Fibromyalgia Disability
The chronic condition which causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness in a person’s joints, muscles, or tendons is called Fibromyalgia. However, it wasn’t until 1981 when it was named and recognized as a true medical condition by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and some of his colleagues. Despite the fact that the causes are still speculative at best, Fibromyalgia came to be known as “pain in the muscles and tissues” according to Dr. Yunus. Although the condition is not necessarily life-threatening or a progressive disease, there is currently no cure for it. Fortunately, the awareness of the condition has grown rapidly in recent years.
Women develop Fibromyalgia roughly 8 times more often than men do, and it is most likely to occur between the ages of 20 and 50. There are a number of aspects which characterize the condition, including:
Anxiety; Bowel functions become disturbed and irregular; Depression; Fatigue or feeling tired even after sleeping; Restlessness while trying to sleep.
For the healthcare and medical industry, diagnosis of the condition is extremely challenging because generalized pain, stiffness, and tenderness are usually the only physical symptoms. In so many words, the medical community has yet to completely understand the pathology which underlies the condition. However, continual research has been conducted in order to find the cause and then hopefully a cure for the condition so that those suffering with it can conduct normal lives.
Although the actual cause of Fibromyalgia has never been identified, research has been ongoing for several years and some hypothetical causes have come to the forefront, e.g.:
Abnormal pain transmission responses; Changes in the metabolism of skeletal muscles; decrease in blood flow which can lead to chronic fatigue and weakness; Emotional and/or physical trauma; Viruses (or some infectious microbes) trigger the condition.
It has also been speculated that Fibromyalgia could be a hereditary issue, although there is only preliminary evidence to suggest or support this hypothesis. What is important to realize is that the attacks occur unexpectedly and rarely exhibit any warning signs prior to the onset of an attack. When it does happen, the person is literally paralyzed by the pain and cannot function. For those individuals who are trying to hold down a job and earn their living, Fibromyalgia makes this almost impossible.
As a result of this, you may need to consider applying for Social Security Disability benefits, as the unpredictability of Fibromyalgia attacks makes it difficult for you to work and maintain a normal, productive lifestyle. The Fibromyalgia Disability application process itself is riddled with tons of bureaucratic red tape since you will be dealing with federal and even state government in order to prove your case and receive your benefits. Therefore, you should consider hiring a Social Security Disability attorney who is experienced and qualified in helping you get those benefits that you deserve and need.
