Fibromyalgia

    In previous posts, we have discussed how securing quality representation early can strengthen your claim for Social Security disability as well as the importance of communicating clearly to your health care providers about your conditions. This is especially true if you have fibromyalgia.

    The main characteristic of fibromyalgia is widespread pain in the joints, muscles, tendons, and soft tissues lasting for at least three months. Fibromyalgia is a very common and complex condition that many of our clients have struggled with for years. Fibromyalgia, like other chronic pain conditions, also waxes and wanes. There are good days and bad days and then worse days. Those with fibromyalgia often suffer “fibro flares” in which they have significantly worse symptoms than usual and then they may eventually experience periods of relief or return to a baseline level of symptoms which still affects their day-to-day life, all in a continuous cycle. 


    This waxing and waning of fibromyalgia can make it difficult to document just how serious it is and to establish it as a severe impairment within the context of your Social Security claim. However, consistent documentation of symptoms as well as communication with healthcare providers can help track fibromyalgia’s effects on your daily life and your ability to work. 


    It can be tough to understand a condition like fibromyalgia, but your efforts to communicate its effects and your representative’s efforts to gather supporting documents can bring clarity to your claim. That clarity will hopefully help those in charge of reviewing your claim to better understand the severity of your fibromyalgia. 

 


Alyssa K. Van Auken, Esq.

Associate Attorney

Martin, Jones, & Piemonte

Website: www.mjpdisability.com

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