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Social Security, SSI, and Mental Disability

How Long Does It Take To Get Disability Benefits?

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Fibromyalgia, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

For more information on: Social Security Disability and SSI Disability.

Fibromyalgia, previously known as fibrositis and muscular rheumatism, is a chronic condition that is most noted by widespread pain all over the body, from muscles and tendons to ligaments, and extreme heightened sensitivity to light, odors, sound and touch, also known as allodynia. Other signs and symptoms of the disease are extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and facial pain, sometimes accompanied by chest pain, anxiety, dizziness, numbness in feet and hands, depression, mood changes and dry eyes, mouth and skin.

The cause of fibromyalgia is still highly unknown though many studies have linked the condition to Lyme Disease, genetics, stress, trauma, depression and abnormal dopamine or serotonin levels. While some researchers feel that sleep disturbance is symptom of fibromyalgia, others feel the sleep disturbance may be a cause. Most often with fibromyalgia sleep is regular, although rest is not achieved. Many people wake up day after day feeling as though they have not slept, which causes extreme fatigue and sensitivities.

Fibromyalgia is more prevalent in women than men, usually between the ages of 20 and 50, and is not contagious nor life threatening, and is not thought to be progressive. It does however go through stages of flare-ups and remission. Symptoms can vary greatly from day to day and are thought to be dependent upon the weather and environment. For instance, environmental stressors may exasperate symptoms, as can barometric pressure and humidity. Fibromyalgia has only been recognized as an illness and cause of disability since 1987 and controversy among researchers still exists surrounding the condition.

Because of ongoing controversy, diagnosis criteria are still under somewhat of a debate. ‘The ACR 1990’ a system of classification criteria developed by American College of Rheumatology is the most widely accepted criteria to diagnose the condition. The criteria in ‘The ACR 1990’ includes widespread pain that affects all four quadrants of the body for more than three months in addition to a certain level of pain at designated tender points on the body.

While some doctors claim to have cured fibromyalgia, it is not commonly thought of as ‘curable’, though there are many treatments that can reduce flare ups and keep the condition under control, from pain relievers, muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants to anti-seizure drugs, dopamine agonists and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Many different treatments can target certain symptoms of the condition.

Fibromyalgia patients have also reported successfully using cannabis to treat symptoms. Exercise, a healthy diet, massage, physical therapy, acupuncture and a wide variety of other treatments have been proven beneficial in treating fibromyalgia.