Is it true that fibromyalgia is a disability ?

I haven't worked long enough to draw my regular social security,the fibromyalgia i have had since 1996 keeps me from working,so why can't i get ssi and some health insurance please help me.

You will need to use your medical records to prove that your fibromyalgia is bad enough to be a disability. Contact your state social services department or a disability lawyer to guide you through the process.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and tactile allodynia.[1] An example of tactile allodynia is when a person perceives light pressure or the movement of clothes over the skin as painful, whereas a healthy individual would not feel pain. Fibromyalgia patients are often affected by a number of symptoms other than pain, including debilitating fatigue, abnormal sleep architecture [2] meaning the brain does not reach all the restorative levels of sleep necessary for overall health, functional bowel disturbances[3] and a variety of neuropsychiatric problems including cognitive dysfunction [4] which can mean short and/or long term memory problems, slowed information processing ability, diminished attention span and anxiety and depressive symptoms[5]. While the criteria for such an entity have not yet been thoroughly developed, the recognition that fibromyalgia involves more than just pain has led to the frequent use of the term 鈥渇ibromyalgia syndrome.鈥?It is not contagious, and recent studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed.[6] It affects more females than males, with a ratio of 9:1 by American College of Rheumatology (ACR)criteria.[7] Fibromyalgia is seen in about 2% of the general population.[8] It is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, though onset can occur in childhood.

The disorder is not directly life-threatening. The degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission; however, the disorder is generally perceived as non-progressive.[9]

The validity of fibromyalgia as a unique clinical entity is a matter of some contention among researchers in the field. For example, it has been proposed that the pathophysiology responsible for the symptoms that are collectively classified as representing "fibromyalgia" is poorly understood, thereby suggesting that the fibromyalgia phenotype which is the difference between an individual鈥檚 heredity and what that heredity produces, may result from several different disease processes that have global hyperalgesia - an increased sensitivity to pain - and allodynia in common, [10][11][12] an observation that has led to the proposition that current diagnostic criteria are insufficient to differentiate patient groups from each other.[13] Alternatively, there is evidence for the existence of differing pathophysiological - which is the study of the disturbance of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of the body - within the greater fibromyalgia construct[14][15], which may be interpreted to represent evidence for the existence of biologically distinct "sub-types" of the disorder akin to conditions such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. In a January 14, 2008 article in the New York Times, the controversy of the reality of the disease and its proposed cures are discussed, while citing that the American College of Rheumatology, the Food and Drug Administration and insurers recognize fibromyalgia as a diagnosable disease. Drug companies are aggressively pursuing fibromyalgia treatments, seeing the potential for a major new market.[16]

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yes-it is a disability-

but the question is-is it totally disabling?

if the government thinks you can work at all-they will deny benefits

SSDI is disability income-this may be what you are looking for

most people have to fight for SSDI-even when they have a condition that is diagnosed with concrete methods such as blood tests or x rays-]

you will proably need a lawyer-I heard they will assign 1 to you who will then get a small perent (maybe 1%) of your award

have you contact SS to see what your possible benefit would be should you become disabled? They send a statement 1x a year-but you can request another one at any time

go to www.ssa.gov

adults I knew that got ssi-worked-but did not earn much due to theri disability-so tehy got supplemental security income

children with significant disabilities get SSI

Suffering from fibromyalgia (a chronic condition characterized by fatigue, widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, and multiple tender points) is a frustrating thing but be hopeful to know that there are several medications that can be used to relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Your medical team will work closely with you to figure out which combination works best for you. It鈥檚 likely you will find a muscle relaxant, in some cases antidepressants are used for both their intended use as well as to promote restful sleep. While they are never used alone as a treatment for fibromyalgia; over the counter painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are commonly prescribed as well. For some people, the anti seizure drug pregabalin can help with some types of pain. These treatments can only be effective if it go along with taking care of your health. Eating well, getting adequate exercise, and sleeping enough is paramount to controlling this disease.

Source: http://www.fibrofruit.com/fibromyalgia/6...