Fibromyalgia SSD claim – Process and Tips

Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome is generally difficult to understand and hence a large number of claims for social security disability (SSD) benefits get rejected in the initial stages.SSD cases with this medical condition are usually difficult to win but when they are combined with other impairments, the approval process becomes relatively simpler.

Nature of the problem

Fibromyalgia is characterized by short term concentration and memory, poor stamina and extreme exhaustion. Few other signs include sore throat, headaches, unrefreshing sleep, tender lymph nodes and extreme muscle and joint pain. While most of these conditions may impair your routine living activities, they are quite difficult to prove. However, you can get your claim approved when you produce sufficient medical evidence and have judicious legal representation through your disability attorney.

Qualifying process

If you believe that you are eligible for SSD benefits, follow the below discussed pointers to strengthen your case by avoiding pitfalls.

(1)  Repeated occurrence of chronic pain such as stabbing, shooting, throbbing, muscle aching and joint aches all through your body with no obvious reason.

(2)  Experiencing extreme stiffness in your body while waking up in the morning.

(3)  Lack of ability to stand or sit for a sustained period of time.

(4)  Lack of ability to lift even small weights.

(5)  Lack of ability to focus for long to complete even easy tasks or to even remember minute things.

(6)  A need to nap frequently, unrefreshing sleep, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

(7)  Lack of ability to work for a period of twelve months consecutively due to chronic fatigue syndrome.

(8)  Lack of ability to perform new job due to fibromyalgia.

Tips to follow

When you feel that you are eligible for SSD benefits under Fibromyalgia, you need to bear certain critical tips in mind to recover benefits.

(1)  First and foremost documental evidence is important. You may be suffering from Fibromyalgia and your doctor could have diagnosed it but not necessarily documented in specific terms.

(2)  When a general medical practitioner diagnoses the presence of Fibromyalgia in you, request for a referral to a specialist such as a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. This is to ensure that the essential problem does not get diluted. With a specialist, proof of your condition can further be strengthened and considered more seriously by social security administration.

(3)  Avoid getting your condition of chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed and documented by a mental health professional. As much as certain family doctors overuse the term, psychiatrists can also mislabel the condition. Such situations are common. Many times, symptoms of depression are similar to those of Fibromyalgia and the last thing you need is a misrepresentation. Therefore, a specialist should be the preferred choice.

(4)  The importance of medical records is immense. Approval of your claim predominantly vests on the supporting medical documents. This is important at the first level, level of reconsideration and even during hearing.

When you follow these tips and produce sufficient documentation, the process of applying and representing becomes easier for you and the attorney who represents you.