involves widespread muscle pain. In many cases, patients also experience mood problems, fatigue, memory problems, and problems sleeping. Fibromyalgia is a condition that amplifies painful, ongoing sensations. This is done by affecting the way that the brain in the spinal cord processes signals that are painful and non-painful.
What are the Risk Factors for Fibromyalgia?
When it comes to a person suffering from fibromyalgia, there are various factors that increase the likelihood of a person being diagnosed. Some of the risk factors associated with fibromyalgia include:
- A person’s gender: According to statistics, women have a significantly higher chance of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia when compared to men.
- Family history: people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia if a sibling or a parent also suffers from the condition.
- Other disorders: There are various health conditions that increase the likelihood of a person developing fibromyalgia. This can include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis.
In some cases, another factor in some patients may trigger fibromyalgia. Their symptoms may have been triggered or aggravated as a result of an infection or an illness. In other cases, an emotional or physical event can cause a person to suffer from fibromyalgia.
Patients often experience an array of symptoms before they are finally diagnosed with the condition.
What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
People who suffer from fibromyalgia often experience extensive symptoms. There are three primary fibromyalgia symptoms that patients report. These include:
- Cognitive difficulties: People who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia may experience what is referred to as “fibro fog.” This condition generally impairs a person’s ability to focus and pay attention to things. They may also struggle to concentrate on various mental tasks. The cognitive difficulties that patients experience can be especially debilitating and make it difficult to hold a job.
- Fatigue: Individuals who struggle with fibromyalgia may experience overwhelming fatigue. In most cases, fibromyalgia sufferers wake up tired. This is true even if they report that they have slept for a long period of time. Many patients experience disruptions during their sleep as a result of the pain. Quite often, patients who have fibromyalgia are also diagnosed with sleep disorders. This can include sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.
- Widespread muscle pain: It is incredibly common for people who suffer from fibromyalgia to experience widespread pain. Pain is often described as a constant dull ache that can last for months on end. In order for fibromyalgia pain to be considered widespread, it must be present on both sides of the body. It must also be located on the areas above and below a person’s waist.
Experiencing these and other fibromyalgia symptoms can be especially debilitating. People often struggle to enjoy life or even complete simple daily tasks. In some cases, the symptoms that patients experience with fibromyalgia may be so debilitating that they are unable to work. When a person loses their ability to work as a result of fibromyalgia, they may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits.
Conditions that Often Coexist with Fibromyalgia
It is incredibly common for people who suffer from fibromyalgia to also suffer from coexisting health conditions. There are several types of conditions that are often reported in combination with fibromyalgia symptoms. These include:
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
- Anxiety disorder
- Postural tachycardia syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Migraine and other types of headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
- Depression
Living with multiple health conditions is especially difficult. For this reason, it is important that anyone in this situation pursue a fibromyalgia disability claim to ensure they have the money that they need to support themselves and get the care needed for their conditions.
What is the Treatment for Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia. However, medical professionals will engage in various forms of treatment in order to alleviate some of the symptoms that patients experience. In most cases, patients will utilize medications and therapy in order to help deal with fibromyalgia symptoms. Some of the medications that patients are provided include:
- Pain relievers: Many patients utilize over-the-counter pain medications in order to alleviate some of the symptoms they experience. In most cases, Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil are effective.
- Antidepressants: Cymbalta and Savella are two common types of antidepressants that are prescribed to patients who suffer from fibromyalgia. These medications provide some relief when it comes to the pain and fatigue that patients who have fibromyalgia experience. In some cases, muscle relaxers and amitriptyline may be prescribed as well in order to promote sleep.
- Anti-seizure medications: Although these medications are designed to treat patients who suffer from epilepsy, they work really well for reducing the pain that fibromyalgia patients In some cases, patients are provided gabapentin or Lyrica.
Therapy is another option that patients may choose when it comes to treating fibromyalgia symptoms. This can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling.
Unfortunately, many people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia often struggle to engage in substantial gainful activity as a result of their condition. When patients experience chronic pain and other debilitating side effects, it can make it impossible to work or live much of a life at all.
