Persons suffering from fibromyalgia frequently experience dull muscular pain, multiple “tender” points, and fatigue or disturbed sleep. Treatment can include analgesics for pain and stiffness, antidepressants for sleep, regular physical therapy, and counseling. While not all individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia will be classified as “disabled” under Social Security rules, in southern California an experienced Los Angeles Social Security disability attorney may be able to help.
Individuals with severe fibromyalgia in some cases may be able to obtain Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Fibromyalgia is not included on Social Security’s listing of impairments, so the frequency and severity of a patient’s symptoms will determine to a large extent whether an individual claim will be granted. It’s generally easier for fibromyalgia sufferers to receive benefits if a co-existing condition such as lupus or severe depression is also present.
One of the difficulties in obtaining benefits is that medically speaking, fibromyalgia is classified as a “syndrome,” not as a disease. It’s a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips called “tender points.” While a disease is a condition with a clearly identifiable cause, a syndrome is a set of symptoms that define the condition without a single identifiable cause. While the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia can differ from person to person, there is one common symptom that all agree on: pain. The pain can feel like a deep bone ache, a stabbing pain, or a burning pain. For some the pain is mild, but for other fibromyalgia patients, at times it is so severe that it becomes unbearable.
If you or someone you know in southern California is suffering from severe fibromyalgia, you may be able to receive monthly disability benefit payments through Social Security. Speak about your condition to an experienced Los Angeles Social Security disability attorney. Applying for benefits takes some time and patience, so make the call immediately, and let a good disability lawyer go to work now on your behalf.