Fibromyalgia: Understanding the basics
Published on December 8th, 2017 by Eric Slepian
Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the entire body. It’s a complicated disorder that can be hard to diagnose. While the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, symptoms may begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or following psychological stress.
It’s also a disorder that can make it difficult or impossible to work. Given the severity of fibromyalgia, it is important to get a proper diagnosis, especially if you are seeking Social Security disability benefits.
Common symptoms of Fibromyalgia
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are varied. Those suffering often do not know what to look for because they are experiencing a wide range of issues that include:
- Constant aches and pains
- Fatigue, even after sleeping for long periods
- Cognitive issues, such as the inability to focus
These are broad symptoms, and often both patients and doctors try to treat the symptoms without understanding the underlying cause.
Why is fibromyalgia hard to diagnose?
Given the broad symptoms, doctors may begin by testing for or treating other ailments. Fibromyalgia symptoms also overlap with other diseases or disorders that are more common or more easily treated, which can make a diagnosis take longer or lead to a misdiagnosis.
Obtaining Social Security disability benefits for fibromyalgia
Workers suffering from fibromyalgia deserve Social Security disability benefits. Given the difficulty of getting an accurate diagnosis, maintaining medical records is important for proving your disability.
Many people suffer for far too long with fibromyalgia before getting a proper diagnosis. It is important to work with your doctors or doctors and to be forthcoming about all your symptoms so your medical records are accurate. This will be one of your best tools when working with the Social Security Administration to acquire benefits.
