According to Insurance News Net, the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association says that those suffering from the disorder have a unique illness that has overlapping conditions and chronic pain. Individuals with fibromyalgia know the challenges with the disorder and the need for research to find answers and a cure, says the NFMCPA president Jan Chambers.
Fibromyalgia is a central nervous system illness and is also referred to as a syndrome rather than a disease. It has no cause or recognizable signs and symptoms, but a collection of signs and symptoms and medical problems that tend to occur at the same time but may not be related to identifiable causes.
Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and about 75 to 90 percent of sufferers are women. Doctors characterize the syndrome as a series of chronic widespread pain at multiple tender points and abnormal pain processing. It is also followed by sleep disturbances, restlessness at night, fatigue and psychological distress. For individuals with severe fibromyalgia, it can be debilitating and interfere with work or daily activities.
Individuals with fibromyalgia may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, as the syndrome can lead to overlapping conditions such as depression, chronic fatigue, anxiety and chronic pain. The Social Security Administration has no medical listing within its guidelines for the syndrome, making the claim process intimidating and stressful. A qualified representative can assist you in applying for SSDI benefits if you suffer from fibromyalgia. The representative can assist you in proving that you meet a certain criteria of the SSA’s five-step sequential evaluation process.
