Fibromyalgia is a mysterious condition with no known cause. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also overlap. The American College of Rheumatology defines fibromyalgia as a condition causing tender points or trigger points at 11 out of 18 specific places on the body. Anyone is susceptible but it seems to occur most often in middle-aged women and those with other conditions such as autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms vary by person. Some possible symptoms include: fatigue, muscle pain, tender spots, non-restful sleep, impaired cognitive functioning, and tingling or numbness in hands and feet. Generally, the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia is made by rheumatologists. There is no known cure for fibromyalgia but the symptoms can be treated, greatly improving the sufferer's quality of life.
Research into the causes and treatment of fibromyalgia is ongoing and there is some evidence that quality rest and exercise alleviate the symptoms but there is still much to learn about fibromyalgia.
In order to prove your disability to Social Security, you need to either document that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria found in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or, if you are an adult, that your condition and symptoms are so severe that you are unable to work. If you are a child under 18, you must similarly show that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or that your condition or conditions functionally equals the Commissioner's regulations. The law firm of Sheryl Gandel Mazur has experienced disability attorneys and has been representing individuals in their Social Security disability appeals for over twenty five years. Let us help you receive your Social Security disability benefits.
Our disability law firm represents individuals:
- In filing their initial disability applications
- In handling cases at the initial level including appealing initial denials
- In handling cases at the reconsideration level including appealing reconsideration denials
- In handling cases at the hearings level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Appeals Council level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Federal Court level
This firm also handles SSI child's disability cases at all levels.
Organizations: National Fibromyalgia Association (http://www.fmaware.org/); American College of Rheumatology (http://www.rheumatology.org/); in New Jersey: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.rwjuh.edu/health_information/adult_arthritis_fibromy.html)