For this reason, many people turn to the Social Security Administration to see what type of long-term disability benefits they may be entitled to. When it comes to qualifying for Social Security disability insurance, it can help to understand the benefits that may be available.
What Benefits are Available for People with Fibromyalgia?
Social Security disability benefits may be available for people who suffer from fibromyalgia. However, it is important to understand that there are no specific criteria when it comes to determining disability benefits for fibromyalgia.
When it comes to the SSA Disability Evaluation Under Social Security guidelines, fibromyalgia is not listed as a condition that is covered. However, over the last decade, benefits have become available to people who suffer from this condition if they are able to establish that they suffer from a medically determinable impairment of fibromyalgia.
When it comes to people who suffer from this condition, there are generally two types of benefits available. The most commonly sought-after type of benefits are Social Security disability insurance benefits. These benefits are available to people who were previously employed but are no longer able to work as a result of becoming disabled with fibromyalgia.
The second type of benefit that people apply for is called Supplemental Security Income. This type of income, also referred to as SSI, is available for people who suffer from this condition but do not have the previous work history requirements in order to receive full SSDI benefits.
Proving You Qualify for Fibromyalgia Disability Benefits
When it comes to Social Security disability claims for people who suffer from fibromyalgia, data shows that approximately 61 percent of all applicants were denied for their initial claims in 2020. Although a portion of the claims may have been rightfully denied, some should have been approved. This is why it is so important to get legal counsel to represent you during the disability filing and appeals process. Our national fibromyalgia disability attorneys are committed to helping you get the benefits that you deserve so you do not end up with a wrongful and unfair denial.
The truth of the matter is that fibromyalgia can not only inhibit you from working, but it can also severely restrict your ability to participate in normal activities. When this is the case, you should be able to get help to avoid financial fallout.
When it comes to receiving disability benefits for fibromyalgia, a patient must be able to provide sufficient medical evidence that establishes that their condition is considered a medically determinable impairment. Some evidence that a Social Security Administration will use to determine whether or not a person’s condition qualifies for benefits is by reviewing medical records that are supplied. To be approved for one’s claim, relevant medical records should indicate that a person has the following:
- At least three months’ history of widespread pain that can fluctuate in both location and intensity. The pain does not have to be consistent. However, you do need to be able to show that the person is unable to work due to their fibromyalgia disability.
- There must be evidence that specifically rules out other medical conditions that could have caused the signs and severe symptoms that a person experiences.
- At least 11 of the positive tender points must be affected and demonstrated during a physical examination. These locations must be on both the left and the right side of the body as well as above and below the waist.
- Alternatively, a person could show that they experience repeated manifestations of six or more fibromyalgia symptoms, co-occurring conditions, or signs. This could include irritable bowel disorder, cognitive problems, memory impairment, anxiety disorder, depression, or fatigue.
It is important that you have all of your relevant medical records submitted with your application for disability benefits. If you need assistance or guidance, our national disability attorneys will be able to help you prove that you qualify for benefits so you can get the money and benefits you need and deserve.
Applying for Fibromyalgia Disability Benefits
To qualify for fibromyalgia disability benefits, you must be able to demonstrate that you meet the medical criteria for being unable to work. To apply for benefits, you can go to your nearest Social Security Administration office. If you are applying for Social Security disability insurance benefits, you may be able to fill out an application online.
However, it is advised that you seek help from a disability attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will be able to help you file your claim for disability benefits for fibromyalgia. You will be more likely to win your case if you have experienced legal counsel representing you.
Let Our Team Help You Get The Benefits You Deserve
Our team at Edelstein Martin & Nelson has more than three decades of experience helping people apply for immediate and long-term disability benefits after suffering from a chronic medical or mental problem that impacts their ability to work. We understand the chronic impact that fibromyalgia has on a person’s home, work, and social lives. For this reason, we will do everything in our power to make sure you are able to get the money and benefits that you rightfully deserve and need during this very difficult time.
Our team will provide you with invaluable assistance throughout the duration of your fibromyalgia disability claim. While working with our disability attorneys, you can rest assured knowing that we will prove your case and provide documented evidence in support of why you deserve disability benefits for your fibromyalgia condition.