I have had several clients who call and ask for an expert in “fibromyalgia and Social Security” to help them win their case, because no one believes them, their condition, and their limitations. While such a concern is understandable, if you suffer from fibromyalgia and all the accompanying symptoms, all you need is a lawyer who understands the law and knows how to use it to best work for you.
Several years back, fibromyalgia was a condition few doctors believed in, but as the years pass and more patients are diagnosed, it is becoming a serious condition. Today, many people know at least one person who suffers from fibromyalgia and its serious side effects.
As anyone with fibromyalgia knows, many of the symptoms are difficult to objectively assess and identify. Therefore, many disability claims examiners and administrative law judges are reluctant to approve fibromyalgia claims. This can be the case even if the claimant has received consistent treatment from a supportive physician.
How to Help Your Claim
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, one of the best ways to help your Social Security claim is to not only hire an attorney who understands the law and the disease, but also to obtain the right treatment. I always tell my clients that one of the most important things you can do is to ensure you are being taken care of by the appropriate physician. Your physician should understand you, understand your condition, and be focused on getting you as well as possible.
Social Security needs to see that you are officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and they also expect you to receive regular treatment from a rheumatologist. The regular treatment should include lab work and support all of your claims and medical records with third-party statements from friends, family members, or former colleagues who see you frequently and know what a typical day is like for you.
According to Social Security Ruling 12-2p, Social Security considers fibromyalgia to be a medically determinable impairment when, among other considerations, there is evidence of widespread chronic pain that has lasted at least three months and there are objective tests to rule out other possible conditions.
Should You Hire an Attorney?
It is difficult to live with fibro and deal with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and their endless deadlines and legalese. Hire an attorney who understands what you’re going through, can sympathize with you, and can work with you to present the best case to SSA.