FIBROMYALGIA

Helpful advice for winning a Social Security disability claim based on Fibromyalgia. Here's what you should know.

If you search for Fibromyalgia before 1981 you won't find it. 1981 is when Dr. Muhammad Yunus defined the disease and named it. For years, it was considered by doctors to be a bogus disease. Now, we know better.

Fibromyalgia is an incurable disease thought to be caused by overactive nerve tissues. It causes chronic pain in the muscles, joints and tendons along with fatigue and sleeplessness and often is associated with depression or anxiety. Some patients describe a "brain fog" which makes concentration difficult. In severe cases, Fibromyalgia can affect just about every aspect of a person's life.

If you suffer from Fibromyalgia and need to file a Social Security disability claim, I want to share some things that may help you.

First, Social Security requires that Fibromyalgia be diagnosed using the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Specific trigger points must be identified. The best trained doctor to diagnose and evaluate Fibromyalgia is a rheumatologist. Social Security will give more weight to a rheumatologist than to family doctor. Nurse practitioners are not acceptable with Social Security.

Second, you must prove that Fibromyalgia symptoms interfere with your ability to perform basic work related activities. Try to get the rheumatologist to provide you with a written and detailed "residual functional capacity" (RFC). Simply defined, this is a statement about the maximum that you can do when it comes to functions like sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, reaching, etc.* There is a neat form that Social Security likes to use for this. It's called a "Medical Source Statement," or Form HA-1151. This form can be downloaded off the Internet-- or attorneys who handle Social Security claims can provide you with a copy.

Third, Social Security will want to see that you are following prescribed treatment to try to get better. It's important to take the medications prescribed by your doctor for Fibromyalgia. If you experience side effects with medication that prevents you from taking it, talk to your doctor about other medicine that you may try. Failure to follow treatment may cause problems with a Social Security claim.

As with all claims, it's not unusual to be denied. If this happens, immediately file an appeal, shore up your medical evidence and take the case before an administrative law judge. It's rare these days to win any disability claim at the first application level. Consider using an experienced attorney or non-attorney disability specialist to handle your appeal.

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